A Kansas City Chiefs legend passed away Tuesday.
Ed Budde, who helped the Chiefs win the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 1970, died at the age of 83.
Budde’s family announced the news in a statement through the team.
“My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Chiefs Hall of Famer Ed Budde,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. “Ed spent his entire 14-year career with the Chiefs, and he was a cornerstone of those early Chiefs teams that brought pro football to Kansas City. He never missed a game in the first nine seasons of his career, and he rightfully earned recognition as an All-Star, a Pro-Bowler and a Super Bowl Champion.”
Budde helped the Chiefs to all kinds of success during the late 1960s as an integral part of Chiefs teams that captured AFL titles in 1966 and 1969.
After the latter AFL title, he helped Kansas City defeat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.
The offensive lineman was named to two Pro Bowls after the merger between the NFL and AFL and was a five-time AFL All-Star.
In 1976, Budde was selected to the All-AFL Team.
The Highland Park, Michigan native played high school football in Detroit before he headed to Michigan State, where he was named an All-American in 1962.
He was selected in the NFL and AFL Draft — being picked fourth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL and eighth overall by the Chiefs in the AFL — and opted to play for Kansas City.
Budde remained a part of the Kansas City community following his playing days and had been the longtime president of the Kansas City chapter of the NFL Alumni organization.
“After his playing career, Ed remained connected to the Chiefs organization and was a founding member of the Kansas City Ambassadors,” Hunt said. “He was well-loved in the Kansas City community, and he was a great father to Brad, Tionne and John.
“My family and the entire Chiefs organization extend our sincere condolences to Carolyn and the Budde family.”
In 1980, Budde’s son Brad was selected by the Chiefs in the first round as the two became the first father-son duo to be selected at the same position and in the same round by the same team.
The two announced the Chiefs’ second-round selection — wide receiver Rashee Rice — at April’s draft.
Credit: Source link
