Fun story: Willie Lanier grew up next door to my mom and they were childhood friends. Whenever the Super Bowl comes to Tampa where my mom lives now, he calls her and my dad to come to the parties with him. One particular party, my parents and Willie were hanging out having a good time, when Warren Sapp walked in the room. Everyone was crowding around him and he was acting alllll cool, with his sunglasses and his posse. All of a sudden Willie shouted out, "HEY SAPP!" Warren turned around like WTF, until he realized it was Willie and instantly--he whipped his glasses off, came right over, and shook his hand saying, "Oh, Mr. Lanier! Very nice to see you, sir." lol
I was his bartender in Richmond where he lives and works now and he asked if I wanted to meet Ray Lewis but I had to go with him to New York while he filmed that panel a few years ago with all those great LBs. I was willing to lose my job but not my house so I couldn't go but they facetimed me which was dope.
It's a bit weird seeing a MLB wear #63, DT #88 Page, CB #81 Lane, QB #60 Graham at the same time it makes these guys unique and stand out which resembles their talent.
The AFC always had out position or odd numbers like 00, or numbers in the 90's, a lot of single numbers,NFL receivers didnt wear single numbers. george blanda wore 24.I guess in the 60's , the NFL settled on more conventional numbers because on some footage i saw otto graham was 60 something in the 50 's .lou groza was a kicker and wore 76..but he was also a 2 way player being a lineman also.
@@homoerectussemenallyretent6638 Cardinals safety Larry Wilson wore #8; Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds wore #64: Ted Hendricks broke in with the NFL Colts wearing #83. I could go on. It wasn't just the AFL/AFC. All of pro football was doing it.
These films never get old. I stopped by wills this afternoon to wish him a late birthday. He's in great shape. Always a honor to speak with him. The man was and still is my hero. The recent loss of Mr. Lynch is a tragedy. The trio of Lynch,Lanier and Bell will never be forgotten. Never. Even more so as the beautiful human beings they always have been outside of the game. Will happy birthday, so happy you made it around again. Cheers my friend.
The most cerebral of linebackers, Lanier could sniff out what the offense was about to do based on lineup, personnel, and probability. He turned dominating at his position into an exact science and he almost always had the correct formula to make the stop.
OL HANK WAS A GOOD MAN. MY RESPECT TO HIM TO PUT IT TO THE WORLD THAT RACE??COLOR??… THE LORD SAYS HE LAID HIS LIFE DOWN FOR ALLLLLLLLLLL. LOVE IT !! GLORY TO GOD HIMSELF.
As we all know the AFL, was far ahead (lightyears) ahead of the NFL in drafting black players from small colleges. And the first team to do that from the old NFL was the Pittsburgh Steelers, with #1 pick Joe Greene of North Texas State followed by guys like LC Greenwood of Arkansas A &M, Dwight White from East Texas State, John Stallworth from Alabama A & M and so forth.
Truthfully, only some coaches, and Player Personnel Directors. In the old NFL, Grambling was a school that was becoming a hot bed for talented football players. Both Lombardi and Paul Brown, were acquainted with Coach Eddie Robinson.
And Then Willie Lanier Is One Of The Most Complete Leaders I've Ever Witnessed. The Respect His Team Had For Him Was Arguably The Intimate Sort Of Trust In Any Professional Sport. For A Coach To Tell Willie Lanier That The Guys Won't Kneel, And Then 63 Proceed To Lay Down The Command To Kneel. They Kneeled Without Hesitation. That's Both Respect And Discipline.
A fun thing is now looking back as a fan of football, and the Raiders since the 1970s, is to appreciate the players on the other side, and think, "Man, it would have been great if he were on our team." Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Bobby Bell, Curly Culp, Emmitt Thomas... seriously respected opponents.
Jim Lynch was a MLB at Notre Dame. He was asked "when did you know you were going to outside LB?" His response: "When I saw Willie Lanier play." Down in front! Get a knee! They all take a knee 🤣
Garland Boyett, #52, of the Oilers, was also one of the first Black middle linebackers. Impressive here how he knocks the San Diego lineman out of the play on an outside run, then wraps up the runner. That's textbook defense. Jessie (The Hammer) Tuggle of the Falcons was built like Lanier - 5', 11" and over 230 pounds - and hit like him, too. He reminds me of Willie Lanier.
