Lionel Taylor, a member of the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Honor and the first pro receiver to make 100 receptions in a season, died on Aug. 6 at age 89, the team announced on Wednesday.
Taylor also was the first Black man to hold a coordinator job in the NFL, according to NFL Films, when he served as the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator in 1980 and ’81.
Taylor made eight appearances for the Chicago Bears in 1959 before jumping to the new American Football League in 1960 with the Broncos. He played seven years in Denver, winning first-team All-Pro honors four times and making the Pro Bowl three times.
In 1960, he had an AFL-high 92 catches for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games, then followed up by logging 100 receptions for 1,176 yards and four scores in 14 games the next year.
Taylor topped the AFL in receptions five times during his stint with the Broncos. He concluded his playing career by playing for the Houston Oilers in 1967 and ’68.
In nine AFL seasons and 113 games, Taylor amassed 567 catches for 7,195 yards and 45 touchdowns. He still ranks among the Broncos’ all-time top five in each of those categories as he totaled 543 catches for 6,872 yards and 44 scores for Denver.
Taylor was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receivers coach for two Super Bowl championships in the 1970s before heading up the Rams’ offense.
The Broncos inducted Taylor into their Ring of Fame as part of the inaugural group in 1984.
–Field Level Media
