Kansas
City Chiefs - Team History
Kansas City Chiefs, professional football team and one of five teams
in the Western Division of the American Football Conference (AFC)
of the National Football League (NFL). Originally formed as the Dallas
Texans, the Chiefs now play at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri,
and wear uniforms of red, gold, and white. The team was named after
Kansas City mayor H. Roe “Chief” Bartle.
During the 1960s the Chiefs franchise were the only
club to capture three American Football League (AFL) championships.
Coached by Hank Stram, the team had one of the AFL’s most
feared defenses. Quarterback Len Dawson, a five-time passing champion
and future Hall of Fame member, led the offense. During the early
and mid-1990s head coach Marty Schottenheimer directed the Chiefs
to six consecutive playoff appearances. His many stars included
running back Marcus Allen, kicker Nick Lowery, and quarterback Joe
Montana.
The
Dallas Texans became a charter member of the AFL in 1960, and Hank
Stram, an assistant at the University of Miami, was hired as the
team’s first head coach. Two years later Stram produced a
powerful offense with quarterback Len Dawson, veteran running back
Abner Hayes, and rookie running back Curtis McClinton. The three
stars led the Texans to the AFL title in 1962. Dawson was named
the player of the year, McClinton rookie of the year, and Stram
coach of the year.
Despite the
team’s success in the AFL, the club suffered economically
because of poor fan support, and in 1963 the franchise moved to
Kansas City and was renamed the Chiefs. Kansas City won its second
AFL title in 1966 behind wide receiver Otis Taylor; running back
Mike Garrett, who was named the league’s top rookie; and kicker
Mike Mercer, who made four field goals in the AFL Championship Game.
In winning the AFL crown, the Chiefs earned the right to play the
NFL-champion Green Bay Packers in the first Super Bowl. Kansas City
lost the game 35-10.
Stram guided
his team to a league-record third AFL title in the 1969 season.
The club’s standouts included tackle Buck Buchanan and linebackers
Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, all future Hall of Fame members. The
offense starred Dawson, tight end Fred Arbanas, kicker Jan Stenerud,
and offensive linemen Ed Budde and Jim Tyrer. The Chiefs upset the
heavily favored Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in the Super Bowl.
Kansas City
joined the NFL in 1970 when the NFL and AFL completed their merger.
In 1971 Stram led the Chiefs to the AFC Western Division title in
their second year in the league. That year, in a double-overtime
divisional playoff game on Christmas Day, the Miami Dolphins defeated
Kansas City in the longest game in NFL history. It lasted 82 minutes
40 seconds.
The Chiefs suffered
a 14-season playoff drought from 1972 to 1985, finishing as high
as second place only twice. In 1986 Kansas City returned to the
playoffs with a strong defense that included safety Deron Cherry,
who topped the AFC in interceptions in 1985 and 1986.
In 1990 second-year
head coach Marty Schottenheimer guided the Chiefs to the first of
six consecutive trips to the playoffs. The club brought together
veteran superstars Marcus Allen and Joe Montana in 1993. That year
Kansas City won its first division crown since 1971. Throughout
the mid- and late 1990s, the Chiefs remained one of the AFC’s
tougher teams.
1967 Super Bowl
I Lost to Green Bay Packers, 35-10
1970 Super Bowl
IV Defeated Minnesota Vikings, 23-7 |