There aren't many guys from this era of football that could play today but this guy is different because he easily could. His skill set then translates too now. He might not be like a Wagner or Kuechly but he definitely could play now.
The fact that he could play right now speaks so highly about how good he was . Imagine how good he would be if he grew up with today’s nutrition and training
I am from South Africa, i don't fully understand the game yet & but it's see the guy who paved the way for some of favorite players like Lawrence Taylor, Ray Lewis.
Man for man, the Super Bowl IV Chiefs defense was the best of all time. Six Hall of Fame players: Curley Culp, Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, Emmitt Thomas, Johnny Robinson. Jim Lynch and Jerry Mays were borderline HOF’s, too. And yes, ALL of these players would have been just as good in today’s game!
I was watching a video interview with Ken Stabler & he recalled a time the Raiders were playing the Chiefs. Marv Hubbard was the running back, who went about 6'1", 243 ponds. He pointed at Willie Lanier & screamed, "Hey, you big S.O.B, I'm running it right there!" And points between the center and left guard. They run the play, & Willie Lanier cracks Hubbard like a piece of firewood. He's looking out his earhole, blood coming out both nostrils, goes back to the huddle saying, "I'm never doing that again!" Oh, & Marv Hubbard was drinking cold medicine all week, which also contained amphetamines in it. To make him faster I guess. That popped into my head while watching this.
The legend is, the Chiefs equipment trainer placed the padding on the OUTSIDE of Laniers helmet (along with the padding that was on the inside) to protect the OTHER teams players. WOW!
Sitting with friends and family talking about old football my aunt comes up out of no where and was like "you knoe what let's call him?" NOT DURING THE SB LMAO
True story about Willie Lanier.... in the late 90's Mr. Lanier would fly into KC and rent cars at the place I worked. I met him on a few occasions. One time he was returning a car and had taken some time to talk to us at the counter. This man busts through the front doors and runs up to Mr. Lanier and says "I need to get to the terminal right now. I'm going to miss my flight". Mr. Lanier took off his hat and calmly explained "sir, I can see why you are confused that this is a chauffeur's hat. However, this is a Greek fisherman's hat. You are going to have to talk to one of these people about the bus." The guy went outside and waited for the bus.
The Chiefs defense of 1969 is rated as 4 best ever. Chuck Knoll of the Steelers built the Steelers defense after the Chiefs defense. Stram would put a defensive tackle over the center. Knowing most centers weren't very heavy Buchanan or Culp would simply destroy the center, just like Joe Green did.
Butkus was a great athlete, but the position had never seen the kind of speed of Willie Lanier. Offensive centers and guards trying to cut him off? Not too often. He was a player that made offensive coaches rethink strategy.
There was a time when players played football because they loved playing. They loved the battle. It was a great show. Willie Linear was one of those men! He played to hit. He played to play, for the love of playing. Before steroids, before strength programs, before amino acids, before pass runners were protected from getting hit coming out of the backfield, before players were down when they were merely grabbed, Butkus, Nitschke, Lambert, and Linear prevailed by making textbook yet vicious tackles on players that could take a hit. They were the greatest in a time when the game was the greatest! And they did it by being smart and without tattoos, fishing tackle in their noses, and hooks in their mouths and ears.
I remember the 72 pro-bowl. Willie Lanier was on the.cover team and some lightning fast running back took the kickoff and was racing up the sideline. Willie met him in a headon collision that sent the running back flying in the opposite direction. Best hit ever
@@weylandbangerter638 Willie, Jim Lynch, and Bob Bell (KC Chiefs) were three of the best LBs, especially as a team, ever to play. Because of WL's size (about 5' 11" and 220) in a time of 6' 3" 240-pounders (Butkus and Nitschke), he was often overlooked. But he could play, and he could hit. 1970 Super Bowl Champs.
My only regret as a fan was that I did not get to watch the AFL. When I started following the game the merger had already been 5 years in. But there would be references to this league and how it was wished by many that they had it back.
