Lionel Taylor facts for kids

Lionel Thomas Taylor, born on August 15, 1935, is a famous American football player and coach. He played as a wide receiver, mostly for the Denver Broncos in the American Football League (AFL). Taylor was amazing at catching the ball. He led the league in receptions for five of the first six years the AFL existed.

He was the third wide receiver in professional football history to catch 500 passes. After his playing career, Taylor became a coach. He helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win two Super Bowls as an assistant coach. In 2024, he received an Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his coaching work. Even with all his achievements, he has not yet been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player.

College Football Career

Lionel Taylor went to New Mexico Highlands University. There, he was a star in both basketball and track. He also played football and was recognized as an all-conference wide receiver in 1956 and 1957. This means he was one of the best players in his college league.

Playing Professional Football

Taylor started his professional career in 1959. He played eight games as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). In 1960, he moved to the Denver Broncos in the AFL. This is where he changed positions to become a wide receiver.

Taylor became a key player for the Broncos. He is third in the team's history for total receptions (543) and receiving yards (6,872). He was named the Broncos' MVP in 1963, 1964, and 1965. He was also chosen as an AFL All-Star three times: in 1961, 1962, and 1965.

As one of the original Broncos players, Taylor was honored in the team's first Denver Broncos Ring of Fame class in 1984. He holds a record for the most receptions in a single game with 13 catches. He achieved this against the Oakland Raiders on November 29, 1964.

Setting Reception Records

In 1961, Lionel Taylor made history. He was the first professional football receiver to catch 100 passes in a single season. He did this in only 14 games. He also had four seasons where he gained over 1,000 yards receiving. From 1960 to 1965, he averaged 84.7 catches per year. This was the highest six-year total in professional football history at that time.

His average of 102.9 yards per game in 1960 is still a Broncos team record. Taylor finished his playing career with the Houston Oilers in 1967 and 1968.

During his time playing (1960–1968), the leading receiver in the AFL usually had more catches than the leading receiver in the NFL. Taylor was the first receiver to have more than 90 catches in a season. He was also the first to do it twice. No other receiver would lead the league with over 90 receptions in two separate seasons until Sterling Sharpe did it much later.

From 1960 to 1965, Taylor had an amazing period. He caught 508 passes for 6,424 yards and scored 43 touchdowns.

Coaching Career

After he stopped playing, Lionel Taylor began a long career as a coach. He was an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. During this time, the Steelers won two Super Bowl championships. He also coached for the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2022, the Professional Football Researchers Association recognized Taylor. They named him to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2022. This honor celebrates players who had great careers but are not yet in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

See also

• List of American Football League players