Kansas City Chiefs all-time Mount Rushmore

MLB Willie Lanier

The Kansas City Chiefs won their first Super Bowl back in 1969 via a 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Tulane Stadium. While Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson was the game’s Most Valuable Player, Hank Stram’s defense whipped up on Vikings’ quarterback Joe Kapp, who was seen on the sidelines in obvious discomfort. He was sacked three times and picked off twice in the 16-point setback.

Of course, when you trot out a defensive unit that would put six starters into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the results in some ways was predictable. There were defensive linemen Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp, cornerback Emmitt Thomas, safety Johnny Robinson and big-play linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier.

While Bell is certainly worthy of Mount Rushmore status, Lanier – a second-round pick by the Chiefs in 1967 from Morgan State – was a steady force for the franchise for 11 seasons from 1967-77. The eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro would finish with 27 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries. His physical presence epitomized Kansas City’s imposing unit and he, Bell (a 9-time Pro Bowler and 6-time All-Pro) and unsung Jim Lynch made up one of the great linebacking groups in pro football annals.