On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs Kingdom lost one of its beloved sons from their Super Bowl IV era. Running Back, Warren McVea, passed at the age of 79. Though he didn’t play long, he did something no other black football player had ever done in the ’60s.
Warren McVea played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1969 to 1972. In Super Bowl IV, he led the team in carries with 12 as he was part of the trio that demoralized the Minnesota Vikings. Though he didn’t get the glory, along with Mike Garrett, Robert Holmes, and Wendell Hayes, he was still an important part of the team.
As the Chiefs’ primary punt returner, the small-framed runner, who had the nickname ‘The Flea,’ was an integral part of the team. He was traded to the Chiefs in 1969 and retired from the AFL/NFL in 1973.
McVea was also the first black football player to earn a scholarship at a major university. In 1965, he received a scholarship from the University of Houston. That acceptance paved the way for other black athletes, who had primarily been given scholarships to black Universities in the south.
His best season was in 1969. With a crowded backfield, he gained 500 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, leading a bruising ground game under Hall of Fame Head Coach Hank Stram.
Though his NFL career was short, after being traded to the Chiefs from the Cincinnati Bengals, he carved out a niche on the team and was part of their success in Super Bowl IV.
