Pioneers of football are too often disregarded when discussing some of the best players to ever play the game, but Lionel Taylor was a player that deserves some recognition.
Taylor was a dominant wide receiver for the Broncos starting in 1960 when the team was initially conceived.
A former linebacker who played in 1959 with the Chicago Bears, Taylor became the first ever wide receiver in professional football to catch 100 passes in a season.
He led professional football in receptions five of his seven seasons with the Broncos, with a total of 543 receptions and 44 touchdowns.
Taylor helped revolutionize the wide receiver position in a run-dominated league and was inducted into the first-ever Broncos Ring of Fame Class of 1984.
He eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving four times in his years with the Broncos.
– SB