Forever a Jayhawk: Remembering Kansas football great Curtis McClinton

Kansas football has been home to a lot of talented running backs over the years. There have been multiple Hall of Famers such as John Riggins and Gale Sayers who once donned the crimson and blue.

But there’s a player who came before them who deserves not to be forgotten in the conversation of all-time Kansas running back greats.

Running back Curtis McClinton – a Wichita, Kansas, native – played for KU from 1958 to 1961. During his time in Lawrence, he rushed for 1,377 yards and led the team in rushing during the 1959 season.

His performances made him a three-time All-Big Eight selection and he was named to the Sporting News All-American team in 1961. To this day, McClinton ranks 21st on KU’s all-time career rushing list – despite being used primarily as a blocking back.

McClinton was also a member of KU’s first-ever, bowl-winning team.

The Jayhawks beat the Rice Owls 33-7 in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl. McClinton chipped in one touchdown while also providing key blocks for fullback Ken Coleman (who led the team in rushing that day with 107 yards on 18 carries) and Hall of Fame quarterback John Hadl who completed 10 passes for 64 yards and had a crucial 41-yard run in the second quarter.

McClinton was also an accomplished track and field performer at KU, winning the 1960 Indoor Big 8 Track and Field 60-yard High Hurdles title.

Following his playing days at KU, McClinton was drafted by the Dallas Texans (who later became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963) in the 14th round of the 1961 AFL Draft.

It didn’t take long for McClinton to acclimate to pro football as he was named AFL Rookie of the Year in 1962 after rushing for 604 yards and catching 29 passes for 333 yards. His stellar rookie performance earned him a spot in the 1962 AFL All-Star Game where he was named Most Outstanding Player.

It was the first of three all-star games for McClinton, who would end up spending his entire career with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs.

McClinton became the first player in AFL history to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl when he caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Len Dawson in Super Bowl I against the eventual champion Green Bay Packers.

McClinton’s final year with the Chiefs was in 1969 when the Chiefs would eventually bring home the franchise’s first Super Bowl trophy after beating the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV.

He finished his pro career with 3,124 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 154 passes for 1,945 yards and 14 touchdowns.

McClinton was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1995 and KU’s Ring of Honor in 2004.

During an interview in 2011, McClinton offered sage advice to current KU student-athletes.

“This is the greatest university in the world,” McClinton said. “Great people come here to achieve and to find themselves and to learn. The important thing to remember is just like in a game, you fumble the ball, you go back, you pick it up and you keep going.”

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