East Side in Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Willie Lanier
Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022
1. Willie Lanier Marker
Born: Aug. 21, 1945 Clover, Virginia
College: Morgan State
Position: Linebacker
Willie Lanier played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League from 1967-1969 and in the National Football from 1970-1977. He was an AFL All-Star in 1968 and 1969 and an NFL Pro Bowler from 1970-1975. He was the first African-American middle linebacker in the league and led one of the strongest defenses in professional football history. He helped lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl Championship in 1969. In 1972 he was awarded the NFL Man of the Year and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
There were numerous great moments throughout his career, but none exemplifies his heart and desire as much as the Chiefs' goal line stand against the New York Jets in the 1969 divisional playoff game. It was then that Lanier made an emotional appeal to the rest of the Chiefs defense. "They're not going to score!" Lanier yelled at this teammates. "They're not going to score!" The Chiefs shut down the Jets and forced them to kick a field goal. The 13-6 victory over the Jets propelled Kansas City to its only Super Bowl triumph.
Major League Football
Kansas City Chiefs (1967-1977)
The linebacking trio of Willie Lanier, Jim Lynch and Bobby Bell is recognized as one of the
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is August 21, 1945.
Location. 39° 5.156′ N, 94° 33.417′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in the East Side. Marker is at the intersection of Brooklyn Avenue and East 22nd Street, on the right when traveling south on Brooklyn Avenue. Marker is located at Monarch Plaza, where Municipal Stadium once stood. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2123 Brooklyn Ave, Kansas City MO 64127, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bobby Bell (here, next to this marker); Jackie Robinson (here, next to this marker); John Mayberry (here, next to this marker); Otis Taylor (here, next to this marker); John Thomas Wyatt (here, next to this marker); John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil (here, next to this marker); Amos Otis (a few steps from this marker); Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.
Also see . . . Willie Lanier on Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 30, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022
2. Willie Lanier Marker
Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 25, 2022
3. Willie Lanier Marker
Marker is in the back row
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 105 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 30, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
