View source for Buck Buchanan

{{Short description|American football player (1940–1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox gridiron football biography
| name          = Buck Buchanan
| image         = 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 50 - Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp (Buck Buchanan crop).jpg
| alt           = Buchanan playing with the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV
| caption       = Buchanan with the Chiefs in [[Super Bowl IV]]
| number        = 86
| position      = [[Defensive tackle]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1940|9|10}}
| birth_place   = [[Gainesville, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1992|7|16|1940|9|10}}
| death_place   = [[Kansas City, Missouri]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 7
| weight_lb     = 270
| high_school   = [[A. H. Parker High School|Parker]] <br> ([[Birmingham, Alabama]])
| college       = [[Grambling State Tigers football|Grambling]] (1959–1962)
| draftyear     = 1963
| draftround    = 19
| draftpick     = 265
| afldraftyear  = 1963
| afldraftround = 1
| afldraftpick  = 1
| pastteams     = 
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1963 American Football League season|1963]]–{{NFL Year|1975}})
| pastcoaching  =
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1976|1977}}) <br> Defensive line coach
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1978}}) <br> Defensive line coach
| highlights    = 
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl IV|IV]])
* Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1971 All-Pro Team|1971]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1971 Pro Bowl|1970]], [[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]])
* [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[American Football League|AFL]] champion ([[1966 American Football League Championship Game|1966]])
* 6× [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]] ([[1964 AFL season|1964]]–[[1969 AFL season|1969]])
* 6× First-team [[All-AFL]] ([[1964 All-AFL Team|1964]]–[[1969 All-AFL Team|1969]])
* [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]]
* [[Kansas City Chiefs#Chiefs Hall of Fame|Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame]]
* [[Kansas City Chiefs#Retired numbers|Kansas City Chiefs No. 86]] retired
* First-team [[Little All-America team|Little All-American]] ([[1962 Little All-America college football team|1962]])
* Pro Football Hall of Fame ([[List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees|1990]])
| statleague    = NFL/AFL
| statlabel1    = [[Safety (gridiron football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue1    = 1
| statlabel2    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue2    = 3
| statlabel3    = [[Fumble]] recoveries
| statvalue3    = 3
| pfr           = B/BuchBu00
| HOF           = junious-buck-buchanan
| CollegeHOF    = 1915
}}

'''Junious''' "'''Buck'''" '''Buchanan''' (September 10, 1940 – July 16, 1992) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[defensive tackle]] who played for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref name=cchofbb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pjkeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0b4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3106%2C1800388 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Cancer claims hall of famer Buck Buchanan |date=July 17, 1992 |page=1C }}</ref><ref name=fchfso>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ks0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=np4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2554%2C749474 |newspaper=Nevada Daily Mail |location=Missouri |agency=Associated Press |last=Tucker |first=Doug |title=Former Chiefs' standout Buck Buchanon is dead |date=July 17, 1992 |page=8 }}</ref> Buchanan was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1996 and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1990. He was selected to the [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team|NFL 100th Anniversary Team]]. His was the first African American taken as the first selection in an AFL or NFL draft. Buchanan was massive for his era, standing at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), and weighing 270 lbs. (122 kg). His height gave him an advantage against linemen in the trenches.

==Early life==
It has been reported in multiple sources that Buchanan was born in [[Gainesville, Alabama]], on September 10, 1940.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Junious (Buck) Buchanan {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/junious-buck-buchanan/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2019-09-10 |title=Buck Buchanan - Alabama Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://ashof.org/inductees/buck-buchanan/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=ashof.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Scarbinsky |first=Kevin |date=May 10, 1990 |title=Old No. 86, Birmingham's Big Chief makes NFL Hall of Fame |work=The Birmingham News |pages=1F, 8F}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> He was born to 6 ft 4½ in (1.94 m) steelworker Wallace Buchanan and Fannie Mae Buchanan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1992 |title=Buck Buchanan, 51, Star on Line for Football's Kansas City Chiefs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/17/sports/buck-buchanan-51-star-on-line-for-football-s-kansas-city-chiefs.html?searchResultPosition=2 |work=New York Times (Associated Press)}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> He had two brothers and two sisters. The family left Gainesville in 1941, and moved to [[Birmingham, Alabama]].<ref name=":8" /> Consistent with a photograph of the headstone at his grave, which says "1939 1992", however, it has also been stated he was born in 1939.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Junious "Buck" Buchanan (1939-1992) - Find a... |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7107/junious-buchanan |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=www.findagrave.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":23">{{Cite web |title=Buck Buchanan Coaching Record and Bio - Pro Football Archives |url=https://profootballarchives.com/coaches/buch00200.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=profootballarchives.com}}</ref><ref name=":12" /><ref name=":24" />

