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Brandon Lloyd. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

AFC West one-hit wonders

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 6/20/23

While some players turn outstanding seasons into lengthy and impressive careers, others simply fade into obscurity. Here are the most notable one-hit wonders from each AFC West team.

Denver Broncos: Brandon Lloyd, WR

Lloyd, a fourth-round pick in 2004, was a decent wideout who bounced around the league before breaking out in Denver in 2010. In 16 games, Lloyd led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,448, was fifth in receiving TDs (11) and had a career-high 77 receptions. He also earned a second-team All-Pro nod and a Pro Bowl appearance.

After a 1-4 start in 2011, Denver traded Lloyd to the Rams for a sixth-round pick and a conditional fifth-rounder. He couldn't replicate spectacular results, recording 70 receptions for 966 yards and five TDs in 15 games with the Broncos and Rams.

Lloyd played two more seasons with the Patriots and 49ers and never recorded 1,000 receiving yards again. He retired in 2015.

Kansas City Chiefs: Steve Bono, QB

Bono had been a backup throughout his career before taking over for future Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana in 1995. He was a good replacement, going 13-3 as a starter and helping the Chiefs capture the No. 1 seed in the AFC. He also threw for 21 TDs, made the Pro Bowl and ran for a 76-yard TD in a Week 5 victory against Arizona.

Steve Bono played 14 years in the @NFL and ran for just 257 yards.

Maybe that's why not a single Cardinal defender anticipated this QB bootleg, which accounted for over one-quarter of Bono's career rushing yards.

(Oct. 1, 1995) @Chiefs #AZvsKC pic.twitter.com/ZG4Dbqj7LG
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) November 7, 2018

Nonetheless, Bono crumbled in a 10-7 divisional-round loss against the Indianapolis Colts, completing 11-of-25 passes and throwing three interceptions. His struggles continued into the next season when he threw more picks (13) than TDs (12). Kansas City benched him after a Week 13 loss to the Chargers.

Bono played for three different teams (Packers, Panthers and Rams) over the next three seasons, only starting in two games before he retired in 1999.

Las Vegas Raiders: LaMont Jordan, RB

Jordan spent the first four years of his career as a backup to former Jets star Curtis Martin before signing a five-year, $27.5M contract with the Raiders in 2005. He turned in a dominant season. In 14 games, he tied for ninth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,588) and eighth in TDs (11). He added 70 receptions, too, which led RBs.

The following season, Jordan regressed, recording 508 yards and 10 receptions in nine games before suffering a season-ending MCL tear against the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2007, he missed four games with a back injury and Justin Fargas replaced him as the starter.

Jordan played for two more seasons with the Patriots and Broncos. He never crossed the 800-yard mark again and never recorded 30 receptions or more.

Los Angeles Chargers: Lionel James, RB

James, nicknamed "Little Train" because he was only 5-foot-6 and 171 pounds, steamrolled the NFL in 1985 with the Chargers, then based in San Diego. In 16 games, he had the fourth-most all-purpose yards (2,535) in league history. He also had 1,027 receiving yards, becoming the first RB to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

James didn't have the durability of a great RB, though. He missed nine games in 1986 with an ankle injury. In 1988, a hip flexor injury nagged him throughout the season, and he rushed for only 105 yards in 16 games.

The Chargers waived James in 1989, and he never played in the NFL again.

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