More Kansas City Chiefs should be in Pro Football Hall of Fame, survey says
.JPG "FILE: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson prepares to handoff to running back Mike Garrett (21) as running back Robert Holmes (45) and guard Ed Budde (71) lead the play during the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 11, 1970.")
Kansas City Chiefs who played in the AFL might be getting shortchanged in the Hall of Fame, according to a recent survey involving members of the media and NFL team and league management.
Specifically, wide receiver Otis Taylor, who died earlier this month, and offensive linemen Jim Tyrer and Ed Budde were named prominently on surveys conducted by Power Poll.
The poll asked respondents to name the best wide receivers from the 1960s who are not in the Hall of Fame. Only three from the AFL, which was better known for its passing than the NFL, are enshrined: Don Maynard, Lance Alworth and Fred Biletnikoff.
Taylor, who played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Chiefs — and led the AFL in yards per reception in one season and the NFL in yards per game in another — was by far the choice in this poll. He received 88 votes to 18 for runner-up Lionel Taylor.
“Otis Taylor not in the Hall of Fame — that’s criminal,” said Bud Geracie, sports editor of the Bay Area News Group.
Pollsters are given an opportunity to respond.
Another question — who are best players from the AFL not enshrined? — was based on this idea: In the Hall of Fame, 21 of 22 players from the NFL’s All-1960s team are in Canton, but only 10 of 22 are represented from the All-AFL team.
The choices were Budde, a guard; Tyrer, who played tackle; defensive end Gerry Philbin; cornerback Dave Grayson; and defensive tackles Tom Sestak and Houston Antwine.
Budde and Tyrer finished 1-2, with Budde receiving 34 and Tyrer getting 31 of the 146 votes.
The Chiefs’ 87 victories and three championships topped the AFL in its 10-year history (1960-69), and eight members of those teams are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. According to this survey, there should be more.
This story was originally published March 29, 2023 at 9:42 AM.