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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
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