A Life Dedicated to the Game
The football world is remembering Lionel Thomas Taylor, who passed away on August 6 at his home in Rio Rancho, N.M., at the age of 89. His daughter, Bunny Taylor, confirmed his death, which prompted reflections across generations on the remarkable life of a man who excelled both as a record-setting wide receiver in the American Football League and as a groundbreaking coach in the National Football League.
Taylor’s career was defined by two hallmarks: extraordinary performance on the field and a transformative influence on the sidelines. He was the first receiver in professional football to record 100 catches in a season, setting a new standard for his position. Later, he became the N.F.L.’s first Black offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, shaping a path for future coaches of color.
Early Years and Rise to Stardom
Born on August 15, 1935, in Kansas City, Mo., Taylor grew up in Lorado, W.Va., where his stepfather worked in the coal mines and his mother as a chef. He excelled in football and basketball at an all-Black high school before attending New Mexico Highlands University. At Highlands, his multi-sport talent stood out, but it was on the football field where he earned all-conference honors as a wide receiver in 1956 and 1957, laying the foundation for his professional career.
Although undrafted in 1958, Taylor joined the Chicago Bears, where he briefly played as a linebacker. His receiving skills were not fully utilized there, but his determination kept him in the game, eventually leading him to the new American Football League and the Denver Broncos.
A Star Emerges in the AFL
When Taylor joined the Broncos in 1960, he transitioned to wide receiver, a change that revealed his true potential. In his debut game, he caught six passes for 125 yards, signaling his arrival as a major offensive force. That season he led the league with 92 receptions, 1,235 yards, and 12 touchdowns, immediately establishing himself as one of the AFL’s brightest stars.
The following year, he made history by becoming the first professional receiver to record 100 catches in a season, reaching the milestone in a 14-game schedule. “Although the catch set a record, not much was made of it in the news media or by the team,” he told The Denver Gazette in 2023. “I didn’t see it in my paycheck. Let’s put it that way.”
Sustained Excellence with the Broncos
Taylor’s dominance extended throughout the 1960s. Between 1960 and 1965, he led the AFL in receptions in five seasons and accumulated more catches than any player in professional football during that span. His consistent production made him one of the league’s most reliable and innovative receivers.
Though the Broncos struggled as a team, Taylor’s performances stood apart. He was named team MVP three times and earned multiple AFL All-Star selections. His impact was recognized in 1984 when he became one of the first inductees into the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Fame. He was also enshrined in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1970.
Transition to Coaching
Taylor ended his playing career with stints at the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers, retiring in 1968 with 567 career receptions. Soon after, he began coaching, joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970 as wide receivers coach. Under Chuck Noll, he mentored Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, helping develop two future Hall of Famers who were instrumental in the Steelers’ Super Bowl victories of the 1970s.
His success with the Steelers led him to the Los Angeles Rams, where in 1980 he was promoted to offensive coordinator, becoming the N.F.L.’s first Black coordinator. Under his leadership, the Rams’ offense climbed dramatically in league rankings. As he explained to The Los Angeles Times that year: “When a long pass is completed to a receiver with defensive guys nearby, people are going to call it lucky. But luck isn’t the point. The point is that by designing those plays and throwing the ball you’re giving yourself an opportunity to complete them. You’re giving yourself an opportunity to win with big plays. That’s aggressive football, and that’s what I believe in — an aggressive, intelligent offense.”
Broad Impact Across the Game
Beyond the Rams, Taylor’s coaching career spanned college football, the Cleveland Browns, and even international football with the London Monarchs. He also served as head coach at Texas Southern University, a historically Black institution, where he influenced young athletes despite the challenges of leading a rebuilding program.
His contributions were widely acknowledged within the sport. In 2024, the Pro Football Hall of Fame honored him with an Award of Excellence for his extensive coaching career. He was also named to the Professional Football Researchers Association’s Hall of Very Good in 2022. Tony Dungy, one of the first Black head coaches in the league, credited Taylor as “an inspiration and a role model to my generation of coaches.”
Taylor faced health challenges late in life, including extended hospitalizations in 2024 and 2025, before passing away just nine days short of his 90th birthday. His death marked the conclusion of a remarkable journey that began in small-town West Virginia and extended to some of football’s greatest stages.
His legacy lies not only in his statistics but in the doors he opened for others. As a pioneering player and coach, he reshaped expectations for wide receivers and created opportunities for minority coaches at the highest level of the sport. Lionel Taylor’s life reflects resilience, excellence, and innovation, ensuring his place among the enduring legends of American football.
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