![\"Kansas](\"https:\/\/gridironheroics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_14461740_168400517_lowres-900x600.jpeg\")
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On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs honored a former player who died while attempting to save the lives of three children.<\/p>\n
The tragedy occurred before the player\u2019s third season in the league.<\/p>\n
Joe Delaney, 24, died while trying to save the lives of three children in danger of drowning in a pond in Monroe, Louisiana. Delaney, who could not swim, rushed into the water when the kids began screaming for help.<\/p>\n
A rising star on the Kansas City Chiefs died a hero<\/strong><\/p>\n A Kansas City Chiefs helmet against the Cincinnati Bengals before the AFC Championship game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.<\/p>\n The incident occurred in the 1983 NFL offseason. Delaney, a second-round pick by the Chiefs in 1981, had earned a Pro Bowl appearance for his rookie season, and he appeared on his way to becoming a star for Kansas City.<\/p>\n The standout at Northwestern State broke four then-Chiefs franchise records during his brief career: most yards in a single season (1,121), most yards in a single game (193), most consecutive 100-yard-plus games (three), and most 100-yard games in a season (five).<\/p>\n 2024-2025 NFL – PASSING TOUCHDOWNS Leaderboards<\/strong><\/p>\n The NFL community remembers Joe Delaney<\/strong><\/p>\n A new monument dedicated Saturday at Chennault Park will help ensure Joe Delaney’s life and sacrifice are never forgotten. On June 29, 1983, Delaney jumped into a pond in an attempt to save drowning children.<\/p>\n A new monument dedicated Saturday at Chennault Park will help ensure Joe Delaney\u2019s life and sacrifice are never forgotten.<\/p>\n On June 29, 1983, Delaney jumped into a pond in an attempt to save drowning children. Delaney, a rising star for the Kansas City Chiefs, drowned along with two children. \u201c42 years ago today, Joe Delaney tragically passed away a hero, attempting to save three children from drowning. We\u2019ll never forget his sacrifice,\u201d the Chiefs posted on X.<\/p>\n \u201cForever hero,\u201d wrote ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough not a chiefs fan, his picture was hanging in my high school locker! To me he was a hero for his sacrifice,\u201d posted another.<\/p>\n \u201cHe could have been one of the best. I have no doubt Joe would be in the same conversation as the great running backs of the 80s.<\/p>\n But most importantly, he was a hero. And his name should be known to everyone who loves this game,\u201d wrote a fan.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018I can\u2019t swim good, but I\u2019ve got to save those kids. If I don\u2019t come up, get somebody\u2019 A hero never dies til the last time his name is spoken,\u201d posted another.<\/p>\n A new monument dedicated Saturday at Chennault Park will help ensure Joe Delaney’s life and sacrifice are never forgotten. On June 29, 1983, Delaney jumped into a pond in an attempt to save drowning children.<\/p>\n A new monument dedicated Saturday at Chennault Park will help ensure Joe Delaney\u2019s life and sacrifice are never forgotten.<\/p>\n On June 29, 1983, Delaney jumped into a pond in an attempt to save drowning children. Delaney, a rising star for the Kansas City Chiefs, drowned along with two children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs honored a former player who died while attempting to save the lives of three children. The tragedy occurred before the player\u2019s… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":74566,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nOn Sunday, the Chiefs posted a remembrance of the fallen hero.<\/p>\n