Kansas City Chiefs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Year founded: 1960 | |||||
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| City | Kansas City, Missouri | ||||
| Team colors | Red, gold, and White | ||||
| Head Coach | Herman Edwards | ||||
| Owner | Clark Hunt[1] | ||||
| General manager | Carl Peterson | ||||
| Mascot | K.C. Wolf (1989-present)
Warpaint (1963-1988) |
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| League/Conference affiliations | |||||
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American Football League (1960-1969)
National Football League (1970–present)
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| Team history | |||||
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| Championships | |||||
League Championships (3)†
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| Conference Championships (0) | |||||
Division Championships (8)
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| † - Does not include the AFL or NFL Championships won during the same seasons as the AFL-NFL Super Bowl Championships prior to the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger | |||||
| Home fields | |||||
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The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are currently members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Chiefs conduct summer training camp at University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Originally called the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League. The team moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs in 1963 after then-Kansas City mayor H. Roe Bartle guaranteed to the team that they would have increased ticket sales. The Chiefs then joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger.
The Chiefs hold the distinction of being the second AFL team (after the New York Jets) to defeat an NFL club in an AFL-NFL World Championship Game when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.
Contents |
[edit] Franchise history
[edit] AFL
[edit] Early Years in Dallas, 1960-1963
The team was owned by Lamar Hunt, who founded the team along with their original league, the American Football League, in 1960. The Dallas Texans, as they were known then, shared the Cotton Bowl with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
In one of the Texans' biggest games, they defeated the Houston Oilers in a dramatic 1962 AFL Championship which went into double overtime. Until the December 25, 1971 playoff game between the Chiefs and Dolphins, the game was the longest ever played at over 77 minutes.
[edit] The move to Kansas City
After three seasons — including an AFL championship in 1962 — it was apparent that Dallas couldn’t support two teams. Hunt investigated opportunities to move his team to several cities, including Miami, Seattle and New Orleans. Hunt wanted to find a city to which he could commute easily from Dallas, and when he was unable to secure Tulane Stadium because the university didn’t want its football program to compete with a pro team, he turned to Kansas City, where Mayor H. Roe Bartle persuaded him to move to the Midwest.[2]
It was a negotiation conducted in secrecy. On several occasions Hunt and Jack Steadman, the team’s general manager, were in Kansas City and met with businessmen. Bartle introduced Hunt as “Mr. Lamar” in all the meetings with other Kansas City businessmen. Steadman was introduced as “Jack X.”[2]
Most impressive about this move was the support the team received from the community even before the team announced the move. Hunt made the move dependent upon the ability of Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle and the Kansas City community to guarantee him 35,000 in season ticket sales. Hunt had arrived at this number because that was the Texans' average attendance at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Bartle called to his office 20 business leaders and called upon them to form an association later known as "The Gold Coats", whose sole objective was to sell and take down payments on the 35,000 season tickets required. Not an easy task when one considers the move was still secret and the Gold Coats had to sell season tickets to people without knowing the team name, where it was coming from, who the owner was, what league it would play in, who the players or coaches were, when the team would play its first game in Kansas City, what its team colors would be or where it would play. Hunt gave Bartle a 4 month deadline. Bartle and the Gold Coats made good in only 8 weeks. Later, Hunt admitted he was really only hoping for 20,000, for which he still would have moved the franchise.
Hunt, with a roster replete with players who had played college football in Texas, wanted to maintain a lineage to the team’s roots and wanted to call the club the Kansas City Texans. "The Lakers stayed the Lakers when they moved from Minnesota to California," he reasoned. "But Jack Steadman convinced me that wasn’t too smart. It wouldn’t sell." The team was renamed Chiefs — one of the most popular suggestions Hunt received in a name-the-team contest, along with Kansas City Mules — and began playing in Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium in 1963.[2]
The name, "Chiefs" is derived from Mayor Bartle, who 35 years prior, founded the Native American-based honor society known as The Tribe of Mic-O-Say within the Boy Scouts of America organization, which earned him the nickname, "The Chief."
