Chiefs Countdown to the Draft- 10

There are ten days until the 2018 NFL Draft. Each day we’ll provide a bit of fun facts about the Kansas City Chiefs… or perhaps a trivia question. Since we have “10” days until this draft… the theme today is 10.

The Kansas City Chiefs have retired the jersey numbers of 10 players since their inception in 1960. They include:

• 1. #3 K Jan Stenerud
• 2. #16 QB Len Dawson
• 3. #18 DB Emmitt Thomas
• 4. #28 RB Abner Haynes
• 5. #33 RB Stone Johnson
• 6. #36 FB Mack Lee Hill
• 7. #58 LB Derrick Thomas
• 8. #63 LB Willie Lanier
• 9. #78 LB Bobby Bell
• 10. #86 DT Buck Buchanan

1. #3 K Jan Stenerud– first placekicker in the NFL Hall of Fame. First kicker from Norway in the NFL. Played for the Chiefs from 1967 to 1979.

2. #16 QB Len Dawson– the Chiefs first and greatest QB ever. Led the team to four titles: three AFL Championships and one Super Bowl victory where he was the MVP.

3. #18 DB Emmitt Thomas– Thomas was a DB who owns the Chiefs all-time INT record at 58. He’s currently a DB coach for K.C..

4. #28 RB Abner Haynes– was both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the AFL’s inaugural season, 1960. Oddly enough, he won a Super Bowl but not with KC. He got his ring the year before the Chiefs did while playing with the Jets.

5. #33 RB Stone Johnson– one of two men who had their number retired by the Chiefs because they died from a football related injury. Johnson, an Olympic sprinter, was also a kick returner and RB but fractured his neck in a preseason game then died 10 days later as a result.

6. #36 FB Mack Lee Hill– Hill was the other player who had his number retired by KC from a football related injury. He was having a torn ligament repaired two days after the game he was injured in, but had an embolism while on the operating table.

7. #58 LB Derrick Thomas– one of the best rush-linebackers in NFL history. Holds the Chiefs all-time sack record with 126.5 and set an NFL single-game record with 7 sacks vs. Seattle (a game which the Chiefs lost). Many know that he died as the result of a car accident in which he was attempting to get to airport and fly with two friends to see the NFC Championship game in St. Louis. Thomas and another passenger, who were not wearing seat belts, died while the other passenger who was wearing a seat belt walked away from the crash. What many may not know is that Thomas lived for 16 more days after that when a blood clot from his paralyzed legs traveled to his lungs, taking his life.

8. #63 LB Willie Lanier– Lanier was the NFL Man of the year in 1972, HoF Member, was an 8-times All-Pro, a Super Bowl winner, and a member of the NFL’s 75-Year Anniversary All-Time Team. He was part of the one of the best LB corps ever including Jim Lynch and Bobby Bell.

9. #78 LB Bobby Bell– if you took QBs and WRs out of the mix, Bell would be up for debate as the best player in NFL history. Bell played at 6-foot-4, 230 as an OLB and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash. Bell’s incredible athleticism and production earned him so many awards both at the college and pro levels it would fill a separate article. Now, Bobby Bell is a Motivational speaker. Has to be considered as the Chiefs all-time best.

10. #86 DT Buck Buchanan– imagine a 6-foot-7 inch, 270 pound defensive tackle… in 1963. Oh yeah, he ran a 10.2 seconds 100-yard dash. Yes, he stuck out and stood out as a load to handle. Greatly athletic, he once knocked down 16 passes in one game. Part of the 1969 squad that won the Super Bowl, he made Pro Bowls and is in the NFL HoF.

10… and counting down.

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