Best Kansas City Chiefs Draft of All-Time: 1963

Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs former linebacker and NFL Hall of Fame member Bobby Bell leading other NFL Hall of Fame players down the escalator following the Taste of the NFL breakfast event honoring Earl Morrall for his longtime contributions to hunger relief efforts and to celebrate his legendary football career. A former quarterback who played 21 seasons in the NFL – Morrall played five seasons with the Miami Dolphins and led them to The Perfect Season in 1972. The only NFL team to ever complete an entire season undefeated and go on to win the Super Bowl, the 1972 Dolphins were coached by Don Shula. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

OLB-Bobby Bell, 7th round (56th overall), Minnesota—AFL teams passed on Bell at least six times before the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in 1963. All Bell did was have an NFL Hall-of-Fame career over the next 12 seasons.

Many consider Bell the best overall athlete in franchise history. Hall-of-Fame coach Hank Stram said that Bell had

"“as much talent as anyone I ever coached.”"

Bell was a 6-4 228lb. linebacker that could run with wide-receivers, play with his hand on the ground as a defensive end, tackle, rush the passer, and could throw the ball the length of the field. Some said that Bell could play any position on the team. Teammate and fellow Hall-of-Famer Buck Buchanan said about Bell,

"“This guy is the best all-around football player I ever saw.”"

Bell was so versatile, he actually started his college career as a quarterback before winning the Outland Trophy as the nation’s outstanding collegiate interior lineman in 1962.

Bobby Bell was also drafted in the 2nd round by the Minnesota Vikings (16th overall), but shocked the football world by signing with the AFL’s Chiefs. He started his Kansas City career as a defensive end, but Hank Stram moved him to linebacker after two seasons to exploit his amazing athleticism.

The fact is, Bobby Bell was Lawrence Taylor before the New York Giant great “re-invented” the outside linebacker position. Unfortunately, the sack was not an official statistic in Bobby Bell’s day, but the Chiefs estimate he recorded 40 of them in his career—even though he played strong-side, rather than weak side, linebacker.

He was a terrific open-field tackler, could cover well enough to record 26 interceptions, and returned 9 for touchdowns. Bell qualified for 9 pro-bowls and 7 all-pro teams. Bobby Bell retired after the 1974 season.

He might have been the greatest player in team history.