Lionel Thomas Taylor, a former AFL star and Denver Broncos standout, as well as a two-time Super Bowl-winning wide receivers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, passed away at the age of 89.
He had been hospitalized for a urinary tract infection on December 20, 2024, spending 69 days in care before being discharged.
In July 2025, he returned to the hospital for two weeks before entering hospice care, where he passed away on August 6, 2025, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, following a brief illness.
Furthermore, the news of Lionel Taylor’s passing came just a month after celebrating his 67th wedding anniversary with longtime wife, Lorencita.
Lionel Taylor, known for his amazing coaching skills and athletic career, was more than just his profession; he was a devoted husband to his wife, Lorencita, whom he first met in New Mexico.
The couple attended the same college, New Mexico Highlands University, where Lionel excelled in multiple sports, including basketball, track, and football, and Lorencita was his biggest supporter.
Through their marriage of over six decades, Lionel Taylor and his wife, Lorencita, raised two successful daughters, Loretta Taylor Clark and LaVern ‘Bunni’ Taylor, along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Late Lionel Taylor’s Wife, Lorencita Taylor, Is a Retired Educator
Lorencita Taylor, a Native American from Cochiti Pueblo, dedicated her life to education and cultural preservation.
Beginning her career as a teacher in the Bernalillo Public School District in 1963, Lorencita guided thousands of students.
Similarly, Lorencita went to work for the Cochiti Pueblo in 1992 as Education Director and Keres Language Director, attending classes to qualify for State Language and Culture Licensure.
Lorencita taught all levels, including the Language Nest, and in 2011 joined Bernalillo Public Schools at Cochiti Elementary before moving on to Bernalillo High School, where she taught her culture and language for 14 rewarding years until retiring in May 2014.
Over her 47-year career, she impacted countless students. She remained actively engaged with youth through programs like Rio Rancho Parks and Rec Meal Program and the Keres Children’s Learning Center, a Montessori-based school in Cochiti Lake, NM.
She also previously served as a PE teacher at Robertson High School in Las Vegas, NM, and continues to live in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Following retirement, she now enjoys driving for Drive Mr. Daisy, while appreciating the benefits of her long career.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Lionel Taylor’s daughter, Bunni Taylor, works as a sales advisor at Fairwinds in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
- His family has yet to provide details about his funeral and memorial services.
