The late Lionel Taylor, an original member of the Denver Broncos, was a lionized warrior in professional football. He died on August 6 of 2025 at the age of 89. Taylor’s legendary career cast an enduring shadow on the franchise. It was instrumental in molding and influencing the culture of the burgeoning sport in its formative days.
When Taylor signed with the Broncos in 1960, he established himself immediately as a top-flight receiver. At the end of his career, he had led the American Football League (AFL) in receiving five times during the league’s first six seasons. As incredible as his performance in 1961 was, it only set a historic milestone. He did it with 100 receptions in only 14 games, the first player in professional football to ever reach that milestone. This record stood unchallenged for almost forty years. In 2000, Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey both surpassed it in accomplishing 100 receptions each.
On the field, Taylor was dominant during his seven seasons with the Broncos. There was no doubt about Taylor being an elite playmaker. He currently owns a crafty upset 82-catch record six times overall, including over 80 catches three times. His 102.9 receiving yards per game average in 1960 still stands as a team record to this day. Taylor capped the season with a monster 1,235 yards from 92 grabs in only 12 contests. This performance established him as one of the league’s dominant receivers.
In 1984, Taylor was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in honor of the exceptional contributions he gave to the team. He rejoiced with this honor with three other original members. He still sits fourth in franchise history for receptions and receiving yards. On top of that, he is tied for fifth in the nation in touchdown receptions.
Beyond the impact of his playing career, Taylor made important contributions to the profession of football coaching. He’s too often overlooked as the first African American coach to hold a coordinator position in the NFL. He then became offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams for the 1980 and 81 seasons. He has a remarkable coaching path. Specifically, he worked as a physician for the Cleveland Browns, Oregon State University, Texas Southern University, and overseas with the London Monarchs.
Taylor is a two-time Super Bowl winner, having served as the receivers’ coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His knowledge and leadership were key to achieving that success. His coaching legacy deepens just how far and in what ways he changed the game.
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