Buchanan attended [[A. H. Parker High School]] in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was the captain and a standout player in both [[High school football|football]] and [[basketball]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-31 |title=Birmingham Parker High School's Buck Buchanan named to NFL 100 All Time Team of Greatest Players {{!}} Bham Now |url=https://bhamnow.com/2020/01/31/birmingham-parker-high-schools-buck-buchanan-named-to-nfl-100-all-time-team-of-greatest-players/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=bhamnow.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Buck Buchanan, College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.cfbhall.com/inductees/buck-buchanan-1996 |website=College Football Hall of Fame}}</ref> He graduated in January 1959.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 24, 1959 |title=458-Mid Term Grads Get Diplomas In 3 Birmingham High Schools |work=The Mirror (Huntsville, Alabama) |pages=2}}</ref> He was originally better known for basketball, averaging nearly 20 points per game at [[Center (basketball)|center]], and only began playing football as a junior; in part to stay in shape for the basketball season. He was All-State in basketball in 1957 and 1958 and All-Conference in football.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Henry |date=January 13, 1967 |title=Local Star Awaits GB |work=The Birmingham News |pages=11}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> It has also been reported he was All-County and honorable mention All-State in basketball; and that he was All-State in football.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":10" /> He was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and 210 lb. (95.3 kg) as a senior in high school.<ref name=":10" />

The person who may have most inspired Buchanan was his older brother, Wallace III. His brother was enthusiastic about sports, but was limited from playing by a congenital heart defect; ultimately leading to Wallace's early death in 1968. In high school, Buchanan vowed to himself that since Wallace could not play, Buchanan would play for him. Buchanan said of his brother Wallace, "'He inspired me ... He got me going. I've never forgotten'".<ref name=":8" />

==College career==
[[Grambling State University]]'s future [[College Football Hall of Fame]] head coach [[Eddie Robinson (American football coach)|Eddie Robinson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eddie Robinson (1997) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1987 |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}</ref> offered Buchanan a scholarship, after being contacted by Buchanan's uncle, Glennon Threat. Threatt was determined Buchanan should go to college and wrote to Robinson about Buchanan's athletic merits. Buchanan had decided to start working, rather than going to college, before Threatt (who coached football in Birmingham) told Buchanan that Grambling was interested in him. It was Buchanan's mother who was the decisive factor in sending Buchanan to Grambling, after his uncle's efforts opened the door. Buchanan was also approached by [[Alabama State University]], but chose Grambling, located in [[Louisiana]], as Grambling was better known and offered a more substantial scholarship. By the time he reached Grambling, his weight had grown to 285 lb (129.3 kg).<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=William E. |date=October 8, 1963 |title=Junious Buchanan Just Keeps Eating and Growing |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=17}}</ref><ref name=":26">{{Cite news |last=Lumpkin |first=Bill |date=February 13, 1987 |title=Fearsome Buchanan now makes people smile |work=Mobile Register (Birmingham Post-Herald) |pages=8-d}}</ref> 

Buchanan was a [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] in [[College football|football]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 28, 1960 |title=51 Named Lettermen At Tigers' Banquet |work=The Louisiana Weekly (New Orleans, Louisiana) |pages=10}}</ref> As a junior, he was named an [[Academic All-America|Academic All-American]] after the 1961 season, the only [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]] (SWAC) player selected.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Bennie |date=January 13-19, 1962 |title=Southern Gridders Get 'Lions' Share Of Post Season Football Awards |work=The Chicago Defender |pages=24}}</ref> As a senior in 1962, Buchanan was a [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) [[All-America]] selection, as well as a Black College All-American. From 1960 to 1962, he was selected three times to the All-SWAC Team at defensive tackle.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 23, 1961 |title=Southwestern Athletic Conf. 1961 SWAC All-Conference Team |work=Jackson Advocate (Jackson, Mississippi) |pages=7}}</ref><ref name=":27">{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1961 |title=60 Tiger Gridders Report To Robinson |work=The Louisiana Weekly (New Orleans, Louisiana) |pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 23, 1963 |title=Small Colleges Good Source For Top Stars |work=The Call (Kansas City, Missouri) |pages=9}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7" /> Among others, during his career at Grambling Buchanan's teammates included future AFL players [[Ernie Ladd]] and Ladd's uncle, [[Garland Boyette]].<ref name=":27" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=David |title=The legend of Garland Boyette |url=https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/the-legend-of-garland-boyette-728846.php |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250808111230/https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/the-legend-of-garland-boyette-728846.php |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2025-11-02 |work=Beaumont Enterprise |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leader |first=Orange |date=2019-02-09 |title=And Now You Know: Ernie Ladd is the biggest man in pro football |url=https://orangeleader.com/2019/02/09/and-now-you-know-ernie-ladd-is-the-biggest-man-in-pro-football/ |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Orange Leader |language=en}}</ref> He also played [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] at Grambling.<ref name=":24" />