The Texans/Chiefs franchise was the flagship team of the American Football League, with the most playoff appearances as an AFL team, six (tied with Oakland), the most American Football League Championships (3), and the most Super Bowl appearances, playing in the first Super Bowl, and in the last to be played between League champions. The Texans won the classic 1962 double-overtime AFL championship game against the Houston Oilers, 20-17, at the time the longest, and still one of the best professional football championship games ever played. The Chiefs dropped the first Super Bowl to the Packers, then pulverized the Vikings 23-7 in the final "true" AFL-NFL World Championsip game after the AFL's last season in 1969. They had just one coach throughout their AFL history, Hall-of-Famer Hank Stram.
The Chiefs' first Kansas City home was at 22nd and Brooklyn, called Municipal Stadium, which opened in 1923 and had 49,002 seats. In 1972, the Chiefs moved into the new Arrowhead Stadium. Municipal Stadium, also formerly the home of the Kansas City Royals, the minor-league Kansas City Blues and, most successfully, the Negro Leagues' Kansas City Monarchs, was demolished in 1976 and is now a community garden. The Chiefs' first game at Arrowhead Stadium was against the St. Louis Cardinals (Chiefs 24, St. Louis Cardinals 14).
Arrowhead Stadium is half of the Truman Sports Complex, along with Kauffman Stadium (formerly Royals Stadium). Kansas City was viewed as taking an unnecessary risk at the time by building two stadiums instead of the popular multi-use stadiums being built in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis. However, with demolition in 2005 of St. Louis' Busch Stadium, the Truman Sports Complex has now out-lived all of the multi-use stadiums built in the same era. While many applaud the Kansas City decision makers for this decision, the move was not quite by design. When it became readily apparent the old Municipal Stadium was not adequate for the Chiefs, the decision was made to build a multi-use stadium for the Chiefs and Charlie Finley's Kansas City A's. Finley proved to be too difficult to work with, demanding a "baseball stadium that could also be used for football" or a baseball only stadium, instead of the other way around.
After much vitriol behind the scenes, Finley decided to move the team to Oakland. However, the discussion made Bartle and his advisors convinced that one stadium would be good but not great. Thus, the decision was made to build two separate stadiums after Finley left town. Coincidentally, Finley moved to Oakland's Alameda County Coliseum, a multi-use stadium in which the A's have played since moving there in 1967.
[edit] The Glory Years: 1963-1970, Stram's "Wild West Variety Show"
As the Chiefs, under coach Hank Stram with quarterback Len Dawson at the helm, the team played in the first Super Bowl, losing 35-10 to Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. They earned revenge three years later, upsetting the Minnesota Vikings 23-7. The team's victory has been considered the "proof" that the AFC was "no fluke", with the Chiefs the enormous underdogs going into the game, the Chiefs cemented a future merger for the AFL and NFL. The Chiefs dominated on all sides of the ball in Super Bowl IV, dominating on both defense and offense.
The Chiefs' rivalry with the Oakland Raiders also hit an all-time high in the 1969 season when the Chiefs defeated the Raiders in the AFL Championship on their way to Super Bowl IV. Previously in the season, the Raiders defeated the Chiefs and seemed to be dominating the AFL and on their way to their second Super Bowl.
With a high powered offense and blistering defense, Hank Stram's innovative play-calling would revolutionize the game. Stram would utilize audibles and line changes that would confuse opponents on the field, giving the Chiefs the advantage. The Chiefs would go on to win 43 games between 1966 and 1969. Five Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees played for the Chiefs in the era, including quarterback Len Dawson, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, defensive tackle Buck Buchanan and placekicker Jan Stenerud. Other notable players included wide receiver Otis Taylor, linebacker Jim Lynch, back-up quarterback Mike Livingston and running back Mike Garrett.
[edit] NFL
[edit] Fall from greatness, 1971-1989
In 1971, the Chiefs made it back to the Playoffs as they won the AFC West Title, but on December 25 of that year, they lost a double overtime heartbreaker to the Miami Dolphins 27-24. The game would go one to be remembered as "the longest game," clocking in at 82 minutes. The previous longest game was the 1962 AFL Championship in which the Chiefs (then as the Texans) won in double overtime. Jan Stenerud missed two field goals and had another kick blocked in the playoff game. The Dolphins won on a 37-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian. This game is considered as the start of the end of the Chiefs winning legacy for the rest of the 1970s and most of the 1980s. The game was also the last game the Chiefs played at Municipal Stadium.
