Best Kansas City Chiefs Draft of All-Time: 1963

Dec 14, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fans cheer from the stands during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

P-Jerrel Wilson, 11th round (no. 88 overall), Southern Miss—While Jerrel Wilson played center at Southern Mississippi, he achieved NFL greatness as a punter.

Nicknamed “Thunderfoot”, Jerrel Wilson redefined kicking specialists in the early AFL. His booming punts pinned teams deep and showed the value that a skilled specialist could bring to a team. Wilson holds an NFL record for most years leading the league in gross punting average (1965, 1968, 1972, 1973).

NFL Hall-of-Fame head coach Hank Stram said:

"Jerrel Wilson made other people aware of how important the kicking game was at a time when special times were not given special consideration. I’m prejudiced, but he’s the best punter I ever saw. He’ll go down in history as the best kicker in the NFL."

Wilson started a team-record 15 years in Kansas City, appearing in 203 games (3rd most in Chiefs history). He made 3 pro-bowl teams and was named to the All-Time AFL 1st team. He was also a backup running back in his early years in Kansas City. Wilson finished his career with a final season in New England before retiring after the 1978 season.

Though Oakland Raider Ray Guy was more famous due to becoming the first punter drafted in the 1st round, Jerrel Wilson was every bit as good. Wilson was the trailblazer that helped Guy, and many later punters, get recognition as a field position weapon.

Jerrel Wilson passed away at age 63 in 2005.