Most of the teams wanted the merger. It was better for their bottom line. The weaker AFL teams were losing money. Al Davis, was the force for initially trying to retain the league as separate. He had a few followers, but it was a minority group. Oddly enough, it was the Raiders who transitioned the best in the merger. Soon, the AFL mad bombing was gone, as they became a power running team, with a great intermediate passing attack.
Not underrated! He was feared in The NFL! but overlooked by NFL fans!! isn't like KC was a big market area! But I remember him as great run stopper! You couldn't run up the middle against him! The goal line stands against Broadway Joe & The Jets led to their Superbowl win against the Vikings! KC & Hank Stram's ball control and unusual offensive alignments kept the Purple People Eaters off balance the whole game! But Willie's Defense & Leadership just dominated Joe Kapp and the potent Viking offense all day! Willie played a Great Game! It was my first Superbowl I put money on! Almost $100.00! That's a lot of 1, 2 and the big spenders 5 dollars bets in 7th & 8th graders! Everyone thought Minnesota would go through The Chiefs like a hot knife through butter! But Lanier proved otherwise! Oh and the Sobol's NFL films! They featured Willie Lanier & The KC's Defense two weeks before the playoffs started! If a person watched the NFL films they showed before every Sunday's afternoon NFL game! You might've learned something about football and other NFL & AFL teams and their players! Willie Lanier is in the Trinity of Middle Linebackers of the 60s-70s Nitschke, Butkus & Lanier! The Father, Son & Holy Ghost!
Okay.... More than 50 years after the 1967 draft I still can't decide if Alan Page or Willie Lanier would have been my first pick to build a defense around.
So back in the day black didn't play Middle Linebacker because the NFL didn't think they were intelligent enough to play that position. We came a long way as a nation.
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN BALTIMORE, Md. ONE OF THE NFL'S GREATEST MIDDLE LINEBACKER AND A HALL OF FAMER. I WATCHED THAT SUPER BOWL. THE VIKINGS COULD DO NOTHING, AND THE CHIEFS DOMINANTED THAT GAME.
Where is the line. Football today is a different sport entirely from long ago, so at what point do you say these records are not that impressive and they would have never been able to achieve them today...?
Tom Kramer What. Seriously. Look at how much has changed from not being able to touch the qb helmet. Being able to contact the runner on his route. For gods sake, the field goal post was in front of the end zone. In my mind they are not even the same game anymore.
????? Considering that they played with less rules; And less games per season pre 1970 only 12 today's who benefit from16 games. Night Train Lane's record still holds. Don Hutson set 22 records half of which still stand today. Btw, Guys like Archie Manning, Tarkentan, Staughbach, and Bobby Douglas, pioneered the mobile QB.
Fun story: Willie Lanier grew up next door to my mom and they were childhood friends. Whenever the Super Bowl comes to Tampa where my mom lives now, he calls her and my dad to come to the parties with him. One particular party, my parents and Willie were hanging out having a good time, when Warren Sapp walked in the room. Everyone was crowding around him and he was acting alllll cool, with his sunglasses and his posse. All of a sudden Willie shouted out, "HEY SAPP!" Warren turned around like WTF, until he realized it was Willie and instantly--he whipped his glasses off, came right over, and shook his hand saying, "Oh, Mr. Lanier! Very nice to see you, sir." lol
Lol ! Thats a great story. W/L is that dude...
thats a really cool story, tells you something about the respect even legends like Sapp have for incredible players like Lanier.
Great story. Lanier was one of the greatest & Sapp is a student of the game & deeply respects the true greats.
I was his bartender in Richmond where he lives and works now and he asked if I wanted to meet Ray Lewis but I had to go with him to New York while he filmed that panel a few years ago with all those great LBs. I was willing to lose my job but not my house so I couldn't go but they facetimed me which was dope.
I'm going to end up watching all 100 of these
I enjoyed all 💯!
Lol me too
Felt the same way. I already have. It's a great trip.
That’s what I’m doing right now
Go Bucks during the quarantine definitely
Hank Stram did it the right way. I do not care what you look like, just get on the field and kick ass. That's how it is really done.
Intelligence is truly blind. You either have it or you don't.
Lanier was one of the best ! Very consistent, definitely a H O Famer !
Lanier was a monster...HIGHLY underrated.
He made the all time centennial team.
Yeah, no one connected with football ever underrated Willie Lanier. He got on every offensive radar real quick.
