Comments on: Remembering Joe Delaney, 29 years later

By: milehighchief

milehighchief — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:40:07 +0000

Oh…also…although Joe Delaneys’ number has never been officially retired by the Chiefs…NO ONE has ever donned the “37″ since.

By: milehighchief

milehighchief — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:25:58 +0000

Being a 5 decade fan of the Chiefs, Iremember his heroism all too well. It truly left a void in his family’s lives, to Chiefs nationthe NFL and most of all HUMANKIND. As many of us Chiefs fans believed…GOD needed RB so HE took the best available !!! GOD bless you Joe & RIP !!!

By: spartaninnh

spartaninnh — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:52:37 +0000

RIP, Joe.

And I am speechless at the 2 idiots downvoting every post. May you never need someone to act selflessly to save YOUR lives.

By: torturedraiderfan

torturedraiderfan — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:39:03 +0000

I see a lot of kids wearing Ochocinco and Terrell Ownes jerseys or the jersey of every other self-absorbed NFL player of today. But I never see any kids wearing Joe Delany jerseys. Maybe the NFL needs to make more of an effort to promote the true heros of the game instead of worring about squuezing every last nickle out of the TV contracts. I’ll take one Joe Delany over a million Chad Ochocincos.

By: jjbadd

jjbadd — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:31:44 +0000

WoW! what a story…I like to think I would have done the same thing. It’s men like this that inspire me, & I’m damn near un-inspirable! God Bless him..

By: santolonius

santolonius — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:21:01 +0000

his story is also an important reminder to learn to swim. and that’s no snarky joke. learning to be a decent swimmer is extremely easy. and it could save your life or someone else’s.

By: mnlittle

mnlittle — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:55:09 +0000

I remember when this happened. A hero like this needs to be remembered yearly.

By: pftcensorssuck

pftcensorssuck — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:29:23 +0000

I had forgotten all about this story, thank you for bringing it to the forefront again.

I am absolutely amazed at the almost total lack of “thumbs down’s” on these comments. I can’t remember the last time I saw that here.

By: pkrjones

pkrjones — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:18:02 +0000

I remember this story (and man) very well. What a selfless, amazing act of kindness and bravery. As a swim coach it also highlights the need for kids (starting at age 2) to learn survival skills in the water ~ being able to roll onto their back in the water and make their way to the edge of a pool. Parents, if you aren’t comfortable in the water join your kids for lessons. 3/4 of the world is water, why not be at ease while in it?

By: fwippel

fwippel — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:57:44 +0000

I remember when this happened, and how upsetting it was to hear the news. A very brave and courageous man, lost far too soon.

I also have to second the comment by Elvin Bethea. On the field, Delaney was a beast. I remember an 80-yard run he ripped off against Denver at Arrowhead stadium (on the old artificial turf there at the time), and I swear I think it was the fastest I’ve ever seen anyone run on a football field. He gave Chiefs a legitimate break-away threat that I’m not sure they’ve had in their backfield since.

Delaney was a great man, and a great player as well. Thanks for remembering him.

By: delaney37

delaney37 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:38:42 +0000

As a life long chiefs fan and local kid I was very young when this happened. I remember my dad and uncles talking about it and how he would have been the best! I was so impacted that I became the biggest Joe Delaney fan! Hell I even chose number 37 as my jersey number every year in pop warner through high school. My first true hero!! A mans man! If you ever get a chance to see old tapes of him playing you will be empressed.

By: godofwine330

godofwine330 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:26:52 +0000

I want to thank Steve Sabol and NFL Films for telling me of this story more than 20 years ago. For a guy who cannot swim jumping into the water to save someone is unbelievable.

I jumped into the base pool over on “The Rock AFB” while stationed in Kuwait to save another sailor and he nearly drowned me twice, both times when we were within 2 feet of the edge. It was only when a second sailor jumped in and instead of getting him to the edge of the deep which was closer thought to alternate pushing the man to the shallows that we saved him. When we got to the shallow end the guys legs were so tired that he sank like a rock to the bottom in 4 feet of water and we had to pull him up.

I can swim, but trying to save someone in water is very scary because the person is so terrified they try to climb up your body to find air, so for someone who could not swim took unbelievable courage. May he rest in peace for his courageous actions.

By: rklapsley

rklapsley — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:17:33 +0000

I remember when Joe Delaney lost his life. What a self-less act. I still think of him to this day when I am near a body of water. I am not a strong swimmer either. I often wonder if I have the courage to do what he did?

