Former Chiefs star Bobby Hunt dies at 85

Bobby Hunt, a versatile two-way college star who became a record-setting defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs and started in the inaugural Super Bowl, has died. He was 85. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame announced his passing on Friday, July 31, 2026, but did not disclose a cause of death or the specific date he died.

Hunt carved out a reputation as a pioneering multi-threat athlete during his college career at Auburn University from 1959 to 1961. Playing quarterback and defensive back, he appeared in 30 games, passing for 1,185 yards and rushing for 1,046 yards while accounting for 19 total touchdowns. His talent commanded respect even from rivals, with legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant once remarking that Hunt was "just a great football player, that's all."

Selected by the Dallas Texans in the 11th round of the 1962 American Football League draft, Hunt transitioned exclusively to safety at the professional level. He made an immediate impact, intercepting eight passes as a rookie to earn First-Team All-AFL honors, a franchise rookie record that stood until 2015. The Texans won the AFL championship that season before relocating to Kansas City and becoming the...