The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 12-person committee has trimmed their list of senior, coaching and contributor candidates down to 24 finalists for the 2023 class. Unfortunately, no former Kansas City Chiefs advanced to the finalist round of voting.
Former Chiefs WR Otis Taylor, GM Carl Peterson, HC Marty Schottenheimer and scout Lloyd Wells each made it through to the semifinalist round, but they advanced no further. Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Randy Gradishar, Chuck Howley, Cecil Isbell, Joe Klecko, Bob Kuechenberg, Eddie Meador, Tommy Nobis, Ken Riley, Sterling Sharpe and Everson Walls made it through for the senior category. Roone Arledge, Don Coryell, Mike Holmgren, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Modell, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney Jr., Mike Shanahan, Clark Shaughnessy and John Wooten made it through for the coaching/contributor category.
Many were hoping that this would be the year that Taylor became the 11th member of the Super Bowl IV team enshrined in the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio. This year’s class was special because it gave Taylor his best chance yet, with up to three senior players being inducted.
As for the coaching/contributor class, Wells is long overdue for induction as the first full-time Black scout in professional football. His work bringing HBCU players into the fold in Kansas City helped the team to its early success.
There was also some support for the late Marty Schottenheimer to go in this year, but with such a backlog in the coaching/contributor category, it could be a long time before we see his induction.