As a die hard Steelers fan, two RBs back in the day always concerned me..Chuck Muncie and Joe Delaney. Joe was on his way to being one of the best ever. RIP

By: txxxchief

txxxchief — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:58:49 +0000

RIP #37. You are missed.

By: karla36

karla36 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:55:04 +0000

WOW–29 years?! I remember it like yesterday. I was deeply moved then and I still am today. A true hero!!!!

By: fatguystrangler

fatguystrangler — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:54:36 +0000

Like a few of my fellow posters, this is the first time I’ve heard about this story. What an amazing selfless act that just made me pause for several moments and relflect.
Thanks for posting this, Florio.

By: mp42245

mp42245 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:53:03 +0000

I remember when Joe was playing at Northeast Louisiana U. I watched him play my school, McNeese State , and he was so talented. No one then ever thought that a running back from our conference would ever make it in the NFL. As a fan, I was proud of him. After he died doing what he did, I sa so proud that I had actually seen a true hero in person. God rest his soul. Doing what he was trying to do was a ticket straight to heaven.

By: brasho

brasho — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:31:02 +0000

I was a little boy when this happened and I remember reading the SI article shortly after it happened. The story of the ultimate sacrifice really touched me deeply and stuck with me all of these years.

The name of Joe Delaney stuck with me for the last 29 years perhaps more so than other people and as my way of keeping alive this man’s ultimate sacrifice I named my first born daughter after him. My daughter, Delaney, is now 9 years old and now that she’s old enough to read well I will direct her to the link so she can better appreciate the name they I hope one day she appreciates as one of love and sacrifice.

Thanks for posting the link to Deford’s article, it’s being bookmarked as well as being turned into a word document.

By: DonRSD

DonRSD — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:48:45 +0000

What a good man. That’s the fatherly instinct in all of us guys.
RIP

By: dabayoubearsfan

dabayoubearsfan — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:39:29 +0000

*Growing up

By: dabayoubearsfan

dabayoubearsfan — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:33:59 +0000

I remember hearing about it up as a kid going to the same high school as he did in Haughton, La. He made a sacrifice not many would make.

By: ozzy49fam

ozzy49fam — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:15:38 +0000

I’m an Australian that has loved the nfl since 1981 & have been a diehard 49ers fan. When joe Montana left and went kc they became my second favorite team & I have always hoped they’d come good. But after reading this montana is now my second favorite joe. wot a inspiration this man is. Does anyone know wot happened with his kids. Hope they made something of themselves if they are half the people there father was then they will have made the most of there life’s

By: techvet

techvet — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:26:07 +0000

“Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

- John 15:13

By: randallflagg52

randallflagg52 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:58:59 +0000

Wow, I salute you Joe Delaney. I can’t even put into words how much I admire you for that. The Air Foce pararescue special forces have a motto, “so that other’s may live” and you embodied that like few others ever will.

By: adeedothatswho

adeedothatswho — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:32:24 +0000

Amen, Florio. What a man. I’ll take a moment to remember him today.

By: mwindle1973

mwindle1973 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:30:40 +0000

Good article. Very sad! I’ve never heard of this until today, so you’ve accomplished part of your purpose for writing the piece. I can’t believe I’d never heard about him before. I’ve been an avid football fan since 6. Actually I’m told it was well before that, but I can remember watching NFL games at 6 years old. Some of my earliest memories. And I was 9 when this happened. And after thinking about it, back in 1983, in June, 9 year olds were outside playing football, or baseball, or something from dusk till dawn. Must’ve missed the news cycle that day

By: unprovenprophet

unprovenprophet — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:29:39 +0000

29 years ago? Man, I still remember when that happened. I was a teenager and I just remember thinking that Joe Delaney was a hero.

There aren’t too many people in the world like Joe Delaney, and I wish there were.

By: tonywhyte

tonywhyte — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:07:47 +0000

Some good people pass through this world.

By: veence69

veence69 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:05:30 +0000

I’ve never known of Joe Delaney until now. Thank you for keeping his memory alive. We’re all brave and selfless in our minds, but not as many would actually be willing to put their lives at risk knowing the reality of the possible outcome.

By: johnnycash19

johnnycash19 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:03:41 +0000

Did not know about this story, it was before I was born, Thanks Florio. Such a sad story, but one filled with bravery and heroics. Joe Delaney should be a reminder that no matter what the circumstance is, you can always help those who need help.