He was NEVER underrated by his peers
I love learning about all these legendary players
"take a knee!". Everyone takes a knee so he can see...I have never seen anything like that. Wow
That's respect!
Being a former football player when you sitting on the bench its hard to see the play on the field when guys are standing up in front of you....
It's a bit weird seeing a MLB wear #63, DT #88 Page, CB #81 Lane, QB #60 Graham at the same time it makes these guys unique and stand out which resembles their talent.
+Don't hey Ray Nitschke wore #66 he was a MLB.
+Don't Gino Marchetti wore#89 he was a DE
Sammy Baugh, QB #33
The AFC always had out position or odd numbers like 00, or numbers in the 90's, a lot of single numbers,NFL receivers didnt wear single numbers. george blanda wore 24.I guess in the 60's , the NFL settled on more conventional numbers because on some footage i saw otto graham was 60 something in the 50 's .lou groza was a kicker and wore 76..but he was also a 2 way player being a lineman also.
@@homoerectussemenallyretent6638 Cardinals safety Larry Wilson wore #8; Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds wore #64: Ted Hendricks broke in with the NFL Colts wearing #83. I could go on. It wasn't just the AFL/AFC. All of pro football was doing it.
Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell; what a LB one-two punch the Chiefs had in the 70s!!
I just now purchased a signed Willie Lanier mini helmet on eBay. I spoke with Willie on the phone today for about two hours. What a guy!
GREAT LB...often overlooked...too bad!!!
Thanks Willie for that our only Title
The Chiefs may have only won 1 Super Bowl but they won 3 AFL titles as a franchise.
Well you guys don't have to say that anymore. Y'all world champs for the 2nd time.
@@greggillings9454 I still can't believe it. I've been going to Arrowhead since 1982. I never thought they'd win one in my lifetime.
Bobby bell !!
Paul Kryder and we should care because...
My favorite player in NFL history. I actually met him and got him to sign my chiefs hat
This was my dad’s favorite player. Even though he was a Cowboys fan he admired and respected him. I can see why.
3:13 - Buchanan and Lanier. These guys (in their primes) could play today. They were truly great.
Also Bobby Bell
Bobby Bell was the best defender they had
RIP Floyd Douglas Little (July 4, 1942 - January 1, 2021)
Willie was the first great Black MLB, everyone Black who came later inspired to be like W.L
As a kid, he was my favorite player in the NFL. So much so that the Chiefs became my favorite team while growing up in Michigan.
what a trio at linebacker,lynch ,lanier and bobby bell.
That helmet looks like the Bumper and the Fenders off an old Peterbilt bolted together.
These films never get old. I stopped by wills this afternoon to wish him a late birthday. He's in great shape. Always a honor to speak with him. The man was and still is my hero. The recent loss of Mr. Lynch is a tragedy. The trio of Lynch,Lanier and Bell will never be forgotten. Never. Even more so as the beautiful human beings they always have been outside of the game. Will happy birthday, so happy you made it around again. Cheers my friend.
He's like Mike Singletary, junior seau, and Brian Urlacher. Man in the middle, quarterback of the defense
Ray Lewis
Patrick Willis
George Atkinson said it was like getting hit by a Coke machine at a 100 mph
Mark Nairn how would he know? He played defense?
@@gpipeline he might've not gotten hit by Lanier but he saw what he did against the Raiders twice a year for many years
The most cerebral of linebackers, Lanier could sniff out what the offense was about to do based on lineup, personnel, and probability. He turned dominating at his position into an exact science and he almost always had the correct formula to make the stop.
OL HANK WAS A GOOD MAN. MY RESPECT TO HIM TO PUT IT TO THE WORLD THAT RACE??COLOR??… THE LORD SAYS HE LAID HIS LIFE DOWN FOR ALLLLLLLLLLL. LOVE IT !! GLORY TO GOD HIMSELF.
One outstanding Player who earned respect from his peers, ya can’t get any better than that . 👌👍🏼
As we all know the AFL, was far ahead (lightyears) ahead of the NFL in drafting black players from small colleges. And the first team to do that from the old NFL was the Pittsburgh Steelers, with #1 pick Joe Greene of North Texas State followed by guys like LC Greenwood of Arkansas A &M, Dwight White from East Texas State, John Stallworth from Alabama A & M and so forth.
