America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker

The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

Joe Zagorski

Willie Lanier was the first African-American middle linebacker in pro football history, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967-1977 in an era when discrimination against black athletes was still very much the norm. Lanier gave football fans a new mold of athlete, comprised of equal amounts intelligence, creativity, individualism, and collaboration.

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier explores the life and times of this groundbreaking football star. A walk-on at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, Lanier established himself as a force on the field. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967, Lanier fought his way to the starting middle linebacker position and became a Super Bowl champion, an eight time All-Pro, and the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1972. After retiring from football, Lanier went to work in the business world and became the CEO of a major US company. This book delves into Lanier’s college years, his NFL exploits, and his many successes off the gridiron, revealing a man who, through hard work and determination, made the most of every opportunity that came his way.

On and off the football field, Lanier showed America a glimpse of the future, when fairness, opportunity, and racial integrity could be the reality for everyone. An inspiration for athletes and fans everywhere, Lanier’s story is that of a man who loved challenges, and faced every one of them with an unmatched drive to excel and succeed. Lanier was, and still is, a trailblazer.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 280 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-5381-0951-9 • Hardback • February 2020 • $37.00 • (£28.00)

978-1-5381-0952-6 • eBook • February 2020 • $35.00 • (£27.00)

Subjects: Sports & Recreation / Football, Biography & Autobiography / Sports, History / African American, Sports & Recreation / Football / Biography

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker

The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Willie Lanier was the first African-American middle linebacker in pro football history, playing for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967-1977 in an era when discrimination against black athletes was still very much the norm. Lanier gave football fans a new mold of athlete, comprised of equal amounts intelligence, creativity, individualism, and collaboration.

America's Trailblazing Middle Linebacker: The Story of NFL Hall of Famer Willie Lanier explores the life and times of this groundbreaking football star. A walk-on at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, Lanier established himself as a force on the field. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967, Lanier fought his way to the starting middle linebacker position and became a Super Bowl champion, an eight time All-Pro, and the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1972. After retiring from football, Lanier went to work in the business world and became the CEO of a major US company. This book delves into Lanier’s college years, his NFL exploits, and his many successes off the gridiron, revealing a man who, through hard work and determination, made the most of every opportunity that came his way.

On and off the football field, Lanier showed America a glimpse of the future, when fairness, opportunity, and racial integrity could be the reality for everyone. An inspiration for athletes and fans everywhere, Lanier’s story is that of a man who loved challenges, and faced every one of them with an unmatched drive to excel and succeed. Lanier was, and still is, a trailblazer.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 280 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-5381-0951-9 • Hardback • February 2020 • $37.00 • (£28.00)

978-1-5381-0952-6 • eBook • February 2020 • $35.00 • (£27.00)

Subjects: Sports & Recreation / Football, Biography & Autobiography / Sports, History / African American, Sports & Recreation / Football / Biography

Author

Joe Zagorski has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. He has written numerous articles for their monthly publication, The Coffin Corner, and for the blog Pro Football Journal. His first book, The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football’s Most Important Decade, was rated by Library Journal as one of the top ten football books in 2016. Zagorski is a former sportswriter for The Coatesville (Pennsylvania) Daily Record and The Evening Phoenix in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He currently resides in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1: A Common Beginning for an Uncommon Man
2: A Chance to Play Pro Football
3: Coming Close to a Title
4: The Challenges of 1969
5: The 1969 AFL Playoffs
6: The Super Chiefs
7: To Be Champions Again
8: The Longest Game
9: To Retire or Not to Retire
10: A Business Suit and the Real World
11: The Pro Football Hall of Fame
Conclusion: Final Musings from a Trailblazer
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Reviews

Willie Lanier is one of the greatest players in pro football history. He is also a great man. He applied the lessons learned from the game—commitment, integrity, courage, respect, and excellence—to his very successful life after football.
— David Baker, President and CEO, Pro Football Hall of Fame

Willie Lanier was the consummate teammate. He was as agile and as tough of a middle linebacker that has ever played the game. His agility and quickness were complimented by his intuitiveness. He just had a natural knack for the game. And he was a tremendous force on the field. Author Joe Zagorski is an experienced sports writer who has written this book about America's first African-American player starting at middle linebacker in professional football.
— Johnny Robinson, safety, Kansas City Chiefs, 1960-1972, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame