Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt announced on Saturday that former fullback Tony Richardson will be the 2016 inductee into the Chiefs Hall of Fame. Richardson is the 46th player to earn this coveted honor, which will be celebrated this evening at the 46th annual 101 Awards banquet in downtown Kansas City. The official enshrinement ceremony to the Chiefs Hall of Fame will be held during Chiefs Alumni Weekend at Arrowhead Stadium this fall.
"It is my pleasure to announce that Tony Richardson will be inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame this fall," Hunt said. "As a fullback, Tony's selfless personality and physical ability paved the way for many team and individual achievements in his 16 NFL seasons, 11 of those in Kansas City. His durability was uncanny, playing in more games than any other fullback or running back in Chiefs history. He blocked for two of the top three rushers in franchise history. Beyond the field, Tony was a consummate professional and a leader. He left an indelible mark throughout the community with his philanthropic efforts. We are thrilled to be adding his name to our Ring of Honor."
Richardson spent 11 years on Kansas City's roster (1995-2005) playing under head coaches Marty Schottenheimer (1995-98), Gunther Cunningham (1999-2000) and Dick Vermeil (2001-05). During his tenure with the Chiefs, he saw action in 163 games (95 starts). He rushed for 1,576 yards and recorded 1,298 receiving yards, including 24 total touchdowns during his tenure in Kansas City and helped pave the way for four individual 1,000-yard rushing seasons (Johnson, Holmes). Richardson added to a rushing offense that led the league in yards (2,222) in 1995.
The Frankfurt, West Germany, native also made outstanding contributions to the run game in Kansas City as a key blocker during one of the most potent offensive stretches in Chiefs history, playing a major role in the successes of both RB Larry Johnson and RB Priest Holmes. With Richardson leading the way, Johnson compiled 1,750 rushing yards in 2005, the second-highest single-season total in team history. Holmes, who finished his career as the franchise's all-time leading rusher, produced 1,615 rushing yards in 2002, the third-best seasonal mark in club annals, and rushed for a league-leading 1,555 yards in 2001, all with Richardson as his lead back. In 2004, the Chiefs set an NFL single-season record with 398 first downs and led the league in total offense for the first time in franchise history, averaging a club-record 418.4 yards per game. Following his time in Kansas City, the three-time Pro Bowler (2003-05) played for the Minnesota Vikings for two seasons (2006-07) and finished his career playing three seasons with the Jets (2008-10).
"T-Rich" entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1994, where he spent a year on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad prior to joining the Chiefs. Richardson played collegiately at Auburn, where he was only the second true freshman to ever start his first game for the Tigers under head coach Pat Dye. Over the course of four seasons, he would rush for 715 yards and nine touchdowns while paving the way for two-time All-SEC back James Bostic, who would become a third-round pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. Growing up in Germany, Richardson never played football until he went to high school in Daleville, Alabama, where he had developed into an outstanding fullback.
Richardson received his Bachelor of Education degree in 2000 and got his MBA in 2004 from Webster University. He was also the team's Ed Block Courage Award winner in 2001 and an NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2002. Richardson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
