The Greatest Kansas City Chiefs, By the Numbers: #37

Player of any kind that I actually cried over~ I was 17 years old and getting ready for my senior year in high school! I was pumped about the Chiefs that year, considering that Joe was going to lead us to the promised land, and I was about to enter my senior year of football, I WAS PUMPED!

Then this happened, he who could not swim, but yet could not turn a death ear to the cries for help of children! Without knowing how to swim, ( his wife said he sunk like a ROCK when he tried to swim), he jumps in and tries to save all 3, coming up 2 shy amongst himself~

What a life to give, what a season gone astray but most of all. The Father, Husband and the PLAYER, lead me to believe, HE WAS IN THE PROMISED LAND!

I never knew Joe Delaney. I was too young to care much about the NFL when Joe Delaney played for the Chiefs. When I went to Chiefs games back in college, his was one of the names I didn’t recognize on the Ring of Honor.

Over the past year, after having read about him and about his life, here on Arrowhead Pride and in the S.I. article linked to here, I’ve come to not only know Joe, but to admire Joe.

And, while I grew up not knowing him, my son won’t. When we walk into the new Hall of Honor at the new Arrowhead and he asks me who these guys are, I’ll tell him Joe’s story. And I’ll hope that, someday, he can grow up to be the kind of man Joe was.

R.I.P., Mr. Joe D. I never knew you, but we’ll never forget you.

…is the greatest Chief of them all. he may not have the stats, but he was a gentleman, a warrior, and he sacrificed his career, his glory, his life, for three children he didn’t know.

The fact so many current Chiefs fans know so little about Joe Delaney, it’s a travesty. Hopefully, this will act as an education.

I didn’t know anything about Joe D until I read the “greatest chiefs” post on him. Thanks for the info, it’s sad to hear how it all played out, but it’s good to know that such a great person played for our team.

My most memorable Joe Delaney play was when he broke a long run against the Broncos in 81. He had run for a 75 yard TD that was called back for holding, and then ran one for an 82 yard TD one or two plays later. Talk about a back breaker! I remember doing some serious fist pumping at that point because it was clear the Chiefs had gotten themselves a GREAT RB! He was a class act all the way. It was a real blow to learn he had died, but he did it trying to save others. God bless you, Joe!, We miss you!!