I’m sorry to confirm that Lionel Thomas Taylor, a true Denver Broncos legend, passed away on August 6, 2025, at the age of 89 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico WikipediaMile High Report.

I’m sorry to confirm that Lionel Thomas Taylor, a true Denver Broncos legend, passed away on August 6, 2025, at the age of 89 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico WikipediaMile High Report.

A Hall-of-Fame Career on the Field

Trailsblazing achievements:

• Taylor became the first professional football player to record 100 receptions in a single season (1961) in just 14 games WikipediaDenver Broncos.

• He led the AFL in receptions for five of its first six seasons, from 1960–1963 and again in 1965 WikipediaDenver Broncos.

Broncos’ franchise cornerstone:

• Over seven seasons (1960–1966), Taylor amassed 543 catches, 6,872 receiving yards, and 44 touchdowns—records that stood for decades Denver Broncos+1.

• His marking of 102.9 receiving yards per game in 1960 remains a franchise record Denver BroncosDenver Gazette.

• Taylor was a foundational member of the Broncos’ inaugural Ring of Fame class in 1984 Denver BroncosWikipediaColorado Sports Hall of Fame.

Beyond Playing: A Legendary Coaching Journey

After hanging up his cleats, Taylor embarked on a distinguished coaching career:

• He served as a wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, contributing to their consecutive Super Bowl wins (IX and X) in the 1970s WikipediaDenver Gazette.

• He later joined the Los Angeles Rams as WR coach and offensive coordinator, breaking barriers as one of the earliest Black coordinators in the modern NFL WikipediaDenver Gazette.

Taylor’s innovative coaching style earned him recognition as “the Thomas Edison of receiver coaches,” credited for shaping talents like Lynn Swann and John Stallworth First and Pen.

Recognition and Legacy

Despite his trailblazing career, Taylor remains notably absent from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a fact that many fans and historians view as an oversight WikipediaSIMile High Report.

However, his legacy has been acknowledged through other honors:

• In 2024, he received the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence for his post-playing contributions as a coach Wikipedia.

• He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1970, the first player from the Broncos to do so Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

• In 2022, the Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) named him to their Hall of Very Good, celebrating his outstanding accomplishments Wikipedia.