Lionel Taylor, the legendary Denver Broncos wide receiver who became the first player in professional football history to record 100 catches in a single season, has died at age 89. Taylor passed away on August 6, with the team announcing his death on Wednesday, August 14.
Taylor joined the Broncos’ inaugural team in 1960 after spending one season as a linebacker with the Chicago Bears in 1959. He switched positions to become a legendary American Football League wide receiver, establishing himself as one of the most dominant players of his era during his seven seasons in Denver from 1960 to 1966.
The Kansas City, Missouri native made history in 1961 when he became the first player in either the AFL or NFL to record 100 receptions in a single season, achieving this milestone in just 14 games while accumulating 1,176 receiving yards. This groundbreaking achievement came during an era when professional football was heavily focused on running plays rather than passing.
Taylor led the upstart AFL in receiving during five of the league’s first six seasons and topped 1,000 receiving yards in four of his first six years with the Broncos. His remarkable consistency saw him average 84.7 catches for 1,070.7 yards and 7.2 touchdowns per year from 1960 through 1965.
During his time with Denver, Taylor earned four All-Pro First Team honors and three Pro Bowl selections. His career statistics with the Broncos include 543 receptions for 6,872 receiving yards and 44 touchdown catches. These numbers rank him fourth in franchise history for receptions and receiving yards, and fifth in receiving touchdowns.
The team expressed their condolences in a social media statement: “We are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF wide receiver Lionel Taylor.” The Broncos noted that Taylor was an original Bronco and one of the most dominant players of his era, having tremendous impact on the franchise during his seven seasons in Denver.
After leaving Denver in 1967, Taylor spent the final two years of his playing career with the Houston Oilers before retiring following the 1968 season. His overall professional career statistics include 567 receptions for 7,195 yards and 45 touchdowns across 10 NFL seasons.
Taylor was inducted as one of four initial members into the Broncos Ring of Honor in 1984, cementing his legacy with the franchise. He was also inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1970.
Following his playing career, Taylor transitioned into coaching and became a groundbreaking figure in NFL history. He began as a wide receivers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1970, where he won two Super Bowl rings and coached Hall of Fame receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
Taylor made history again in 1980 when the Los Angeles Rams promoted him to offensive coordinator, making him the NFL’s first Black coordinator. He held this position from 1980 to 1981, breaking a significant color barrier that paved the way for future Black coaches in the league.
Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy credited Taylor as an important role model, indicating that Taylor’s breakthrough made it possible for him and other Black coaches like Herm Edwards and Ray Rhodes to eventually become head coaches. Dungy emphasized that their achievements would not have happened without Taylor’s pioneering efforts.
Taylor’s coaching career extended beyond the NFL. He served as wide receivers coach at Oregon State from 1982 to 1983, then became head coach at Texas Southern University from 1984 to 1988. He returned to the NFL in 1989 as tight ends coach and passing game coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.
Taylor later joined the World League of American Football, which became NFL Europe, serving as offensive coordinator and eventually head coach for the London Monarchs. He retired in 1998 after coaching the England Monarchs for one season.
In 2024, Taylor received recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one of 15 recipients of the third annual Awards of Excellence, honoring him as a significant contributor to the game of football. That same year, NFL Films released a feature special documenting Taylor’s career and impact in Denver and across the NFL.
Taylor’s nearly three-decade coaching career, combined with his record-setting playing achievements, established him as both a statistical pioneer and a trailblazer for diversity in professional football coaching positions.
