Joe Delaney

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Delaney was a two-time All-American athlete for the Northwestern State Demons football team, as well as a track and field star. He played two seasons with the Chiefs and was chosen as the AFC Rookie of the Year in 1981 by United Press International. Delaney died on June 29, 1983, while attempting to rescue three children from drowning in a pond in Monroe in northeastern Louisiana. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal from U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan. While not officially retired, his jersey number while playing for the Chiefs, No. 37, has not been worn since his death.

In Their Own Story

On June 29, 1983, Delaney was vacationing in Monroe, Louisiana, near Ruston where he lived. He visited Critter's Creek at Chennault Park with friends. While reportedly discouraging children from swimming too far out, a water hole left by recent construction work became dangerous for three children who were screaming and floundering. The pond covered two acres and was six feet deep, never intended for swimming. Despite having an inability to swim, Delaney dove in to save them. One child escaped unharmed, but another was taken to an emergency room where he later died; police recovered the bodies of Delaney and the remaining child. President Reagan honored him on July 15, stating: "He made the ultimate sacrifice by placing the lives of three children above regard for his own safety." The Chiefs immediately wore a circular patch with a gold eagle and number 37 on their uniforms for the rest of 1983.

Reader's Guide

Delaney was selected 41st overall in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. United Press International named him Rookie of the Year of the American Football Conference for the 1981 NFL season after he rushed for 1,121 yards, set four club records, and averaged 80.9 yards a game. Delaney's effort helped propel the Chiefs to a 9–7 record, the team's first winning season since 1973. In his rookie season, he was selected to the Pro Bowl after setting Chiefs records for most yards in a season (1,121), most yards in a game (193 vs. Houston), most consecutive 100-yard-plus games (three) and most 100-yard games in a season (five). After coming off the bench to record 101 rushing yards in his initial NFL action at New England, he ran for 106 yards and registered 104 receiving yards in his first professional start against Oakland. In the Chiefs' October 18, 1981, game against the Denver Broncos, Delaney broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run, but an offside penalty caused the play to be restarted from five yards back. On the second play after the penalty, Delaney scored an 82-yard touchdown, the longest rushing play from scrimmage in the 1981 NFL season. Following Delaney's record-setting 196-yard rushing performance against the Houston Oilers on November 15, 1981, Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea was quoted in saying: 'I've played against the best–O. J. Simpson, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton and (Delaney) ranks right up there with them ... He is great with a capital G.' A strike by NFL players and an eye injury limited Delaney's playing time in the 1982 NFL season. He underwent surgery to repair a detached retina, and only registered 380 rushing yards in the nine-game shortened season, which the Chiefs finished with a 3–6 record. Delaney averaged 4.6 yards per carry, 9.1 yards per reception, and registered 1,811 all-purpose yards during his career with three touchdowns.

Did You Know?

• On October 28, 1978, Delaney carried the ball 28 times and gained 299 yards for Northwestern State against Nicholls State University with 263 of the yards coming in the game's second half. Delaney's rushing stats in the
• Delaney finished his career at Northwestern State with 3,047 yards rushing, 31 touchdowns, and 188 points.
• At Northwestern State, Delaney also starred in track. He holds the school 200 meter dash record with a time of 20.64 seconds.
• Delaney's jersey number 37 has not been worn by the Chiefs since his death, though it is not officially retired.