Chiefs legend Fred Arbanas dies at 82

Kansas City Chiefs legendary tight end Fred Arbanas has died. He was 82.

The death of Arbanas, who spent more than 40 years as a politician, was announced on Twitter by the Jackson County (Mo.) Democratic Party. The entity said Arbanas died Saturday. No cause of death was provided.

Arbanas was a member of two Kansas City Super Bowl teams — including a winning effort in Super Bowl IV — during his nine seasons (1962-70) with the franchise. He also was a member of the 1962 AFL champion Dallas Texans before the team moved to Kansas City.

Arbanas was an All-AFL selection in each of his first six seasons. He caught 198 passes for 3,101 yards and 34 touchdowns in an era in which tight ends were primarily blockers.

Still, he set career bests of 686 yards and eight touchdowns while matching his career high of 34 catches in 1964. He averaged a stunning 20.2 yards per catch that season.

Arbanas played his final six seasons after being declared legally blind in his left eye.

According to the Kansas City Star, Arbanas and teammate Al Reynolds were approached on the street by a stranger in December 1964. Arbanas offered to shake hands and the stranger slugged Arbanas in his left eye and scurried away.

Arbanas underwent several surgeries and was left with partial vision in the eye.

Arbanas caught two passes for 30 yards when the Chiefs lost 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I during the 1966 season. He started Super Bowl IV but had no receptions when Kansas City defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 during the 1969 campaign.

Arbanas was named to the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1973.

–Field Level Media