The Chiefs would not return to the playoffs for 15 straight years, compiling only four winning seasons in this stretch. Slowly the team went on to get worse and worse as the 1970s progressed. In 1974, Hank Stram effectively left the team as their head coach and in 1975 Len Dawson played his final game in the NFL.
After three years of going 5-9, the 1977 team was the worst Chiefs team of all time going 2-12. They then hired future Buffalo Bill's head coach Marv Levy in 1978 for his first head coaching job. After a 4-12 start in 1978 the Chiefs slowly improved to 9-7 by 1981.
By 1981 the Chiefs had Bill Kenney as quarterback, albeit a backup that season. Kenney responded by having a breakout season in 1983, when he became the starter, setting team records for passing yards (4,348) and completions (346) in a season; the latter was also good enough to lead the NFL.
By that 1983 season Marv Levy had been fired and John Mackovic was hired as the team's head coach. Mackovic lasted long enough to see the Chiefs make the playoff in the 1986 season. Surprisingly, the team went from 6-10 in 1985 to 10-6 in 1986. However, they lost the first round of the playoffs 35-15 to the New York Jets. Following the loss in the playoffs, Mackovic was fired.
Following a brief stint back in the playoffs in 1986, the Chiefs fell back into mediocrity in 1987. The 1987 NFL strike had affected the Chiefs majorly and their head coach Frank Gansz never adapted to winning. Gansz was fired following the 1988 season.
[edit] "Martyball," Montana & Marcus Allen
In 1989, Carl Peterson became the team's new President and General Manager. Peterson hired Marty Schottenheimer as the team's coach. Schottenheimer led the team to six straight playoff appearances, three AFC West championships, nine winning seasons, and 76 consecutive soldout games at Arrowhead in the 1990s. Schottenheimer's impressive 101-58-1 regular season record (.634) made the Chiefs the winningest team of the 1990's. The Chiefs re-established a strong fanbase and Arrowhead Stadium quickly began to sell-out every home game, a streak still alive nearly 16 years later.
The Chiefs' popularity rose in the 1990s with their "college football game atmosphere" and noisy fans reaching over 120 decibels, a traditions still alive today. Much of the "college atmosphere" has arrived due to popularity of Big 12 College Football games, often held at Arrowhead Stadium and also the Chiefs' additions of players from Big 12 schools throughout the nineties, much like Neil Smith and Will Shields from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While the Chiefs have appeared in the playoffs in seven out of eight seasons, the team only won three playoff games, the last in 1993.
Schottenheimer's coaching tree began in Kansas City, with famous coaches and assistants on his staff from 1989-1998. Among them was Defensive coordinator Bill Cowher (1989-1991), Defensive backs coach Tony Dungy (1989-1991) and future head coach of the Chiefs Herman Edwards whom worked as a player scout and defensive backs coach from 1990 to 1996.
In 1993, Joe Montana was traded to Kansas City from the San Francisco 49ers. Along with Marcus Allen from the Los Angeles Raiders, the Chiefs gained both a powerful passer and rusher to assist their powerful defense, advancing to the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs lost the AFC Championship 30-13 to former coach Marv Levy and the Buffalo Bills.
Montana retired after the 1994 season and was replaced by Steve Bono with Rich Gannon as backup. In 1995, the Chiefs went 13-3 and were the odds-on favorite to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XXX. However, on a cold night full of dropped passes and missed field goals, they lost 10-7 against the Indianapolis Colts in the 1996 playoffs.
After going from 13-3 in 1997 with Rich Gannon filling in for the injured Elvis Grbac, the Chiefs suffered a loss in the AFC Divisional playoff game to the Denver Broncos (10-14). In 1997, Schottenheimer chose to start Elvis Grbac as quarterback after a "quarterback controversy" started in training camp. After a loss to Denver, Grbac was injured and Rich Gannon took over. After going 13-2 during the season, Gannon was replaced by Grbac in the playoff game against Denver. The choice to play Grbac over Gannon still remains controversial in the minds of fans, as Kansas City could have likely won and advanced to the AFC Championship.