Buchanan played defensive tackle in the 1963 [[Chicago Charities College All-Star Game|Chicago College All Star Game]] where the college All-Stars defeated the [[1962 NFL Championship Game|1962 NFL champion]] [[Green Bay Packers]]. His college All-Star teammates included two future Kansas City Chiefs' teammates [[Bobby Bell]] and [[Ed Budde]], who would play with Buchanan on the Chiefs for 14 and 15 seasons, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 5, 1963 |title=Bury The Hatchet |work=The Austin Statesman (Austin, Texas) |pages=16}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite book |title=BUCK BUCHANAN. Great Athletes |publisher=Salem Press |year=2001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 18, 1963 |title=14 tan players picked for All-Star grid tilt |work=Baltimore Afro-American |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BellBo00.htm |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Budde Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BuddEd00.htm |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 

Buchanan also played on Grambling's basketball team. Among his teammates were future [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] player [[Willis Reed]], and future AFL player and Chiefs' teammate Ernie Ladd.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ernie Ladd Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaddEr00.htm |access-date=2025-08-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Buchanan left the team after one year to focus on football.<ref name=":11" />

Buchanan was also a sprinter and distance runner on the [[Track and field|track]] team. He was timed at 10.4 seconds in the [[100-yard dash]], 22.5 seconds in the [[220-yard dash]] and 49.2 seconds in the [[440-yard dash]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Ratliff |first=Harold V. |date=December 2, 1962 |title=Texans Draft Big Tackle for No. 1 |work=The Abilene Reporter-News |pages=5-D |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He ran the 40-yard dash in less than five seconds.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=January 25, 1963 |title=Texans Go For Size And Not Big Names |work=The Paducah Sun (Paducah, Kentucky) |pages=15 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He also reportedly ran 4.9 in the 40-yard dash and 10.2 in the 100-yard dash at Grambling.<ref name=":2" /> As stated by the Pro Football Hall of Fame description of Buchanan, his speed was valuable as a defensive lineman in football because it allowed him to "range from sideline to sideline to make [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]]".<ref name=":2" />

==Professional career==
The {{height|ft=6|in=7}}<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Buck Buchanan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BuchBu00.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> {{convert|287|lb|abbr=on}} or 270 lb (122.5 kg)<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":12" /> Buchanan was selected in both the [[1963 American Football League draft|1963 AFL]] and [[1963 NFL draft|NFL drafts]]. The [[Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]], who would become the Kansas City Chiefs before the 1963 season started,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 23, 1963 |title=Hunt to Move Dallas Franchise to Kansas City |work=Minneapolis Morning Tribune |pages=29}}</ref> selected Buchanan with the first overall pick in the 1963 AFL draft, held on December 1, 1962. Buchanan signed a two-year contract with the Texans the same day he was drafted, receiving a five-figure signing bonus, and becoming one of the nation's highest paid players. The Texans had won the 1962 AFL championship, but obtained the first draft pick via an early season trade with the [[Oakland Raiders]], sending quarterback [[Cotton Davidson]] to the Raiders for the rights to [[Fred Miller (defensive lineman)|Fred Miller]] and the Raiders first draft choice in the 1963 draft.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 AFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1963_AFL/draft.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name="cchofbb" /><ref name="dptck" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Dallas Texans at Houston Oilers - December 23rd, 1962 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196212230oti.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1962 |title=UK's Hutchinson May Be Early Draft Pick |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |pages=9-F |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Collie J. |date=June 29, 1963 |title=Grambling Tigers Have Banner Year |work=The Louisiana Weekly (New Orleans, Louisiana) |pages=9}}</ref> 

