At the end of today, there will be nine members of the 1969 Chiefs Super Bowl franchise in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: the owner, a coach and seven players. They’ve been recognized for their triumphant achievements in the final season before the AFL-NFL merger, but there are still others from that era that deserve to be immortalized among their peers. Here’s a look at other members of the 1969 team that belong in the Hall of Fame:
WR Otis Taylor
Taylor is the one player left from the 1969 Chiefs team that most will point to and say he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.
Taylor was an AFL leader in several categories before the merger, but his dominance transcended league play. No. 89 was the only receiver who exceeded 1,000 yards receiving during the 1971 season. He went to his first Pro Bowl in 1971 and his second the following season — back when the Pro Bowl actually used to mean something. Prior to that, he was an AFL All-Star in 1966. He also was a two-time first-team All-Pro selection. His accolades spanned the AFL and post-merger football.
At 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds, Taylor was an absolute pain for opposing defenders to cover. Quarterback Len Dawson had complete trust in Taylor, knowing that if he threw the ball his way, Taylor would be able to make a play. He became one of the most feared players in both the AFL and post-merger league. Ahead of his time, he produced on a level that was on par with today’s receivers and not the guys who played in the 1960s. He was a special player for his time unlike any other, and for that he deserves to be recognized as a Hall of Famer.
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DT Jerry Mays
Mays was one of the most underrated and important players on the Chiefs defense during the 1960s. He was a team captain during both championship appearances at Super Bowls I and IV. Some would call him the emotional leader of the defense.
Then-Chiefs coach Hank Stram said Mays was the most versatile defensive lineman he had ever coached.
“Jerry was the only man I ever coached who could play at an all-star level at every position on the line,” Stram said.
Mays was an ironman, appearing in all 140 possible games that he could have played in. Mays only played for one season in the post-merger NFL, and his dominance in the AFL was clear. He was a six-time all-star at multiple positions. He made two first-team All-AFL appearances, was a three-time AFL champion and made a Pro Bowl appearance during his sole season with the newly merged AFL and NFL.
The type of success and versatility that Mays saw was unfounded for the game back then. He was truly a one-of-a-kind player and leader deserving of consideration for the Hall of Fame.
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C/LB E.J. Holub
Holub started 113 games for the 1960s Chiefs and was a two-way player. Not only was his versatility a sight to behold in the regular season, but he’s the only player in history to start on both offense and defense in the history of the Super Bowl. Considering that two-way players have been gone from the NFL for more than half a century, he may be the only player to ever achieve this feat.
From 1961-1966, Holub had six consecutive seasons with either an AFL All-Star or first-team All-AFL appearance. In 1963 he tied for the most interceptions by a linebacker with five. He finished his career as a three-time AFL champion and a one-time Super Bowl champion.
He should be remembered as one of the toughest players of his era, succumbing to several knee injuries that required 11 total surgeries during his playing career. Ultimately the injuries prompted his switch to center and then long snapper before finally he retirement.
One of the most unique players from his era, Holub is a shoo-in for eventual recognition from the Hall of Fame Senior Committee.
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GM Jack Steadman
Steadman was the first general manager of the Chiefs franchise from its inception as the Dallas Texans in 1960 until 1976. He also served in other roles, including executive vice president, president, vice chairman and chairman. He’s the man responsible for a large portion of the business side of the franchise in its early years.
When the Texans moved to Kansas City in 1963, owner Lamar Hunt remained in Dallas. It was Steadman who uprooted his life to Kansas City and was the boots on the ground making sure things were tip-top in the day-to-day operations of the team.
Without Steadman there might not be a Chiefs franchise that we know and love today, in a very literal sense too. He helped negotiate the deal that brought the Texans to Kansas City, and his friendship with H. Roe Bartle helped the rebranded Kansas City Chiefs name come to pass.
Steadman also helped assemble the teams that won AFL championships and the first and only Super Bowl for Kansas City. It wasn’t all that easy acquiring talent either; the early competition between the AFL and NFL for talent was a battle. Top prospects were very literally guarded so they were unable to sign with the opposing league. Otis Taylor, for instance, had to be coaxed by Steadman to sneak away from the watch of the Dallas Cowboys to sign with the Texans.
As a crucial part of Chiefs and Texans history Steadman very much deserves to be in consideration for the Hall of Fame.
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