Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
The above picture is of Chiefs Hall of Fame defensive lineman Buck Buchanan, who was recruited to Kansas City by legendary scout and social trailblazer Lloyd Wells. A champion of the Civil Rights Movement, Wells played an integral part in the Chiefsโ early NFL success after the league merger in the late-60s.
In a time when African Americans were faced with discrimination when trying to get jobs in front offices, Wells persevered, eventually becoming the first full-time black scout and one of the most valuable assets that the franchise ever had.
๐๐จ๐๐๐ก/๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
During his time with the @Chiefs, scout and civil rights activist Lloyd Wells was integral for increasing the opportunities for African Americans in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/cvnMpuyaYG
โ Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) July 27, 2023
Outside his role as an icon during the Civil Rights Movement, Lloyd recruited legendary talent that altered the Chiefsโ trajectory for all time. Over the years, he managed to obtain the services of the aforementioned Taylor and Buchanan, as well as Chiefs Hall of Famers Willie Lanier, and Emmitt Thomas. Without his help and the social change he worked to create in Kansas City, the Chiefs would have been severely less successful in their NFL infancy.