After the trade with Oakland, the Texans sent [[Don Klosterman (American football)|Don Klosterman]] to scout Buchanan regularly at Grambling during the 1962 college football season. Klosterman started calling him Junious Buck (to distinguish Buchanan from his father "Big Buck"), which eventually became just Buck.<ref name=":8" /> After drafting Buchanan, Klosterman said "'If there's a better lineman in any college I want to see him'".<ref name=":9" /> Buchanan was both the first player from an historically black college, and the first black player, selected as a number one draft choice in AFL or NFL history.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":1" /> A few days after the AFL draft, the [[New York Giants]] took Buchanan 265th overall in the 19th round of the [[1963 NFL draft]].<ref name="cchofbb" /><ref name="dptck">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r-JGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eTMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=851%2C299517 |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |location=Florida |agency=Associated Press |title=Dallas picks tackle in AFL's pro draft, 274-lb. Buchanan  |date=December 2, 1962 |page=33 }}</ref><ref name=":9" />  

Buchanan signed with the Texans without waiting for the NFL draft because, among other things, at the time he "thought there would be more opportunity" for him playing with the Texans.<ref name=":9" /> He later made clear there were broader reasons as well: "'I signed with them because I considered it an honor to be the first player chosen by the league . . . . I thought it was very significant to have that honor, since I had played for a small black school. I was determined to prove that players from small schools could play in the big leagues'".<ref name=":13" /> 

Buchanan began his career under future Hall of Fame head coach [[Hank Stram]], who would be his head coach for all but one season (1975).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hank Stram {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/hank-stram |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20" /><ref name=":21" /> He started 11 games at left defensive tackle as a rookie in 1963, at times playing next to Bobby Bell at left defensive end.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 Kansas City Chiefs Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1963_roster.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite news |last=Stirling |first=Scotty |date=November 1, 1963 |title=Chiefs Have Plenty Of Indians |work=Oakland Tribune |pages=E 39}}</ref> In 1964, Stram moved Buchanan to right tackle where he started all 14 games for the Chiefs, and would play the rest of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 Kansas City Chiefs Roster & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1964_roster.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12" /> Buchanan was selected to the AFL Western Division [[American Football League All-Star game|All-Star Team]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 AFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964_AFL/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was named second-team All-AFL by the [[Associated Press]] (AP), [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]] (NEA) and [[United Press International]] (UPI).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 AFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964_AFL/allpro.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Quarterback sacks did not become an official statistic in the NFL until 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-16 |title=NFL does not plan to make pre-1982 sacks official |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-does-not-plan-to-make-pre-1982-sacks-official |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> Buchanan has been unofficially credited with seven sacks in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1964.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 

In 1965, Buchanan again started every Chiefs' game at right defensive tackle, and once more had seven sacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1965.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was selected to play in the AFL All-Star Game, and was once again named second-team All-AFL by the AP, NEA and UPI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 AFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965_AFL/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Player in 1965.<ref name=":13" />

The Chiefs were 11–2–1 in 1966, and won the [[1966 American Football League Championship Game|AFL championship]], defeating the Buffalo Bills 31–7 in the championship game. Buchanan had a quarterback sack of future Hall of Fame quarterback [[Jack Kemp]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jack Kemp {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/photos/gallery/photos-gallery-jack-kemp |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> in the championship game.<ref name=":15" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 1st, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196701010buf.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> During the regular season, Buchanan started all 14 games at right tackle, with 2.5 sacks.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |title=1966 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1966.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was again an All-Star, and for the first time was selected first-team All-AFL by the AP and UPI, as well as the AFL; with the NEA naming him second-team All-AFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1966 AFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966_AFL/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In January 1967, he played in the first [[Super Bowl I|Super Bowl]], against the [[1966 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]], the Chiefs losing 35–10.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl I - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers - January 15th, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196701150gnb.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Buchanan recorded the first quarterback sack in Super Bowl history, against Packers Hall of Fame quarterback [[Bart Starr]]. He had five [[Tackle (football move)|solo tackles]] in the Super Bowl, including four tackles stopping future Hall of Fame fullback [[Jim Taylor (fullback)|Jim Taylor]] for three-yard gains on four different running plays.<ref name="fchfso" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bart Starr {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bart-starr |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim Taylor {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jim-taylor |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref>   

