‘One of the good guys.’ Former Chiefs defensive lineman Pellom McDaniels dies at 52
Pellom McDaniels’ arrival to the NFL followed an unusual route, a path in which he fell so far off the league’s radar that he spent a full season as a high school coach. That came before the six years he spent with the Chiefs.
The career that made him a prominent name in Kansas City almost never happened.
By the end, it was a mere blip on his proud resume anyway.
McDaniels, who embraced a life devoted to humanitarian causes during his playing career and a professorial one after it, died Sunday. He was 52.
McDaniels was a member of the vaunted Chiefs defenses from 1993-98, recording 81 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks. He finished his NFL career in Atlanta with the Falcons.
The NFL Alumni chapter announced the news of his death.
“So sorry to hear about the loss of a great man and teammate,” former Chiefs wide receiver JJ Birden wrote on Twitter. “He was definitely one of the good guys. He’ll be dearly missed.”
McDaniels and his wife launched two charities while playing with the Chiefs — the Arts for Smarts Foundation and the Fish Out of Water Writing Club, both aimed at bringing art to elementary and middle school kids. The Chiefs nominated him for the NFL Man of the Year Award.
After football retirement, his life’s work began. McDaniels earned a doctorate degree in American Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, focusing his education on the impact of black athletes on American history. He later became a professor of African American studies at the school, where he also served as the curator of African American collections in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library.
McDaniels also served on the board for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and later taught history at UMKC from 2007-12.
“Professor McDaniels was an outstanding leader and educator,” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote on Twitter. “I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all the communities he so positively impacted.”
An NFL player. A professor. An author. An artist.
The former once appeared the least likely to supplement that distinguished list. After a career at Oregon State, McDaniels failed to latch on with the Eagles out of training camp. As an alternative, he intended to play in the World League of American Football but first took a job as a high school football coach.
The Chiefs invited him to training camp, commencing his NFL career. In his six seasons in Kansas City, the Chiefs twice had the league’s No. 1 defense.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 10:26 AM with the headline "‘One of the good guys.’ Former Chiefs defensive lineman Pellom McDaniels dies at 52."