Buck Buchanan facts for kids
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Buchanan playing with the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV
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| No. 86 | |||||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | September 10, 1940 Gainesville, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Died: | July 16, 1992 (aged 51) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 270 lb (122 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Parker (Birmingham, Alabama) |
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| College: | Grambling State | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1963 / Round: 19 / Pick: 265 | ||||||
| AFL draft: | 1963 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Junious "Buck" Buchanan (born September 10, 1940 – died July 16, 1992) was an amazing American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was part of both the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). Buck was so good that he was put into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He also joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Buck Buchanan was very tall for a football player of his time. He stood at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) and weighed 270 pounds (122 kg). His great height gave him a huge advantage against other players. He was especially good at getting past the offensive linemen.
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Early Life and High School Football
Buck Buchanan grew up in Gainesville, Alabama. He went to A. H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama. While there, he was a star athlete in both football and basketball. He showed early on that he had a special talent for sports.
College Football Career
After high school, Buck Buchanan went to Grambling College in Louisiana. He continued to play football there and was a top player. He earned the title of letterman for his skills. He was also chosen as an NAIA All-America player. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
In 1996, Buck was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is one of four players from Grambling State to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These players were coached by the famous Eddie Robinson. The others are Willie Brown, Willie Davis, and Charlie Joiner.
Buck Buchanan's Professional Career
In 1963, Buck Buchanan was a highly sought-after player. He was picked in both the NFL and AFL drafts. The New York Giants chose him in the 19th round of the 1963 NFL draft. But the Kansas City Chiefs picked him first overall in the AFL Draft. His college coach, Eddie Robinson, called him "the finest lineman I have seen." Buck Buchanan was also the first black player ever chosen as the number one draft pick in professional football.
Skills and Dominance on the Field
People who watched Buck play were very impressed. He had the perfect size and athletic skills to be incredibly successful. He was especially good at stopping the opposing team's quarterback. In 1967, he even batted down 16 passes at or behind the line of scrimmage. This shows how quickly he could react.
Buck was also incredibly fast for his size. He could run the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds. He could also run the 100-yard dash in 10.2 seconds. This speed allowed him to cover a lot of ground. He could run from one side of the field to the other to make tackles.
Even though he faced tough opponents every week, Buck was very tough. He played in 182 games during his career. This included an amazing streak of 166 games played in a row. After playing a bit as a defensive end in his first year, he became the Chiefs' permanent defensive right tackle. He was chosen for his first AFL All-Star Game after only his second season. He played in six AFL All-Star games and two Pro Bowls.
Super Bowl IV Victory
Buck Buchanan was a key part of the Chiefs' strong defensive line. He played alongside Curley Culp, Aaron Brown, and Jerry Mays. Together, they formed a powerful "front four." Their teamwork led the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV. In that game, they played against the Minnesota Vikings. The Chiefs' defense was incredible, allowing the Vikings' runners only 67 yards. Buck Buchanan especially dominated the Vikings' center, Mick Tingelhoff.
Hall of Fame and Legacy
Buck Buchanan was chosen for the second-team of the American Football League All-Time Team. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. Then, in 1990, he joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He passed away two years later at the age of 51.
In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him number 67 on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. This put him right behind his former Chiefs teammate Bobby Bell. The Kansas City Chiefs also honored Buck by retiring his uniform number 86. This means no other Chiefs player will ever wear that number again.
See also
- Buck Buchanan Award
- List of American Football League players
