Lionel Taylor, the primary participant in professional soccer historical past to document 100 catches in a single season and a member of the Denver Broncos‘ Ring of Fame, died Aug. 6, per his household and the Broncos. He was 89.
An undrafted free agent out of New Mexico Highlands in 1958, Taylor started his professional profession as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears earlier than switching each leagues and positions, becoming a member of the newly-minted Denver Broncos of the AFL as a large receiver for the 1960 season. Taylor excelled at receiver at a stage few had seen earlier than, and in 1961 he would change into the very first participant in professional soccer historical past to document 100 catches in a season with 1,176 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
Taylor’s historic 1961 season got here simply after he caught 92 passes on the Broncos’ inaugural 1960 crew, making him the one professional soccer participant to ever lead a league with 90 or extra receptions in two separate seasons — a feat which might not be matched once more till Sterling Sharpe had three between 1989 and 1993.
Taylor averaged greater than 80 catches a yr throughout his first six seasons with the Broncos, and through that interval he would document 508 receptions for six,424 yards and 43 touchdowns, outpacing the most effective receivers within the rival NFL. By comparability, Bobby Mitchell had 338 receptions for five,571 yards and 43 touchdowns because the NFL’s main receiver throughout this similar timeframe. Taylor led the AFL in receptions 5 occasions, whereas additionally incomes three AFL All-Star nods and 5 picks as both a primary or second crew all-AFL choice.
After ending his enjoying profession with the Houston Oilers in 1967 and 1968, Taylor would take pleasure in an extended and influential profession in teaching that noticed him win two Tremendous Bowls because the huge receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the place he coached franchise greats equivalent to John Stallworth and Lynn Swann to championship glory. Taylor additionally coached in Tremendous Bowl XIV as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, overseeing the inconceivable midseason rise of quarterback Vince Ferragamo.
Taylor would earn the chance to change into a head coach on the school stage at Texas Southern from 1984-88 earlier than returning to the NFL with the Cleveland Browns for 2 seasons. He would additionally later coach in NFL Europe with the London Monarchs.
Taylor was among the many 4 preliminary inductees into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in 1984, and he had been honored by the crew whereas available at a Broncos sport as not too long ago at 2024. Whilst NFL passing video games superior and the league’s receiving expertise flourished, Taylor’s 100 receptions in 1961 stood because the Broncos’ franchise document all the way in which till 2000, when it was damaged by Ed McCaffrey’s 101 receptions. As of 2025, Taylor’s 5.7 receptions per sport stays a franchise document.
Taylor had lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in his later years.
