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Warren McVea, Barrier-Breaking Houston Star and Chiefs Super Bowl Champion, Dies at 79

His daughter said he died at home in Los Angeles following a long illness.

Overview

  • McVea was the first Black player to receive a football scholarship to a major Texas program when he signed with the University of Houston.
  • He helped Kansas City win Super Bowl IV, contributing to the Chiefs’ 23-7 victory over the Vikings.
  • At Houston under coach Bill Yeoman, he set a 1966 school mark with 3,009 all-purpose yards and recorded a 99-yard touchdown in the first game played on artificial turf.
  • A San Antonio standout, he led Brackenridge High to the 1962 state title and set a big-school scoring record with 315 points as a senior.
  • His career included stints with the Bengals and Chiefs, totaling 2,552 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns, followed by prison time in the 1990s and later inductions into the San Antonio and University of Houston halls of fame.