Joe Delaney

[1][3][4] Discouraged by his father from pursuing his dreams of playing football,[5] Delaney became the starting wide receiver by his junior year at Haughton.

[7] After telling his coach of his willingness to play football at the collegiate level, Delaney switched to the running back position.

In high school, he ran the 100 yard dash in 9.4 seconds and was on the Northwestern State track and field team, which won the NCAA 400-meter relay in 1981.

[9] 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.

[8] He underwent surgery to repair a detached retina,[13] and only registered 380 rushing yards in the nine-game shortened season, which the Chiefs finished with a 3–6 record.

[1][14] Source:[1] Delaney had a lifelong history of helping others[7] and once paid for the funeral of a former teacher whose family could not afford a proper service.

[3] On June 29, 1983, Delaney, who was living in nearby Ruston,[15] went with friends to Critter's Creek, an amusement center at Chennault Park in Monroe, Louisiana.

[3][7][15] Three thousand people attended Delaney's burial and memorial service on July 4, which was held in the sweltering heat of the Haughton High School gymnasium.

By the supreme example of courage and compassion, this brilliantly gifted young man left a spiritual legacy for his fellow Americans.For the 1983 NFL season, the Chiefs honored Delaney by wearing a circular patch bearing a gold eagle and the number 37 on the upper-left chest of their uniforms.

[6][8] A permanent shrine honoring him sits under the home stands at Northwestern State's Turpin Stadium and his number 44 jersey hangs in the football offices.

[9] A group of Chiefs fans in Kansas City formed the "37Forever Foundation", which works with the American Red Cross to provide swimming lessons for underprivileged children.

[6][8][16] The Kansas City Chiefs unofficially retired Delaney's jersey number 37 following his death,[16][19] and he was elected to the team's Hall of Fame in 2004.