Fumbles, incompletions, and interceptions in football are inevitable. They are a part of the game.
So too, it seems are fumbles, incompletions, and interceptions inevitable in football writing.
In my recent articles, Kansas City Chiefs Greatest Defensive Players Ever – Part One and Kansas City Chiefs Greatest Defensive Players Ever – Part Two, I chose six of the greatest Chiefs defenders ever: Jim Lynch, Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, and Derrick Thomas.
However, I did not go far enough. There were a few worthy players I missed, as ArrowheadOne readers quickly pointed out. In a feeble attempt to recover my fumble, I humbly present you the ones that I foolishly missed.
Curley Culp (1968-1981) – Defensive Tackle
In one of the greatest trades in Chiefs history, head coach Hank Stram nabbed a six-foot-one, 265-pound country boy out of Arizona State from the Denver Broncos, named Curley Culp
It was Culp, in Hank Stram’s KC Stack defense that revolutionized the nose tackle position. Never was this more on display than in Super Bowl IV, where Culp lined up over center Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff and absolutely shut down the Minnesota Vikings with the help of teammates Buck Buchanan and Willie Lanier.
Alas, as brilliant as the trade for Culp from the Broncos was, the Chiefs, in 1974, made one of the worst trades in their sixty-year history. They sent Culp and a first-round draft pick to the Houston Oilers for John Matuszak.
Culp promptly showed the Chiefs the error of their ways by being named the 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Oh, and the Oilers used the draft pick from the trade to draft Hall of Famer, Robert Brazile.
Culp would play six years with the Oilers, before being traded to the Detroit Lions in 1981. Injuries caused the godfather of nose tackles to retire that same year. Oakland Raiders HOF center, Jim Otto mused,
“Curley Culp was perhaps the strongest man I ever lined up against.”
Culp was a key member of that 1969 Chiefs defense that took home the Lombardi Trophy (before we know it as the Lombardi Trophy) and considered by many to be the best defense that ever graced the gridiron.
So great was the defense, that the Pittsburgh Steelers famed Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s tried to unsuccessfully to emulate it. Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Joe Greene admitted as much.
“That was the first great defense. We tried to emulate the Chiefs. We ran the KC Stack my first three years. Several other teams tried to run it as well. That was the defense we were playing (in the 1972 AFC title game, a 21-17 loss) when the Dolphins went undefeated. I was playing over the tackle instead of over the guard. Obviously, we didn’t play it as well as Kansas City did. We got better when we played the stunt 4-3.”
Culp amassed 68 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries in a fourteen-year career. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, First-Team All-American, and is in the Chiefs Hall of Fame.
Culp was named as a senior nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. After a much too long wait, Culp was officially inducted that same year.
Johnny Robinson (1960-1971) –
Safety and Flanker
Johnny Robinson was the Chiefs first superstar safety. Robinson was drafted in the first round by the Dallas Texans in the 1960 draft, although the NFL Detroit Lions drafted him in the first round, too. Apparently not a Motown fan, Robinson opted for the Texans.
Robinson was originally a flanker on offense for the Chiefs. He played the position for two years, rushing for 658 yards on 150 carries, and 1,228 receiving yards on 77 receptions along with 15 touchdowns.
In his third year, Stram switched the flanker to safety. Robinson would go on to play for the Texans/Chiefs for the next twelve years, helping them win a Super Bowl, and establishing himself as one of the toughest players in football.
In the 1970 Super Bowl, Robinson took the field despite having suffered three broken ribs the week before in the AFL Championship game against the Raiders. Fellow teammates were skeptical that Robinson would be able to face the Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Retorted Robinson,
“Hey, I’m playing.”
Play he did! Robinson not only forced a fumble, he recovered it, too. As if that weren’t enough, he also nabbed an interception. Said defensive line coach Tom Pratt of the injured safety,
“Just was a great player. That was one of the toughest acts by a player, I think, in a game I’ve ever been associated with in all the years I coached.”
Robinson would suffer a career ending injury in what remains the longest game in NFL history on Christmas Day 1971. Unfortunately, the Chiefs lost against the Miami Dolphins 24-27 after four quarters and 22 minutes, and 40 seconds of OT.
Robinson is a one time Pro Bowler, AFL, All-Time Team member and is a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame with Culp.
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Lance Alworth of Robinson said of Robinson, “He was the best defensive back I ever played against.”
Robinson wrapped up his career with 57 interceptions, 741 interception return yards, and 2 defensive touchdowns, on defense (we already covered his offensive statistics above).
Just this year, Robinson was named as a senior nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Chiefs fans will see our star safety finally don the yellow blazer next month in Canton, OH.
In a rather weak defense of not originally selecting Culp and Robinson, I had both in my original Honorable Mentions. Speaking of the Honorable Mentions, I would like to add the following Chiefs:
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- Art Still
- Deron Cherry
- Dino Hackett
- Lloyd Burress
- Kevin Ross
- Gary Barbaro
- Dontari Poe
- Gary Spani
- Dan Saleaumua
In hindsight, maybe I didn’t fumble, and maybe sometimes, what looks like a fumble, is really just an incomplete pass.
Let’s hope I redeem myself and today’s article goes for six. Fortunately, I have more “Greatest Chief’s” articles yet to write in the weeks ahead. Let’s hope I don’t fumb… err… throw another incompletion, or Laddie Morse might just bench me!
Bonus Fun Fact: Curley Culp is often asked if Curley (with an “e”) is his given first name. Yes, it is! Shirley, his twin sister, was born 15 minutes before the Hall of Famer.
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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