Former Chiefs DE Pellom McDaniels dies at 52

McDaniels was an active member of the Kansas City community during his time with the Chiefs.

A former member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Pellom McDaniels III, passed away suddenly in Atlanta, Georgia. He was just 52 years old.

McDaniels played college football at Oregon State University and was a standout three-year letterman playing defensive end. Out of college, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, but a hip injury derailed his professional career. He would sign with NFL Europe’s Birmingham Fire and play with them for two seasons before getting his next shot in the NFL, which was with the Chiefs.

McDaniels played five seasons for the Chiefs from 1993-98, appearing in 74 games and starting 14 during that span. He accumulated 85 tackles and 7.5 sacks during his career in Kansas City.

McDaniels was very involved in the Kansas City community during his time with the team, founding the Arts for Smarts foundation to help to expose children to the fine and applied arts. He was once the team nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award because of his impact and commitment to the community.

When McDaniel retired from the NFL he earned a graduate degree from Emory University. He’d go on to become a board member at the National World War Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and an assistant professor at UMKC. When McDaniel left Kansas City he became the Curator of African American Collections at Emory Universities Stuart A. Rose Library, publishing a number of works on sports.

McDaniels was beloved by his peers in Kansas City and many shared their sadness when they learned of his death.