Gary Spani

Gary Spani (born January 9, 1956) is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1978 to 1986. He has worked for the Chiefs' front office since 1989, and was the directors of community engagement for the Chiefs.

Gary Spani
refer to caption
Spani at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in 2017
No. 59
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1956-01-09) January 9, 1956
Satanta, Kansas, U.S.
Career information
High school:Manhattan
(Manhattan, Kansas)
College:Kansas State
NFL Draft:1978 / Round: 3 / Pick: 58
Career history
Career highlights and awards

Spani was born in Satanta, Kansas, but raised in Manhattan, Kansas, and graduated from Manhattan High School. He played college football at Kansas State University. At Kansas State, he was a three-time All Big Eight Conference selection, was conference defensive player of the year in 1977, and was named the school's first consensus All American in 1977. He still holds the all-time tackles record for Kansas State University. Following graduation, Spani was named MVP of the East-West Shrine Game.

The Chiefs selected Spani in the third round of the 1978 NFL Draft. As a professional, Spani was a hardnosed and tenacious player. He was a team captain for the Chiefs in 1983. He formerly held the all-time tackles record for the Kansas City Chiefs, where he registered 999 career stops. His single-season record of 157 tackles with the Chiefs, set in 1979, stood until 2002 when it was broken by Mike Maslowski. He also recorded 9.5 sacks, recovered 9 fumbles and scored 2 touchdowns during his Chiefs career.

Spani was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2003.[1]

Daughter Shalin Spani played college basketball for the Kansas State University Wildcats from 2007 to 2010.[2] She later married K-State star quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein. Daughter Taber Spani plays college basketball for the Tennessee Lady Vols.[3] His third daughter, Tanis Spani, is a member of the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcat basketball team.[4]

References
  1. Gary Spani at the College Football Hall of Fame
  2. Shalin Spani Archived 2012-01-17 at the Wayback Machine K-State Sports Women's Basketball. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  3. Taber Spani Archived 2011-11-06 at the Wayback Machine Lady Vols Basketball. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  4. SBU Women's Basketball. Retrieved April 2, 2012.


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