Lionel Taylor facts for kids

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

Taylor was only the second player ever to lead a football league in receptions for at least five seasons. He was also the third wide receiver in professional football history to catch 500 passes. After his playing career, he became a successful assistant coach. He even won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2024, he received an Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his coaching work.

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.

Professional Football Journey

Taylor started his professional football career in 1959. He played eight games as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). The next year, he moved to the Denver Broncos in the new AFL. This is where he changed positions and became a wide receiver.

Denver Broncos Star

As a Bronco, Taylor became a key player. He is still third in all-time receptions (543) and receiving yards (6,872) for the Denver Broncos. He was named the Broncos' MVP three times: in 1963, 1964, and 1965. He was also an AFL All-Star in 1961, 1962, and 1965.

Taylor was one of the very first players for the Broncos. In 1984, he was honored by being part of the team's first-ever Ring of Fame. He holds a record for catching 13 passes in one game. He achieved this against the Oakland Raiders on November 29, 1964.

Setting Receiving 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 from catching passes.

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. Even today, his 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 the years Taylor played (1960–1968), the top receiver in the AFL usually had more catches than the top receiver in the NFL. Taylor was also the first receiver to catch more than 90 passes in a season. He was also the first to do it twice. No other receiver would lead the league with over 90 catches in two separate seasons until Sterling Sharpe did it much later.

Coaching Career

After he stopped playing, 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.

Head Coaching Overview

Lionel Taylor also had experience as a head coach in college football. He led the Texas Southern Tigers team from 1984 to 1988. His overall record as a college head coach was 13 wins, 41 losses, and 1 tie. He also coached in the World League of American Football (WLAF), where his record was 11 wins and 19 losses.

Awards and Recognition

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