Truthfully, only some coaches, and Player Personnel Directors. In the old NFL, Grambling was a school that was becoming a hot bed for talented football players. Both Lombardi and Paul Brown, were acquainted with Coach Eddie Robinson.
His helmet looks tough as fuck
dascientiss I thought I was the only one who thought so
He look pretty mean wearing it too .Willie didn't play he would knock your head off
And Then Willie Lanier Is One Of The Most Complete Leaders I've Ever Witnessed.
The Respect His Team Had For Him Was Arguably The Intimate Sort Of Trust In Any Professional Sport.
For A Coach To Tell Willie Lanier That The Guys Won't Kneel, And Then 63 Proceed To Lay Down The Command To Kneel. They Kneeled Without Hesitation. That's Both Respect And Discipline.
A fun thing is now looking back as a fan of football, and the Raiders since the 1970s, is to appreciate the players on the other side, and think, "Man, it would have been great if he were on our team." Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Bobby Bell, Curly Culp, Emmitt Thomas... seriously respected opponents.
Jim Lynch was a MLB at Notre Dame. He was asked "when did you know you were going to outside LB?"
His response: "When I saw Willie Lanier play."
Down in front! Get a knee! They all take a knee 🤣
Garland Boyett, #52, of the Oilers, was also one of the first Black middle linebackers. Impressive here how he knocks the San Diego lineman out of the play on an outside run, then wraps up the runner. That's textbook defense. Jessie (The Hammer) Tuggle of the Falcons was built like Lanier - 5', 11" and over 230 pounds - and hit like him, too. He reminds me of Willie Lanier.
There aren't many guys from this era of football that could play today but this guy is different because he easily could. His skill set then translates too now. He might not be like a Wagner or Kuechly but he definitely could play now.
The fact that he could play right now speaks so highly about how good he was . Imagine how good he would be if he grew up with today’s nutrition and training
@@saydaddy91 I fear for the offense that has to face Willie Lanier and Derrick Thomas in the same defensive backfield.
The Quickest to the gap I ever saw and hit you like a sledgehammer ! The Chiefs from that era were my favorite team.
Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchannan. That was some defense the Chiefs had in the 70s.
I love this guy. I'd pick him any day of the week. The way he talks, it's like Websters mixed with jive.
He was awesome.
I loved Hank Stram for that decision
I am from South Africa, i don't fully understand the game yet & but it's see the guy who paved the way for some of favorite players like Lawrence Taylor, Ray Lewis.
Him bobby bell and buck Buchannon were all chiefs greats of the 60s and 70s and nfl hall of famers
Curly Culp. Emmitt Thomas. Johnny Robinson. The chief’s starting 11 on defense had (6) HOF in 1970. Lanier ran the show
Man for man, the Super Bowl IV Chiefs defense was the best of all time. Six Hall of Fame players: Curley Culp, Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, Emmitt Thomas, Johnny Robinson. Jim Lynch and Jerry Mays were borderline HOF’s, too. And yes, ALL of these players would have been just as good in today’s game!
Think about that for a minute. The steel curtain has 5 of 11 on defense to make HOF. This team had 6. Good God.
A true HERO.
Great MLB.
I was watching a video interview with Ken Stabler & he recalled a time the Raiders were playing the Chiefs. Marv Hubbard was the running back, who went about 6'1", 243 ponds. He pointed at Willie Lanier & screamed, "Hey, you big S.O.B, I'm running it right there!" And points between the center and left guard. They run the play, & Willie Lanier cracks Hubbard like a piece of firewood. He's looking out his earhole, blood coming out both nostrils, goes back to the huddle saying, "I'm never doing that again!" Oh, & Marv Hubbard was drinking cold medicine all week, which also contained amphetamines in it. To make him faster I guess. That popped into my head while watching this.
You can find it on utube. I played that video 1 or 2 yrs ago
Happy 76th Birthday Willie !!!
The legend is, the Chiefs equipment trainer placed the padding on the OUTSIDE of Laniers helmet (along with the padding that was on the inside) to protect the OTHER teams players. WOW!
