Lanier attended Maggie Walker High School in Richmond, Va., and played college football at historically black Morgan State University where he was a two-time member of the Small College All-America Team. He was a second-round choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1967 draft and played 11 seasons for the team from 1967 through 1977.
Widely known and well respected for being the first black star to play the difficult position of middle linebacker, Lanier made the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969. He was selected to the Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1975, and later became a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
The Virginia Union Panthers will kick of their 2012 season on September 1 against the Benedict College Tigers at 7:00 p.m. at the Historic Hovey Field in Richmond, Va. For ticket information and table reservations, please call the VUU Department of Athletics at (804) 342-1484.
About Virginia Union University: Founded in 1865, Virginia Union is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia known for being a premier liberal arts institution of higher education and a center of excellence.
