Legendary Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Ed Budde, a Super Bowl champion, died Tuesday. He was 83.
The Chiefs didn’t disclose a cause of death.
Budde, a left guard, spent his entire 14-year career with the Chiefs from 1963-76. He was a first-round pick (eighth overall) in the 1963 AFL Draft, a five-time AFL All-Star and two-time Pro Bowl selection while playing 177 regular-season games.
“My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Chiefs Hall of Famer Ed Budde,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. “Ed spent his entire 14-year career with the Chiefs, and he was a cornerstone of those early Chiefs teams that brought pro football to Kansas City. He never missed a game in the first nine seasons of his career, and he rightfully earned recognition as an All-Star, a Pro-Bowler and a Super Bowl champion.
“After his playing career, Ed remained connected to the Chiefs organization and was a founding member of the Kansas City Ambassadors. He was well-loved in the Kansas City community, and he was a great father to Brad, Tionne and John. My family and the entire Chiefs organization extend our sincere condolences to Carolyn and the Budde family.”
Budde was on the Kansas City teams that played in Super Bowls I and IV. The Chiefs lost the first one, 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers. Three years later, Kansas City knocked off the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 with Budde throwing the block that cleared Mike Garrett for a second-quarter touchdown run.
Budde was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1984. He also was a first-team selection on the All-AFL teams in 1966 and 1969.
Budde was an All-American at Michigan State before his professional career. He was inducted into the Michigan State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
Brad Budde, an All-American at Southern California, was picked by Kansas City in the first round (11th overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft. According to the Chiefs, the Buddes are the lone father-son combo to be first-round picks by the same NFL team at the same position.
The two announced the Chiefs’ second-round selection (receiver Rashee Rice) in April when the draft was held in Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
