Willie Lanier's helmet

Nicknamed “Contact” because of his ferocious tackling, middle linebacker Willie Lanier wore this specially padded helmet during his 11 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 to 1977.  Lanier was more than just a hard hitting linebacker; he was the Chiefs’ quarterback on defense.  Although he accounted for many critical defensive plays, one best remembered is a goal line stand he led that stopped the New York Jets on three straight plays at the Chiefs’ one-yard line in the 1969 AFL Championship Game. The Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.