The phrase “hero” is thrown round lots today. Some persons are deserving of the label, like firefighters, nurses, medical doctors, and so forth. Nevertheless, we typically use the time period when discussing outstanding particular person athletic performances. Even lately, Tyrese Haliburton was dubbed the “hero” of the Indiana Pacers’ 2025 playoff run as a result of he hit 4 totally different game-tying/game-winning pictures. However once we discuss heroes on the planet of sports activities, we should at all times point out former Kansas Metropolis Chiefs operating again Joe Delaney, who misplaced his life on June twenty ninth, 1983, whereas trying to avoid wasting three youngsters from drowning, though he wasn’t an excellent swimmer.
Delaney made a reputation for himself whereas enjoying faculty soccer at Northwestern State College in Louisiana from 1977 to 1980. He was named an All-American twice whereas speeding for 3,047 yards and 31 touchdowns throughout his faculty profession. In consequence, his quantity was retired by the college in 1980, and he was later enshrined within the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1997.
Delaney’s prolific faculty profession caught the eye of the Nationwide Soccer League, which led to him being chosen by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the second spherical of the 1981 NFL Draft. He went on to have probably the greatest rookie seasons of all time, speeding for 1,121 yards whereas recording 22 receptions for 246 receiving yards. His on-field efficiency earned him a spot within the Professional Bowl and the 1981 UPI AFC Rookie of the 12 months award.
Sadly, Delaney was not capable of replicate the identical success he had in 1981 the following season. A strike by NFL gamers, coupled with a watch damage, restricted Delaney to simply eight video games through the 1982 season. Although he confirmed plenty of promise as a soccer participant, he by no means performed in one other NFL recreation due to his heroic sacrifice.
On June twenty ninth, 1983, Delaney drove a group of children to a Monroe, Louisiana park for a “Kids Day” event sponsored by a neighborhood tv station, in response to NCAA archives. Whereas on the park, three youngsters swam out right into a water gap left behind by some latest development. Quickly after venturing out into the water gap, the three youngsters started to cry for assist. Although he didn’t know how you can swim nicely, Joe Delaney leapt into motion to attempt to save the kids anyway.
42 years in the past at this time, Joe Delaney tragically handed away a hero, trying to avoid wasting three youngsters from drowning. We’ll always remember his sacrifice ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UdYk3XVJUM
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 29, 2025
“I can’t swim good, however I’ve acquired to avoid wasting these youngsters,” he advised a toddler who requested him if he knew how you can swim. “If I don’t come up, get any individual.”
He managed to assist one of many youngsters make it again to shore unscathed. Sadly, Delaney and the 2 different youngsters drowned earlier than they could possibly be saved.
“When these little youngsters wanted assist, he gave up his life making an attempt to avoid wasting them. He wasn’t a swimmer. He didn’t have any enterprise being round water, a lot much less making an attempt to avoid wasting another person who was drowning,” mentioned former Chiefs teammate Tom Condon. “You simply can’t put it in phrases. The person had an amazing coronary heart; he was particular.”
Although Delaney misplaced his life, and he was solely capable of save one of many three youngsters, his heroics and unselfishness proceed to echo all through the annals of historical past.
Only a few weeks after his passing, Delaney was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by U.S. President Ronald Regan, who mentioned, “He made the last word sacrifice by putting the lives of three youngsters above regard for his personal security. By the supreme instance of braveness and compassion, this brilliantly gifted younger man left a non secular legacy for his fellow People.”
Yesterday marked the fortieth anniversary of the loss of life of Joe Delaney, a hero who gave his life making an attempt to avoid wasting three youngsters from drowning.
In his honor, the Joe Delaney Study to Swim program was created to show youngsters how you can swim and stop drowning. pic.twitter.com/2DzjIhLiz9
— Trey Smith (@treysmith) June 30, 2023
A number of distinguished organizations got here up with methods to honor Delaney’s life and legacy. In 1984, the NCAA posthumously awarded Delaney the NCAA Award of Valor. In 2004, the Chiefs unofficially retired his quantity 37 and inducted him into the workforce’s Ring of Honor. Even at this time, Northwestern State College provides out the Joe Delaney Memorial Management Award to everlasting workforce captains every year.
“His humility, his unselfishness, his inspirational talents had been really outstanding,” mentioned former Northwestern State College president Randall J. Webb. “The heroic method wherein he left our world typifies the way in which he lived every day.”
On that tragic day in 1983, there was nothing that was going to cease Joe Delaney from making an attempt to assist these youngsters. That is additional confirmed by the truth that his NCAA profile states, “Delaney had a lifelong historical past of serving to others.”
To do what he did, understanding he was a poor swimmer, is the kind of braveness that makes the world a greater place. Joe Delaney possessed the character and bravado that we might all profit from in a day and age the place there’s a lot vitriol, violence, and hate on the planet.
Yearly, when June twenty ninth comes round, we should always all take a second to recollect Joe Delaney and the last word sacrifice he made. Extra importantly, if we are able to every attempt to keep in mind Delaney’s actions and embody the bravery and selflessness that he embodied, then we are able to create a world that Joe Delaney could be pleased with.
