Broncos remember late star receiver Lionel Taylor with tribute that ‘meant everything’
The Broncos on Saturday night remembered the late legendary wide receiver Lionel Taylor, and his grandson was filled with pride.
Taylor, who played for the Broncos 1961-66 and was a charter inductee to their Ring of Fame in 1984, died Aug. 6 at age 89 at his home in Rio Rancho, N.M., after an extended illness. During the first quarter of Denver’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High, the Broncos had a video tribute for Taylor on the Jumbotron.
“It meant everything,’’ said Taylor’s grandson Lionel Lapham, who had flown in from Albuquerque, near the family home in Rio Rancho, and was seated by the Broncos in a suite for the game. “(The tribute) was awesome. Not too many people from that era still hold some of the numbers that he holds. I’m glad they recognized him and he’s not forgotten.”
Taylor, who played pro ball 1959-68, became in 1961 the first pro player to have 100 catches in a season, grabbing exactly 100 for 1,176 yards. In his six Denver seasons, he caught 543 passes for 6,872 yards.
During the video tribute, Taylor was said to have had “the best hands in football” when he played. It was asked after the video that fans give a “Mile High cheer” for Taylor, and they complied.
Before the game, Lapham visited Taylor’s Ring of Fame pillar outside the stadium, which was erected in 2013. He had accompanied Taylor and his wife, Lorencita Taylor, to Denver for a Sept. 15, 2024, game between the Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers when the Broncos brought the record-breaking receiver in to see his pillar for the first time.
“He loved it, and my grandmother loved it,’’ Lapham said. “It was an honor.”
Lapham offered thanks to the Broncos for what they have done since his grandfather died. He said they sent a big bouquet of flowers to his Lorencita, Taylor’s wife of 67 years.
“It had ‘Broncos’ written on it,’’ Lapham said. “It really put a smile on her face.”
Gargiulo suffers knee injury
In the third quarter Saturday, Broncos second-year offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo suffered what looked to be serious right knee injury and was taken off on a cart.
Gargiulo was down on the field for several minutes. Denver players, including those coming from the sideline, gathered around Gargiulo, showing their concern and providing support.
Gargiulo was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft and spent last season on the practice squad.
Lutz just misses 64-yard field goal
On the final play of the first half, Denver’s Wil Lutz came close to making a 64-yard field goal. Matt Prater holds the Broncos’ regular-season record with a a 64-yarder in 2013.
Lutz’s attempt was slightly wide right and might have had a chance to clear the crossbar had it been on target. Lutz in practice earlier in the week had made a 61-yard attempt.
Lutz on Saturday made two field goals for the Broncos, hitting from 26 and 35 yards.