The following year, with Elvis Grbac back at the helm, the Chiefs fell to 7-9 in 1998. Marty Schottenheimer took much of the blame for his failed attempts in the playoffs and conservative style of coaching ("Martyball"), and resigned following the 1998 season.
[edit] Vermeil brings an explosive offense
Schottenheimer left as head coach, replaced by his defensive coach Gunther Cunningham. In two years, Cunningham showed little improvement, going 9-7 and 7-9. After the loss of Derrick Thomas, the collapse of the defense was unmistakable. The Chiefs' wins were mostly made by a high scoring offense rather than a powerful defense.
After coaching the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl and retiring, Dick Vermeil was lured out of retirement and took over as head coach in 2001. It was noted that Vermeil would have the team ready for the Super Bowl "within three years," while in fact Vermail would stay in Kansas City for the next five.
The first move the team made was "firing" Elvis Grbac, whom left to lead the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, and Vermeil replaced him with his primary pick for the Rams' quartback, Trent Green.
Another notable replacement was Priest Holmes at running back, whom had served as back-up to Baltimore's Jamal Lewis in their Super Bowl season. Additions to the offensive line, including left tackle Willie Roaf from New Orleans and John Welbourn from Philadelphia helped create the Chiefs' high powered offense. Holmes would go on to break Marshall Faulk's record of 26 touchdowns in a season on December 27, 2003.
Vermeil brought many elements of "The Greatest Show on Turf" from St. Louis to Kansas City's own offense, but much like the Schottenheimer era in the 1990s, the offense didn't win any playoff games in return like St. Louis.
The Chiefs went 13-3 in 2003 and their offense, considered by many as one of the most powerful of all time, helped make Kansas City again a favorite to win Super Bowl XXXIX. After starting 9-0, the Chiefs lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in their tenth game following a "guarantee" by Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson. The Chiefs' dream season of 2003 began to lose momentum by November, but they still managed to gain the number two seed in the 2004 playoffs. The mighty homefield advantage of Arrowhead Stadium and their high-powered offense wouldn't lead the Chiefs to glory and the Chiefs lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional playoffs in an offensive shootout. The Chiefs' defense came under fire immediately after the loss, and Greg Robinson, the team's defensive coordinator, resigned after the season.
As with the loss to the Broncos in the 1997 season, this loss led to a poor following season. The Chiefs managed to finish the 2004 season with a 7-9 record. In 2004 Gunther Cunningham was brought back as the defensive coordinator. However, the defense showed little improvement. The offense, unable to record the same high scores as the previous year, was unable to bring in the wins as they had the previous year.
[edit] 2005 season: 10-6 but no playoff berth
For the 2005 campaign, the Chiefs brought several new players to boost a defense that has finished among the worst units the past three years. Starting with first draft pick, LB Derrick Johnson from the University of Texas, free agent LB Kendrell Bell, free agent S Sammy Knight, and also trading for CB Patrick Surtain from the Miami Dolphins for a 2nd-round Draft pick, the Chiefs had high hopes for the '05 season.
The Chiefs got off to a good 2-0 start, winning their Week 1 home-opener against the New York Jets (27-7) and then went on the road to beat their old time division-rival Oakland Raiders (23-17). However, they then lost at INVESCO Field at Mile High 30-10 to another division rival, the Denver Broncos. Then in Week 4, the Chiefs hosted the Philadelphia Eagles. K.C. got off to a fast start and led 24-13 at halftime. Unfortunately, the Eagles hung tough and their QB Donovan McNabb managed to lead his team back into the fray, despite having a sports hernia. In the end, the Chiefs lost 37-31. They then used their Bye Week in Week 5 to regroup and get back to what they do best. They managed to win a very good fight at home with the Washington Redskins 28-21.
