Former Denver Broncos star Lionel Taylor, an original member of the franchise and an inductee into their Ring of Fame, died earlier this month, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
He was 89. Taylor’s family confirmed that he died Aug. 6.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF wide receiver Lionel Taylor.
An original Bronco and one of the most dominant players of his era, Taylor had a tremendous impact on the franchise during his seven seasons in Denver (1960-66).
Our hearts go out to Taylor’s… pic.twitter.com/bjGKOtesgP
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 13, 2025
Taylor spent seven seasons playing for the Broncos, including in 1960 during their first season in the brand new AFL. He was playing semi-pro football after a run in college, and he spent his first season professionally with the Chicago Bears as a linebacker in 1959.
Taylor led the AFL in receiving in five of his first six seasons there, and he racked up 100 receptions during the 1961 campaign. That marked the first time in either NFL or AFL history that a player had hit that mark, and that record stood until 2000.
Taylor spent two seasons with the Houston Oilers then retired after the 1968 campaign. He had four seasons with at least 1,100 receiving yards and finished his career with 7,195 yards and 45 touchdowns.
He averaged 102.9 receiving yards per game in 1960, too, which is still the Broncos’ franchise record. He’s also fourth in team history in receptions and receiving yards. The Broncos inducted him into their Ring of Fame in 1984 as one of the four original members.
After his playing career, Taylor started coaching and spent time as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns. He spent two seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, and is believed to be the first Black coach to be named a coordinator in the league. Taylor also worked as an assistant at Oregon State and served as Texas Southern’s head coach from 1984-88. He wrapped up his coaching career with the London Monarchs.
Taylor most recently lived near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“We all need role models in life, and fortunately, there was a Lionel Taylor there that I could look at and say, ‘Yeah, this is possible,'” Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said last year, via the Broncos. “I came in the league with Herm Edwards and Ray Rhodes, and we all became head coaches. It would not have happened without Lionel Taylor.”