Buchanan had 8.5 sacks in 1967, again starting all 14 regular season games. Although the Chiefs were 9–5, they missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1967.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Buchanan was again named an All-Star, and was selected first-team All-AFL by the AP, NEA, UPI and ''[[The Sporting News]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 AFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967_AFL/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> As stated by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Buchanan "was particularly effective at intimidating the passer". In [[1967 American Football League season|1967]] alone, "he batted down 16 opposition passes at or behind the [[line of scrimmage]]".<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=Paul Dehner |date=July 18, 2023 |title=NFL 100: At No. 86, Buck Buchanan revolutionized game, left legacy on and off the field |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2665658/2021/07/15/nfl-100-at-no-86-buck-buchanan-revolutionized-game-left-legacy-on-and-off-the-field/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It has also been reported he batted down 16 passes in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Chicago |date=1990-12-28 |title=NFL GREAT BUCHANAN VOWS TO SACK HIS CANCER |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/12/28/nfl-great-buchanan-vows-to-sack-his-cancer/ |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> He was again chosen as the Chiefs' Most Valuable Player in 1967.<ref name=":13" />

[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 50 - Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp.jpg|thumb|left|Buchanan (''left'') and fellow Football Hall of Famer [[Curley Culp]] stop a Vikings running play during Super Bowl IV]]

The Chiefs made him a co-captain in 1968.<ref name=":7" /> He finished the season with seven sacks and a [[Safety (gridiron football score)|safety]], again starting all 14 games.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=1968 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1968.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was an All-Star for the fifth consecutive season, and AP first team All-AFL for the third consecutive season.<ref name="auto"/> 

In 1969, the Chiefs had an 11–3 record, and won another AFL title. Buchanan again started all 14 games at right tackle, and had 6.5 sacks.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=1969 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1969.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was once again named an All-Star and selected first team All-AFL by the Associated Press.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 AFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969_AFL/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He teamed with future Hall of Fame left tackle [[Curley Culp]], [[Aaron Brown (defensive lineman)|Aaron Brown]] (right end) and [[Jerry Mays (defensive lineman)|Jerry Mays]] (left end) to form one of the best defensive lines in AFL or NFL history.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Verderame |first=Matt |date=2015-02-09 |title=The '69 Chiefs: A defense for the ages |url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/2/9/7871727/1969-kansas-city-chiefs-defense-super-bowl-history |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Arrowhead Pride |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":17" /><ref name=":18" /> The defense also included, among others, Hall of Famers [[Bobby Bell]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bobby Bell {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bobby-bell |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> (left [[linebacker]]), [[Willie Lanier]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Willie Lanier {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/willie-lanier |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> (middle linebacker), [[Emmitt Thomas]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmitt Thomas {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/emmitt-thomas |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> (right [[cornerback]]) and [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Johnny Robinson {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/johnny-robinson |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> (free [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]]).<ref name=":16" /> The 1969 Chiefs' defense led the AFL by allowing only 177 points in 14 games, with the next lowest team allowing 242 points. They also led the AFL in fewest total yards (3,163), fewest passing yards (2,072) and fewest running yards allowed (1,091).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969 AFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969_AFL/opp.htm |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Chiefs defeated the [[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] in the divisional round of the 1969 playoffs, 13–6; with Buchanan recording .5 sacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets - December 20th, 1969 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912200nyj.htm |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> They next defeated the [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] in the [[1969 American Football League Championship Game|1969 AFL Championship Game]], 17–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders - January 4th, 1970 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197001040rai.htm |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Chiefs then defeated the [[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] 23–7 in [[Super Bowl IV]]; Buchanan recording a sack of Vikings' quarterback [[Joe Kapp]] for an eight-yard loss, and five solo tackles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl IV - Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs - January 11th, 1970 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197001110kan.htm |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 

