Former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Fred Arbanas has died at the age of 82.
Before the Chiefs had all-time greats at the tight end position like Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce, there was Arbanas. A former Michigan State Spartan, Arbanas was selected by the then-Dallas Texans in the 1962 AFL draft. The following season the team would move to Kansas City and take on their current nickname.
Arbanas played nine seasons in total with the Chiefs, recording 198 career receptions for 3,100 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. That was rare for a tight end in those days, when they were mostly used as in-line blockers.
Arbanas was selected to the Pro Bowl five times, back when the game actually meant something. He was also a three-time First-Team All-Pro and won the AFL Championship Game three times during his career. He played in Super Bowl I and became a Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.
Arbanas was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1973. He was also selected for the AFL All-Time Team. He was perhaps the best tight end in AFL history.
Three years after his final NFL season, Arbanas got into county politics, joining the Jackson County Legislature.
We are sad to learn about the passing of longtime Jackson County Legislator and advocate Fred Arbanas. His contributions to the county are too long to list here. He was a great man who will be dearly missed.
— Jackson County Dems (@jaxcodemocrats) April 17, 2021
In 1999, the Longview Lake Golf Course was renamed the Fred Arbanas Golf Course to commemorate his lifetime of service to the county.
