gold star for USAHOF

7. Buck Buchanan

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7. Buck Buchanan

Buck Buchanan was a proven force at Grambling; so much so that the Kansas City Chiefs made him the first overall draft pick in the 1963 AFL Draft, the first time a black player was chosen at that spot.

It was definitely the right call, as Buchanan would blossom into the leader of the Chiefs front four.  Blessed with incredible speed, Buchanan seemed to improve annually throughout the 1960s.  Buchanan was named an AFL All-Star in 1964 and would continue collecting that yearly honor until 1969 when it was no longer offered and replaced by the Pro Bowl following the merger.  Not surprisingly, Buchanan went to the first two Pro Bowls that he was eligible for.

Where Buchanan excelled was breaking up plays before they even started.  The star Defensive Tackle had a breathtaking 16 batted balls in the 1967 season and his overall ability helped the Chiefs win two AFL Titles and Super Bowl IV.

Buchanan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.  His #86 has also been retired by the organization, and he was the 1981 inductee to the Chiefs Hall of Fame.  In 2020, Buchanan was chosen for the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defensive Tackle
  • Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round, 1st Overall in the AFL Draft 12/1/62.
  • Departed: Retired after the 1975 Season.
  • Games Played: 182
  • Notable Statistics:

    105 Games Started
    3 Interceptions
    37 Interception Yards
    3 Fumble Recoveries
    70.5 Quarterback Sacks*
    1 Kick Return
    0 Kick Return Yards
    125 Approximate Value

    7 Playoff Games
    3.5 Quarterback Sacks
    1 Kick Return
    0 Kick Return Yards

    *Sacks were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1960 to 1981.

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (IV)
    AFL Champion (1966 & 1969)
    First Team AFL All-Pro (1966, 1967, 1968 & 1979)
    Pro Bowl Selection (1970 & 1971)
    AFL All-Star (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 & 1969)

Last modified on Saturday, 22 July 2023 00:27

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