The Chiefs’ defense allowed Viking runners only 67 yards rushing in 19 carries, 172 net passing yards, and only two rushing first downs, to go along with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl IV Box Score {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore/minnesota-vikings-vs-kansas-city-chiefs-1970011101 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=iHaveNet.com |first=The NFL on |date=2011-02-06 |title=Super Bowl IV Chiefs 23 Vikings 7 {{!}} MVP Len Dawson |url=https://www.ihavenet.com/nfl-superbowl-IV-chiefs-vikings.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.ihavenet.com |language=en}}</ref> Buchanan and Culp in particular dominated the opposing center, [[Mick Tingelhoff]], a five-time [[Associated Press|AP]] first-team [[All-Pro]] selection up to that 1969 season,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Popovich |first=Mike |title=Culp made an impact in Super Bowl victory |url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/pro/pro-football-hof/2013/07/30/culp-made-impact-in-super/42214758007/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Canton Repository |language=en-US}}</ref> and Buchanan did the same to the left guard playing opposite him on the [[line of scrimmage]], [[Jim Vellone]]. Buchanan later said that he did not find the Vikings as tough to play against as the Oakland Raiders.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Forbes |first=Dick |date=January 11, 1970 |title=Vikings Victims, Not Victors |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |pages=49}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 12, 1970 |title=Strain Takes Its Toll on Dawson, But Quarterback Leads Upset |work=The Ann Arbor News |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Warner |first=Gary D. |date=January 12, 1970 |title=Chiefs Happy for Selves–and Len Dawson |work=The Kansas City Times |pages=1C}}</ref> 

Super Bowl IV was the final game played by an AFL team. The AFL and NFL fully merged before the 1970 season into one 26-team league (the NFL).<ref name=":32">{{Cite news |last=Remmel |first=Lee |date=January 12, 1970 |title=Chiefs Deal Vikes Super Setback |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |pages=B-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=General History - Chronology (1960 to 1979) {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/general-history-chronology-1960-to-1979 |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> The Chiefs missed the playoffs in 1970, with a 7–5–2 record.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=1970 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1970.htm |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1970, Buchanan once again started all 14 games at right tackle. He had seven sacks, and was selected to play in the [[Pro Bowl]] for the new [[American Football Conference]] (AFC); but was not the equivalent of All-Pro for the first time since 1964. He was named first-team All-AFC by the Associated Press and second-team All-AFC by UPI.<ref name=":19" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1970/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Chiefs reached the AFC playoffs in 1971, but lost in the divisional round in [[Sudden death (sport)|sudden death]] double [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]] to the [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]], 27–24.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs - December 25th, 1971 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197112250kan.htm |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> This is the longest game in NFL history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 AFC Divisional Playoff Game {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2005/01/news-1971-afc-divisional-playoff-game |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Buchanan started all 14 games again that season, with five sacks and one interception.<ref name=":12" /> He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the second and final time. The UPI named him second-team All-AFC, and ''[[Pro Football Weekly]]'' named him first-team All-AFC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1971 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/probowl.htm |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> 

The Chiefs steadily declined after 1971, winning eight games in 1972, seven in 1973, and only five in both 1974 and 1975.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/index.htm |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Buchanan started every Chiefs game in 1972 and 1973, finishing with 6.5 sacks and 7.5 sacks and one interception respectively in those years.<ref name=":12" /> In 1974 he started only nine games with one sack, and in his final season (1975), he started 12 games without a sack.<ref name=":12" />      

== Legacy and honors ==
In 1990, Buchanan was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], the first AFL defensive lineman to be selected.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> In 2019, he was selected to the [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team|NFL 100th Anniversary All Time Team]], along with Chiefs' defensive teammates Bell and Lanier, and kicker [[Jan Stenerud]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL 100 |url=https://www.nfl.com/100/all-time-team/roster |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 1970, he was selected to the second team of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Football League All-time Team |url=http://www.remembertheafl.com/AFLAllTimeTeam.htm |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.remembertheafl.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1970 |title=Jets' Ewbank Is Top Coach For Decade |work=The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) |pages=28 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 1981, the Chiefs inducted Buchanan into their Hall of Honor and retired his uniform No. 86.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Forsyth |first=Travis |date=2023-07-01 |title="Buck" Buchanan {{!}} Arrowhead Illustrated Arrowhead Illustrated |url=https://arrowheadillustrated.com/buck-buchanan/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1986, Buchanan was inducted into the [[Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Junious "Buck" Buchanan |url=https://lasportshall.com/?inductees=junious-buck-buchanan |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1987, he was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":6" /> 

