Willie Lanier biography
Willie Lanier, in full Willie Edward Lanier, (born August 21, 1945, Clover, Virginia, U.S.), American skilled gridiron soccer participant who was an excellent defensive participant for the Kansas City Chiefs within the Sixties and ’70s, overturning the stereotype that African Americans couldn't deal with the important thing defensive place of center linebacker.
Lanier was named to the Little All-America crew (for gamers in small-college packages) whereas at Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland). In 1967 the Kansas City Chiefs chosen him within the second spherical of the primary mixed American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) draft. The Chiefs had misplaced 35–10 to the Green Bay Packers within the first Super Bowl earlier that 12 months and targeted on defensive gamers within the draft.
Lanier turned the beginning center linebacker in his rookie season, which was minimize quick by an harm. The subsequent 12 months, the Chiefs have been 12–2, and Lanier started a streak of eight consecutive Pro Bowl picks. In his third season, Lanier led the Chiefs to the ultimate AFL championship previous to the league’s merging with the NFL. As AFL champions, the Chiefs unexpectedly defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV in 1970, with Lanier making an interception and the protection shutting out Minnesota within the first half on the way in which to a 23–7 victory.
Although the Chiefs made the play-offs only one extra time in his profession, Lanier remained a defensive star within the league. Called “Honey Bear” by his teammates, Lanier was a ferocious tackler. After concussions early in his profession, he wore a specifically padded helmet to guard himself from his personal great collisions. He had 15 profession fumble recoveries and 27 go interceptions, with 2 returned for touchdowns. He was enshrined within the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.