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Lionel Taylor
Lionel Thomas Taylor (August 15, 1935 – August 6, 2025) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as a wide receiver, primarily with the Denver Broncos of American Football League (AFL). Taylor led the league in receptions for five of the first six years of the league's existence. The second player to lead a league in receptions for at least five seasons, Taylor is currently the last to do so. He was the third wide receiver to reach 500 receptions in pro football history. He was also a longtime assistant coach in the league, winning two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2024, he was given the Award of Excellence by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work as an assistant.
Taylor was born on August 15, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was raised in Lorado, West Virginia, by his stepfather (a coal miner) and mother (a chef), J.C. and Bertha Glend. He attended the segregated Buffalo High School in Accoville, West Virginia, where he played three sports, starring in football and basketball (sometimes known as "Mr. 30" because of his scoring prowess in basketball). He was second-team All-State in football and basketball as a senior, graduating in 1953.
Taylor originally attended West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University). He played one year of football for the Yellow Jackets. The school was not able to offer any financial assistance through scholarships, and the prospects for its football program being successful were not good.
During this time period, the coach at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU), located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, was Donnie Gibson, who had been a star football player at Marshall College (now Marshall University) in Huntington, West Virginia. Gibson successfully recruited Taylor from West Virginia State, offering Taylor a full scholarship to play football at NMHU, and Taylor transferred to NMHU. It has also been reported that Gibson's brother and Gibson tried to recruit Taylor out of high school for NMHU, but Taylor chose West Virginia State. After deciding he wanted to leave West Virginia State, Taylor contacted coach Gibson who was still interested in Taylor. Taylor took a three day bus ride to meet with Gibson in Albuquerque; ultimately deciding to transfer to NMHU. He graduated from NMHU in 1958, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Taylor earned All-Frontier Conference wide receiver honors in 1955 and 1956. He was honorable mention All-America in 1956. Six NFL teams approached Taylor with offers in 1957.
As a senior in 1957, Gibson made the 22-year old Taylor the team's line, back and/or end coach; and a scout. Taylor was not paid so he could keep his amateur status for basketball season. He was Gibson's sole assistant coach that season, during which he was not eligible to play football because of his one season at West Virginia State.
In addition to football, Taylor starred in basketball for three seasons at NMHU, and was on the track team for one season. Over his basketball career at NMHU, Taylor averaged 22 points per game under Gibson, who also served as the school's basketball coach. He was honorable mention All-Frontier Conference at center in basketball in the 1955-1956 season, and was All-Frontier Conference the following season (1956-57), when he was the second leading scorer in the conference. Gibson believed Taylor could have become a professional basketball player, especially with his good shooting and tough defense.
In the 1956 Frontier Conference championship track meet, Taylor came in first place in the long jump, second place in the discus, and third in the shot put.
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Lionel Taylor
Lionel Thomas Taylor (August 15, 1935 – August 6, 2025) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as a wide receiver, primarily with the Denver Broncos of American Football League (AFL). Taylor led the league in receptions for five of the first six years of the league's existence. The second player to lead a league in receptions for at least five seasons, Taylor is currently the last to do so. He was the third wide receiver to reach 500 receptions in pro football history. He was also a longtime assistant coach in the league, winning two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2024, he was given the Award of Excellence by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his work as an assistant.
Taylor was born on August 15, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was raised in Lorado, West Virginia, by his stepfather (a coal miner) and mother (a chef), J.C. and Bertha Glend. He attended the segregated Buffalo High School in Accoville, West Virginia, where he played three sports, starring in football and basketball (sometimes known as "Mr. 30" because of his scoring prowess in basketball). He was second-team All-State in football and basketball as a senior, graduating in 1953.
Taylor originally attended West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University). He played one year of football for the Yellow Jackets. The school was not able to offer any financial assistance through scholarships, and the prospects for its football program being successful were not good.
During this time period, the coach at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU), located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, was Donnie Gibson, who had been a star football player at Marshall College (now Marshall University) in Huntington, West Virginia. Gibson successfully recruited Taylor from West Virginia State, offering Taylor a full scholarship to play football at NMHU, and Taylor transferred to NMHU. It has also been reported that Gibson's brother and Gibson tried to recruit Taylor out of high school for NMHU, but Taylor chose West Virginia State. After deciding he wanted to leave West Virginia State, Taylor contacted coach Gibson who was still interested in Taylor. Taylor took a three day bus ride to meet with Gibson in Albuquerque; ultimately deciding to transfer to NMHU. He graduated from NMHU in 1958, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Taylor earned All-Frontier Conference wide receiver honors in 1955 and 1956. He was honorable mention All-America in 1956. Six NFL teams approached Taylor with offers in 1957.
As a senior in 1957, Gibson made the 22-year old Taylor the team's line, back and/or end coach; and a scout. Taylor was not paid so he could keep his amateur status for basketball season. He was Gibson's sole assistant coach that season, during which he was not eligible to play football because of his one season at West Virginia State.
In addition to football, Taylor starred in basketball for three seasons at NMHU, and was on the track team for one season. Over his basketball career at NMHU, Taylor averaged 22 points per game under Gibson, who also served as the school's basketball coach. He was honorable mention All-Frontier Conference at center in basketball in the 1955-1956 season, and was All-Frontier Conference the following season (1956-57), when he was the second leading scorer in the conference. Gibson believed Taylor could have become a professional basketball player, especially with his good shooting and tough defense.
In the 1956 Frontier Conference championship track meet, Taylor came in first place in the long jump, second place in the discus, and third in the shot put.