Buchanan was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1996.<ref name=":1" /> He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1968.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1968-12-11 |title=N.A.I.A. to Honor Three (Published 1968) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/12/11/archives/naia-to-honor-three.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |work=New York Times (United Press International) |language=en}}</ref> He is one of four Grambling State players, along with [[Willie Brown (American football)|Willie Brown]], [[Willie Davis (defensive end)|Willie Davis]], and [[Charlie Joiner]], who were coached by Eddie Robinson that have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<ref name="fchfso" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro Hall of Fame |url=https://gramblinglegends.org/pro-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Grambling Legends |language=en-US}}</ref> Coming out of college and into professional football Robinson called him "the finest lineman I have seen"; a view broadly held.<ref name=":2" /> In 1999, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' included him on its All-Century Team for college football.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Maisel |first=Ivan |date=August 16, 1999 |title=Team of the Century |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/08/16/team-of-the-century |magazine=Sports Illustrated |volume=91 |issue=6}}</ref> He was inducted into the Grambling University Hall of Fame in 1987,<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1992 |title=Buck Buchanan Highlights |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=D-1}}</ref> and in 2009, he was in the inaugural class of the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-06-04 |title=Grambling establishes Sports HOF |url=https://lasentinel.net/grambling-establishes-sports-hof.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=Los Angeles Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref>

The FCS ([[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Football Championship Subdivision]]) presents the [[Buck Buchanan Award]] annually to the FCS's best defensive player.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buck Buchanan Award: Complete history of the FCS defensive honor {{!}} NCAA.com |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2024-01-06/buck-buchanan-award-complete-history-fcs-defensive-honor |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=www.ncaa.com |language=en}}</ref> The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually as part of the [[Simone Awards|Thomas A. Simone Annual Memorial Football Awards]] to a high school player in the greater Kansas City, Missouri area as the outstanding big class defensive lineman/linebacker.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simone Memorial Awards |url=https://www.neccoraiders73.com/simoneawards |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Necco Raiders Youth Football & Cheerleading |language=en-us}}</ref>

Hall of Fame guard [[Gene Upshaw]] of the Chiefs' archrival [[Oakland Raiders]] said playing against Buchanan was like trying to block a ghost, and while he enjoyed most challenges he could not sleep the night before games against Buchanan. Upshaw's coach, Hall of Famer [[John Madden]], said Buchanan revolutionized football.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gene Upshaw {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/gene-upshaw |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=John Madden {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/john-madden |access-date=2025-10-31 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> Raiders owner [[Al Davis]] had specifically drafted Upshaw to combat Buchanan.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" /> At the time of Buchanan's death in 1992, Chiefs' owner [[Lamar Hunt]] said "'if there is a Mr. Kansas City Chief, it would certainly have to be Buck Buchanan'".<ref name=":25">{{Cite news |last=Pulliam |first=Kent |date=July 17, 1992 |title=Buchanan 'A hero in every way' |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=D-1, D-7}}</ref> Buchanan's defensive line coach [[Tom Pratt (American football)|Tom Pratt]] observed the importance of Buchanan's leadership among his teammates, "'Buck was always a leader. A lot of times, as a coach, you have to rely on the players to be leaders. And Buck was always there'".<ref name=":25" />

In 1999, Buchanan was ranked No. 67 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players, right behind his former Chiefs teammate Bobby Bell, and above his former teammate Emmitt Thomas. Willie Lanier was at number 42.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sporting News 100 Greatest Players of All-Time (1999) |url=https://futurefootballlegends.com/Sporting_News_100/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=futurefootballlegends.com}}</ref> In 2021, ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranked him 86th on its list of all-time greatest football players.<ref name=":5" /> The defensive line of Buchanan, Culp, Brown and Mays has been rated among the top 10 defensive lines in AFL/NFL history.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=Reineking |first=Jim |title=Greatest defensive line units in NFL history: 2018 Eagles have work cut out for them |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/03/20/greatest-defensive-lines-nfl-history-ranking-eagles/440748002/ |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Vincent |title=Power Ranking the Greatest Defensive Lines in NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1040388-power-ranking-the-greatest-defensive-lines-in-nfl-history |access-date=2025-10-30 |website=bleacherreport.com |language=en}}</ref>

He was named to his first [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star Game]] after his second season and played in six AFL All-Star games and two [[American Football Conference|AFC]]-[[National Football Conference|NFC]] [[Pro Bowl]]s. He was first-team All-AFL from 1966 through 1969, and All-AFC in 1970 and 1971.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":12" /> 

"In spite of the weekly pounding he took on the line of scrimmage, Buchanan was extremely durable. He played in 182 career games that included a string of 166 straight",<ref name=":2" /> and missed only one game in 13 years because of a broken hand in 1974's season opening game. He played with the broken hand for the remainder of the season after missing the one game.<ref name=":13" /> 

