Remembering Lionel Taylor, a Pioneer, Mentor, Quiet Giant of Football

Lionel Taylor (87) hauls in his 500^th career reception during a game with the Boston Patriots on December 12, 1965. 

Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports

Lionel Taylor was never one to chase the spotlight. In a football world dominated by brash personalities and booming egos, Taylor stood apart. He was graceful, consistent and quietly excellent. Without fanfare, he redefined the wide receiver position, coached champions and quietly helped break racial barriers in coaching along the way.

Taylor passed away on August 6, at the age of 89, at his home in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a suburb of Albuquerque, nine days shy of his 90^th birthday.

His death leaves the football community reflecting not only on a career filled with historic firsts, but on the man, who gave it his best. A thoughtful mentor, a trailblazer, and, to many, the beating heart of the early Denver Broncos.

He was born August 15, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri. Later his family moved to southern West Virginia in Logan County where he grew up in the coal mining town of Lorado, an unincorporated community 10 miles east-northeast of Man.

Taylor attended Buffalo High School in Accoville where he excelled in basketball and football in the early 1950s. While at Buffalo, he was a teammate of Charley Cowan, who played for the Los Angeles Rams from 1961-75.

Taylor graduated from Buffalo in 1953 and played collegiately for New Mexico Highlands where he excelled in basketball, football and track.

Cowan soon joined Taylor at New Mexico Highlands and a third Man native, William “Tootie” Carter, who would go on to coach Man High School and become the school’s all-time winningest coach with 200 wins would soon follow.

Following graduation from New Mexico Highlands, Taylor would join the Chicago Bears in 1959 as an undrafted rookie free agent and would play on the defensive side of the football as a linebacker for the legendary coach George Halas.

Cut by the Bears after just one season, Taylor joined the Denver Broncos in 1960 for their inaugural season in the American Football League. A new start with a new team in a new league brought about a change of scenery and a change in position from linebacker to wide receiver.

In Taylor’s first season with the Broncos, he caught a league high 92 passes for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns. The following season Taylor etched his name into the record books becoming the first AFL/NFL wide receiver to catch 100 passes in a season finishing with 100 receptions for 1,176 yards and four touchdowns.

Taylor led the AFL in receptions in five of his first six seasons and had over 1,000 receiving yards in four of his seven seasons with the Broncos.

Taylor played two seasons with the Houston Oilers to close out his AFL career catching 24 passes for 323 yards and one touchdown.

His Broncos career spanned seven seasons (1960-66), during which he retired as the franchise’s leader with 543 receptions, 6,872 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns. Records today that still rank in the top five in franchise history.

In recognition of his achievements on the field, the Broncos inducted him into the Broncos Ring of Fame as an original member in 1984.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of #BroncosROF wide receiver Lionel Taylor,” the team said on X. “An original Bronco and one of the most dominant players of his era, Taylor had a tremendous impact on the franchise during his seven seasons in Denver (1960-66). Our hearts go out to Taylor’s family and friends.”

After retirement, Taylor embarked on a respected coaching career. He served as wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-76), winning two Super Bowls IX and X and coached Hall of Fame receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.

Taylor joined the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff, first as a receivers coach (1977-79) before being named offensive coordinator (1980-81), becoming one of the first African American coordinators in NFL history.

He also had stops at the collegiate ranks, serving as receivers coach at Oregon State (1982-83) and as the head coach at Texas Southern (1984-88). In 1989, the Cleveland Browns hired him to coach tight ends, the following season the Browns made him their passing game coordinator.

Taylor returned to coaching after a four-year absence to serve as offensive coordinator for the NFL Europe’s London Monarchs (1995-96). He was head coach and offensive coordinator of the Monarchs from 1996-97 before taking over as head coach of the England Monarchs in 1998.

In 2024, Taylor was one of 15 individuals to receive the Award of Excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his impactful work as an assistant coach.

Despite his accolades—Broncos Ring of Fame, a coaching resume dotted with champions and a place in the heart of the AFL’s founding legacy—Taylor never made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His family has requested privacy, but said he died peacefully at home. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lorencita, two daughters, Lavern and Loretta, and several grandchildren.

Taylor’s impact went beyond statistics and titles. He mentored hundreds of players and coaches, many of whom credit him with shaping their careers and values, known for his humility, sharp football mind and unwavering professionalism, Taylor quietly pushed boundaries—on and off the field.

His career was a masterclass in professionalism, and his influence still echoes in the routes run by the receivers today, coaches pacing the sidelines and the quiet leaders doing the work behind the scenes.

More than records or rings, he leaves behind a legacy of dignity, devotion and doing it the right way.

PHOTO | Duane Howell/The Denver Post via Getty Images