Sitting with friends and family talking about old football my aunt comes up out of no where and was like "you knoe what let's call him?" NOT DURING THE SB LMAO
My favorite player back in the day
True story about Willie Lanier.... in the late 90's Mr. Lanier would fly into KC and rent cars at the place I worked. I met him on a few occasions. One time he was returning a car and had taken some time to talk to us at the counter. This man busts through the front doors and runs up to Mr. Lanier and says "I need to get to the terminal right now. I'm going to miss my flight". Mr. Lanier took off his hat and calmly explained "sir, I can see why you are confused that this is a chauffeur's hat. However, this is a Greek fisherman's hat. You are going to have to talk to one of these people about the bus." The guy went outside and waited for the bus.
The Chiefs defense of 1969 is rated as 4 best ever. Chuck Knoll of the Steelers built the Steelers defense after the Chiefs defense. Stram would put a defensive tackle over the center. Knowing most centers weren't very heavy Buchanan or Culp would simply destroy the center, just like Joe Green did.
he might be my favorite player
Guy behind Willie doing half-assed jumping jacks.
christopher rembert thats buck Buchanan
That guy is in the nfl hall of fame
Willie Lanier was probably the first really athletic middle linebacker in the NFL
Butkus was a great athlete, but the position had never seen the kind of speed of Willie Lanier. Offensive centers and guards trying to cut him off? Not too often. He was a player that made offensive coaches rethink strategy.
Willie Lanier created the phrase "sideline to sideline" inside linebacker
Damn!! He was tossing mufuckas!!!!
Rip Floyd Little
Loved this era ⚡️⭐️I’m 57 in May 🌈. Hank Stram was The Mentor !
Hank Stram Earned My Respect.
He knew u can't win without the black players,that's y his team won the super bowl
There was a time when players played football because they loved playing. They loved the battle. It was a great show. Willie Linear was one of those men! He played to hit. He played to play, for the love of playing.
Before steroids, before strength programs, before amino acids, before pass runners were protected from getting hit coming out of the backfield, before players were down when they were merely grabbed, Butkus, Nitschke, Lambert, and Linear prevailed by making textbook yet vicious tackles on players that could take a hit. They were the greatest in a time when the game was the greatest! And they did it by being smart and without tattoos, fishing tackle in their noses, and hooks in their mouths and ears.
It would be stupid to play football for free.
lilly bloom what does having tattoos and piercings have to do with playing football? It doesn’t take away from their ability to play football.
I remember the 72 pro-bowl. Willie Lanier was on the.cover team and some lightning fast running back took the kickoff and was racing up the sideline. Willie met him in a headon collision that sent the running back flying in the opposite direction. Best hit ever
@@weylandbangerter638 Willie, Jim Lynch, and Bob Bell (KC Chiefs) were three of the best LBs, especially as a team, ever to play. Because of WL's size (about 5' 11" and 220) in a time of 6' 3" 240-pounders (Butkus and Nitschke), he was often overlooked. But he could play, and he could hit. 1970 Super Bowl Champs.
I had the honor to meet him as a kid and he let me put on his super bowl ring
My only regret as a fan was that I did not get to watch the AFL. When I started following the game the merger had already been 5 years in. But there would be references to this league and how it was wished by many that they had it back.
Most of the teams wanted the merger. It was better for their bottom line. The weaker AFL teams were losing money. Al Davis, was the force for initially trying to retain the league as separate. He had a few followers, but it was a minority group. Oddly enough, it was the Raiders who transitioned the best in the merger. Soon, the AFL mad bombing was gone, as they became a power running team, with a great intermediate passing attack.
I love 2:38 , thats respect right there
I met him. He’s a great guy!
Not underrated! He was feared in The NFL! but overlooked by NFL fans!! isn't like KC was a big market area! But I remember him as great run stopper! You couldn't run up the middle against him! The goal line stands against Broadway Joe & The Jets led to their Superbowl win against the Vikings! KC & Hank Stram's ball control and unusual offensive alignments kept the Purple People Eaters off balance the whole game! But Willie's Defense & Leadership just dominated Joe Kapp and the potent Viking offense all day! Willie played a Great Game! It was my first Superbowl I put money on! Almost $100.00! That's a lot of 1, 2 and the big spenders 5 dollars bets in 7th & 8th graders! Everyone thought Minnesota would go through The Chiefs like a hot knife through butter! But Lanier proved otherwise! Oh and the Sobol's NFL films! They featured Willie Lanier & The KC's Defense two weeks before the playoffs started! If a person watched the NFL films they showed before every Sunday's afternoon NFL game! You might've learned something about football and other NFL & AFL teams and their players! Willie Lanier is in the Trinity of Middle Linebackers of the 60s-70s Nitschke, Butkus & Lanier! The Father, Son & Holy Ghost!
