Otis Taylor, the former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver, has died at the age of 80.
Taylor is one of the best wide receivers in Chiefs history and was part of the Chiefs teams that made Super Bowl I and won Super Bowl IV. Taylor played his entire 11-year career in Kansas City and had 410 catches for 7,306 yards and 57 touchdowns.
“The Kansas City Chiefs organization is saddened by the passing of Otis Taylor,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said in a statement. As a family, we mourn his passing. Otis was dominant during his 11-year career, and played an integral role in the early success of our franchise. He became a Kansas City icon with his signature touchdown run in Super Bowl IV as he helped the Chiefs bring home our first Lombardi Trophy.
“He was one of the most dynamic receivers of his era, and he helped revolutionize the position. Off-the-field, he was compassionate and devoted to his community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” Otis’ legacy will live on forever.” as a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame.”
Taylor was a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection. He caught 58 passes for 1,297 yards and eight scores in his second season in 1966, averaging 22.4 yards per catch. The Chiefs went 11–2–1 in the AFL that season before losing 35–10 to the Packers in the first Super Bowl.
Taylor played in 11 regular-season games in 1969 as the Chiefs went 11–3. He had nearly 700 receiving yards during the regular season and caught a 46-yard TD pass from Len Dawson in the third quarter to seal the Chiefs lead. ‘ 23–7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. That Super Bowl win was the Chiefs’ only Super Bowl victory until Kansas City defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
Two seasons after the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV, Taylor led the merged NFL with 1,110 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches. He averaged nearly 18 yards a catch in his pro football career.
Taylor is still the most prolific wide receiver in Chiefs history and was the team’s all-time yardage leader until passed by Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Taylor currently ranks third on the Chiefs’ career receiving list behind Gonzalez and Travis Kelce and has a claim to be the best wide receiver in franchise history along with Tyreek Hill.
Taylor went to college at Prairie View A&M and is considered one of the best players in the school’s history. The Houston native was taken by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1965 AFL Draft. He was included in the 25-player senior candidate list for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, but was not included in the list of 12 senior candidate finalists.
