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The Kansas City Chiefs have three players that fall into this category. What is eery about this is they all played one position-running back.
Joe Delaney came out of Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Not a huge school by any stretch but the Chiefs scouting department was sold on him right away, making him their top pick in the 1981 draft. That year he rushed for 1121 yards and was UPI NFL Rookie of the Year, then was named to the AFC Pro Bowl in the strike shortened 1982 season. Delaney was trying to save a couple kids who were playing in a park in Ruston, Louisiana. They were playing in a pond that clearly wasn't designated for swimming. One kid was saved, but the second wasn't and he died along with Joe Delaney himself. After his death there was a foundation set up on his behalf by KC Chief fans called "37 Forever", which is also associated with the American Red Cross for a variety of subjects, particularly swimming lessons. It was set up for disadvantaged kids. 37 was Delaney's number.
Stone Johnson came out of Grambling University. He previously had been named to the U.S. Olympic Track Team, had a lot of potential. Wasn't drafted by either league but Kansas City signed him as a free agent in the 1963 draft. In an exhibition game against the Oakland Raiders Johnson suffered a cracked vertebrae in his neck. He went into a coma and sadly never came out of it, dying ten days later.
The one player that long time Chief fans talk of the most though was Mack Lee Hill. He was 5'11" and 227 pounds and went by the nickname "Mack the Truck." Hill came out of Southern University and like Johnson was not drafted, but signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in the 1964 draft.. Like Joe Delaney he was named league Rookie of the Year. Halfway through his second season he tore a ligament in his knee. The next couple days as surgery was performed severe complications set in and Hill died on the operating table. At first the thought was something went wrong with the anesthesia but it was determined later that Hill had suffered an embolism. From what I remember he was on the table for hours fighting for his life.
After the 1965 season head coach Hank Stram set up an award called the "Mack Lee Hill" award to the rookie of the club with the most contribution for that specific year.
Like Delaney, Hill was extremely popular with Chief fans. Both were named Rookie of The Year and had bright futures ahead of them, along with Johnson. Kansas City Chief owner Lamar Hunt immediately retired Stone Johnson's number when he died and of course Hill's and Delaney's were retired as well.
i think i remember delaney, he was good and a good person too
Bo was one of the most exciting and impressive athletes I ever watched play. I have often wondered how great he would have been if he had not gotten injured or if he had concentrated completely on one sport or the other. Dude was just a beast.
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