To me, Lanier was as good a middle LB as there ever was, or will be.
I don't see enough Willie Jersey's at Chief's home games
Goat
He was Mike Singletary before Mike Singletary
Singletary's idol is Lanier. Wore 63 in college at Baylor. Wanted to in the NFL but they wouldn't allow it.
2:37 RESPECT!!!!!
Like #1,000. That's pretty cool.
Lanier Bell Lynch...
Football.
I remember this guy putting a monster hit on Terry Bradshaw once.
I was hoping I would see it here but no luck.
I remember a team tried an on-side kick, but he retrieved an ran for a touchdown.
That wasn't Willie Lanier that was Bobby Bell
Okay.... More than 50 years after the 1967 draft I still can't decide if Alan Page or Willie Lanier would have been my first pick to build a defense around.
I would take Willie every time
Aww
Definitely Willie. He could arm tackle.
Lee Roy Selmon
I remember that big ridge down the middle of his helmet. I always figured that was used for busting ass.
I would like to see this guy tackle tom brady.
The refs threw an unecessary roughness flag for that comment.
AFL had names on their jerseys before the NFL!
Lanier was great. Stram was a cool coach...
So back in the day black didn't play Middle Linebacker because the NFL didn't think they were intelligent enough to play that position. We came a long way as a nation.
I would LOVE to say Lanier wasn't that good (I am a Packer fan), but I just can't. He was SO good.
Willie didn't do it alone, back then KC had 3 great LBs.
So many AFC West videos lol, especially the Raiders. What's the deal NFL? Recognizing we're the best division in the league?
Lanier, Bell and Buchannan then you had to deal with Thomas and Marcellas in the backfield. scary.
Is he the original Luke Kuechly
no question one of the best of all time.I think he was better then Butkus
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN BALTIMORE, Md. ONE OF THE NFL'S GREATEST MIDDLE LINEBACKER AND A HALL OF FAMER. I WATCHED THAT SUPER BOWL. THE VIKINGS COULD DO NOTHING, AND THE CHIEFS DOMINANTED THAT GAME.
so were you Mr. Little
He was ray lewis before ray lewis
at 2:40 he was tell player's to take a knee!!!
intro song?
Hey Willie
...Should Mike Curtis be in the HOF?
#63
Morgan State Earl Banks Pappa Bear!
Best duo of LB’s: Lanier n Bell or Lambert n Ham🤔
That face mask looks like a Grill of a GMC Denali
Ken Stabler said he looked like a Coke machine with a head
2:28
I feel like Sean Taylor should be on here
2:40 😳😎
for rickey Jackson not to be . on this list is a damn shame. look this guy up.
The GOAT in MUT
Bobby Bell AND Lanier..same LB group..guess SB Title was inevitable
Had nothing todo wit intelligence, they just didn't want a black man running the defense, nor did they want us at QB or Center
Where is the line. Football today is a different sport entirely from long ago, so at what point do you say these records are not that impressive and they would have never been able to achieve them today...?
Wtf
Tom Kramer What. Seriously. Look at how much has changed from not being able to touch the qb helmet. Being able to contact the runner on his route. For gods sake, the field goal post was in front of the end zone. In my mind they are not even the same game anymore.
They should be praised for playing football at its toughtest
He would have learned and excelled in today's game also. Seems obvious to me. His talent and smarts are all he would need in any era.
????? Considering that they played with less rules; And less games per season pre 1970 only 12 today's who benefit from16 games.
Night Train Lane's record still holds.
Don Hutson set 22 records half of which still stand today.
Btw, Guys like Archie Manning, Tarkentan, Staughbach, and Bobby Douglas, pioneered the mobile QB.