Buck Buchanan is one of only 14 players in the history of the National Football League draft to have gone from being the first overall pick of a draft to earning election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1963 (AFL) - BUCK BUCHANAN, DT, GRAMBLING (KANSAS CITY CHIEFS)

How the Chiefs landed the No. 1 pick:

The Chiefs, who played their first three seasons as the Dallas Texans, finished 11-3-0 in 1962 and capped the season with a thrilling overtime victory over the Houston Oilers in the AFL title game. The club made a trade with the Oakland Raiders in ’62 that sent QB Cotton Davidson west in exchange for the Raiders’ No. 1 pick the next year. Fortunately for the Chiefs, the Raiders finished in the basement of the AFL’s Western Division in 1962 with a 1-13-0 mark.

Scouting Buchanan’s college career:

The Chiefs made no mistake that they wanted Buchanan, a three-time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference choice. Grambling coach Eddie Robinson called Buchanan, “the best lineman he had seen.” With a battle raging between the AFL and NFL, the Chiefs signed the speedy defensive end to a contract minutes after he was drafted.

Rookie debut:

At 6’7”, 286 pounds, Buchanan found an instant starting spot on the team’s defensive line. Coach Hank Stram commented on the rookie by stating “he’s blossomed just like a big flower.”

AFL/NFL Career highlights:

A dominant force on the heralded Chiefs defenses, Buchanan was named to six AFL All-Star Games and two AFC-NFC Pro Bowls. HOF Bio>>>