The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs chosen operating again Joe Delaney out of Louisiana’s Northwestern State within the second spherical (forty first total) within the 1981 NFL Draft.
Throughout a time when the workforce wasn’t excellent, Delaney was a shining star in Kansas Metropolis. Throughout his rookie season, he ran for 1,121 yards (and three touchdowns) on 234 makes an attempt, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He additionally collected 246 yards on 22 catches.
Following the strike-shortened 1982 season, Delaney was again house in Louisiana. Whereas visiting an amusement park with some associates in Monroe on June 29, Delaney drowned whereas making an attempt to save lots of three youngsters in a close-by pond.
Sports activities Illustrated author Frank Deford advised the story in a 1983 article:
There was an enormous gap there, carved out of the earth a while in the past. The opening had full of water, and three boys waded in. They didn’t comprehend it, however a brief method out the underside dropped off precipitously, and out of the blue the boys had been in over their heads and thrashing and screaming. There have been all types of individuals round, however solely Joe dashed to the pond. There was a bit of boy there. “Are you able to swim?” he requested Joe.
”I can’t swim good,” Joe mentioned, “however I’ve acquired to save lots of these youngsters. If I don’t come up, get someone.” And he rushed into the water.
One boy fought his method again to the shallow half. The opposite two didn’t. Neither did Joe Delaney, 24. He was hauled out a couple of minutes later, useless. He gave his personal life making an attempt to save lots of three others.
As we speak, Delaney is remembered within the Chiefs Corridor of Fame and Ring of Honor. Whereas his quantity (37) has by no means been formally retired, no different Kansas Metropolis participant has ever worn it.
ESPN produced a “30 for 30” on Delaney. Pal-of-the-site Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas Metropolis Star wrote a tribute. In 2020, a monument honoring Delaney’s sacrifice was put in in Louisiana.
In a remark to Arrowhead Satisfaction’s 2010 Delaney remembrance, reader trlwyr left a remark that Joel Thorman memorialized in 2011.
“I’ve been going to Chiefs video games since Municipal Stadium. They’ve been a giant a part of my life. My Dad put it in me, and that Chiefs stain don’t wash off. Not that I’ve tried.
“Joe Delaney was a present, an oasis within the desert of shedding. For only a temporary second, he took us again to the glory days. Take a look at that center bar on his facemask, and, when you’re sufficiently old, inform me that doesn’t remind you of Mike Garrett, operating 65 Toss Energy Lure in New Orleans towards the Vikings.
“Arrowhead, don’t bear in mind the date, don’t bear in mind the opponent, don’t matter. Lovely Fall Sunday afternoon, and Joe tore it up. He performed as if he loved taking part in, which is all I ever anticipated of my workforce. It’s finest when it seems to be like they’re having enjoyable, proper? He had the shiftiness of Garrett, the silkiness of Marcus Allen, the pace of Jamaal, and, when he wanted it, the ability in his legs of Tony Richardson and Christian Okoye. And that day, the someday I acquired to see him in particular person, he flat tore it up. I believe he ran for over 150, however this isn’t about stats. You couldn’t take your eyes off him. On the sector, or on the sidelines. He had a lot enjoyable that day. A person doing what he beloved to do.
“I don’t normally get to take a seat as shut as I did that day. However I used to be shut. Recreation over, Chiefs received. Coming off the sector, the gamers walked proper by me. Slapping arms, some did, some didn’t.
“Right here comes Joe. Smiling. I held out my hand, and he seemed proper at me. He didn’t simply slap my hand, he took it. Held it. And he cuffed me behind my head and mentioned, “Ain’t this enjoyable?” The image of him above is precisely what he seemed like when he mentioned it. A cheerful man.
“I cried like a child once I heard. I’m crying now. It’s not simply because he was a Chief. And it’s not simply because if he’d lived he would surely have change into one of many biggest operating backs in historical past.
“It’s as a result of for that one temporary second, I acquired to look into the eyes of a really good man.”
Relaxation in peace, Joe. In Chiefs Kingdom, you’ll by no means be forgotten.