== Coaching and media career ==
Buchanan retired from playing in February 1976, and was hired immediately as a [[Position coach|defensive line coach]] by the [[New Orleans Saints]]' new head coach Hank Stram (Buchanan's coach from 1963 to 1974 in Kansas City).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jordan |first=Gerald B. |date=February 10, 1976 |title=Stram Hires Buchanan |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=14}}</ref> The Chiefs had fired Stram at the end of the 1974 season, after coaching the franchise for 15 years since its AFL inception.<ref name=":21">{{Cite news |date=December 29, 1974 |title=Era Of Hank Stram Comes To An End |work=The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana) |pages=45 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt convinced Saints owner [[John Mecom Jr.]] to hire Stram as head coach in early 1976.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 21, 1976 |title=Hunt/Give plug for Saints' Hank Stram |work=San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) |pages=2B |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Stram coached two years for the Saints, and was fired after the 1977 season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 29, 1978 |title=Saints axe Hank Stram |work=The Yazoo Herald (Yazoo City, Mississippi) |pages=9 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> After two years as Stram's defensive line coach in New Orleans,<ref name=":23" /> Buchanan went on to coach the [[Cleveland Browns]]' defensive line in 1978, but resigned for personal reasons after one year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 1979 |title=Browns hire OSU assistant |work=The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) |pages=B6 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He later explained that he thought the chances for there being a black head football coach remained slim, and he missed being with his family who remained in Kansas City while he was in Cleveland.<ref name=":8" /> Buchanan also worked as a radio announcer for Chiefs' games after his coaching career ended.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /> 

==Personal life and death==
After leaving football, Buchanan moved back to Kansas City and became a highly respected businessman and civic leader. Among other things, he ran a construction and advertising business, operated a restaurant, became president of the Black Chamber of Commerce (1986-1989), and was appointed to the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners in 1989 by Governor [[John Ashcroft]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":22">{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1992 |title=Buchanan Through The Years |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=D-1}}</ref> In 1990, he received the Golden Torch award from the [[University of Missouri–Kansas City]].<ref name=":24">{{Cite news |last=Covitz |first=Richard |last2=Richardson |first2=Bill |date=July 17, 1992 |title=Kansas City loses a leader |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=1, 6}}</ref> In 1991, Mayor [[Emanuel Cleaver]] of Kansas City appointed Buchanan to the Kansas City Downtown Minority Development Corporation. In 1992, he received the Kansas City Spirit Award.<ref name=":22" /> 

Buchanan also appeared in a series of humorous [[Miller Lite|Miller Lite Beer]] commercials.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":26" />

Buchanan was also known for his attitude and positive effect on others. Before presenting Buchanan for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Hank Stram alluded to his physical skills and also his "great, great attitude" and "big personality".<ref name=":8" /> Lamar Hunt described Buchanan's qualities reaching beyond football, and always being "'a positive terrific leader'". Mayor Cleaver called Buchanan "'a giant on the field, a giant in the church and a giant in the community'". Edward Pendleton, a civic leader in Kansas City, described Buchanan as sincere person, lacking self-interest and acting without hidden agendas; but rather having a "'genuine interest in improving everybody'". He also said Buchanan was a "'major influence in Kansas City'".<ref name=":24" /> 

Former Chiefs' executive [[Carl Peterson]] described Buchanan's gentle demeanor, humility, dignity and extraordinary ability to communicate with people from all walks of life, and the great contributions he made to his former team.<ref name=":25" /> His Chiefs teammates reported that he had great compassion and a desire to help others; that he never rejected a request from them if they needed something, or to appear at charity events if they asked him to do so.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 17, 1992 |title=Remembering Buck |work=The Kansas City Star |pages=D-7}}</ref>

Buchanan was diagnosed with lung cancer a week before his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1990, and died two years later at age 51 in his Kansas City home, on July 16, 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-07-17-9203040601-story.html |title=Hall of Famer Buchanan Dies |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=17 July 1992}}</ref> Buchanan never mentioned his cancer diagnosis during his Hall of Fame induction speech or earlier, because he did not want to spoil the day for the other inductees. He was survived by his wife and three children.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
* [[Buck Buchanan Award]]
* [[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons-inline}}

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[[Category:1940 births]]
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[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
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