The Chiefs had little time to celebrate, because they were called and told that because Hurricane Wilma was going to strike Miami on Sunday, they would have to face the Dolphins two days earlier. Despite the sudden change of the schedule, the Chiefs manged to pull through and win against the Miami Dolphins 30-20. However, despite having over a week to rest up, they couldn't hold down the San Diego Chargers on the road and lost 28-20. The Chiefs would rebound at home and win a well-fought rematch with their old time rivals, the Oakland Raiders, with a final of 27-23. Unfortunately, despite outgaining them in yards from scrimmage by a large margin, they would lose a well-fought game on the road against the Buffalo Bills 14-3. The Chiefs would then get a three-game winning streak going. First, they would beat the hapless Houston Texans on Sunday Night (45-17) and then they would win back-to-back home games against the two-time defending champion New England Patriots (26-16) and then a rematch win their division rival, Denver Broncos (31-27). In the following weeks, the Chiefs dug themselves a huge hole with back-to-back interconference road losses to the Dallas Cowboys (31-28) and the New York Giants (27-17). Their realistic playoff possibilities were shot after falling to 8-6. Fortunately, the Chiefs were able to keep their very slim playoff hopes alive after a 20-7 home victory over the San Diego Chargers in week 16. In Week 17, even though the Chiefs got a blowout win at home against the Cincinnati Bengals 37-3, the Steelers won against the Lions 35-21, ending their chances of getting into the playoffs. It also made them the fourth team in NFL history to go 10-6 and not get into the playoffs. Head coach Dick Vermeil retired once the Chiefs' 2005 campaign ended.
[edit] Chiefs tragedies
The Texans/Chiefs have been struck by an unusual number of tragic losses in their history.
- August 30, 1963: Rookie running back Stone Johnson, a sprinter in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck in a preseason game with the Oakland Raiders in Wichita, Kansas. He died 10 days later, on September 8. He was 22.
- December 12, 1965: Second-year running back Mack Lee Hill dies during surgery to repair a knee injury sustained in a game against the Buffalo Bills three days earlier. He had suffered heatstroke, which was undetected, and this caused a pulmonary embolism during the surgery. He was 25.
- September 15, 1980: Former Chiefs offensive tackle Jim Tyrer suffered business difficulties following his football career, and suffered from depression, until he shot and killed his wife, and then himself. He was 41.
- June 29, 1983: After just two seasons with the Chiefs, including winning the 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year award, running back Joe Delaney drowned in Monroe, Louisiana, attempting to rescue two boys from a rain-swollen pit shortly after rescuing one other. He was 24. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal and the NCAA Award of Valor. 37Forever.org was formed to teach KC area kids how to swim in honor of the valor that Joe Delaney demonstrated. Delaney was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of fame posthumously in 2005.
- January 23, 2000: Derrick Thomas, one of the finest linebackers of his era, suffered spinal injuries in a car accident in Kansas City. These injuries are mainly due to him not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. He spent his last week knowing he would never walk again. While still hospitalized, Thomas died from a pulmonary embolism, a complication resulting from his surgery. February 8. He was 33.
- December 13, 2006: Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt died December 13, 2006 at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas of complications related to prostate cancer. Upon his death Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called Hunt, "a founder of the NFL as we know it today.... He's been an inspiration for me." Said Dan Rooney, Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers: "Lamar Hunt was one of the most influential owners in professional football over the past 40-plus years, He was instrumental in the formation of the American Football League and in the AFL-NFL merger, which helped the National Football League grow into America's passion."
[edit] Logo and uniforms
When the team debuted in 1960 as the Dallas Texans, the logo consisted of the state of Texas in white with a yellow star marking the location of Dallas. Since moving to Kansas City in 1963, the logo has been a white arrowhead bearing the initials "K.C."
The uniform design has essentially remained the same throughout the club's entire history. It consists of a red helmet, and either red or white jerseys with the opposite color numbers and names trimmed in yellow. White pants were used with both jerseys until 1969, when red pants were used with the white jerseys. The white jersey–red pants combination was not used between 1989 and 1999, primarily during the period when Marty Schottenheimer was the team's head coach. The first regular-season game of the Herman Edwards regime also featured the team wearing white on white for a home game. It's believed to be the first time the Chiefs had worn white for a home game since the early 1980s, when Marv Levy coached the team. However, when the Chiefs played the Broncos at Denver, they wore red pants.
 (2002-present) |
 (2002-present) |
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[edit] Popular gameday traditions
[edit] The Chiefs Radio Network
Since the 1989 season, KCFX, a.k.a "101 The FOX", has broadcast Chiefs games from the site of the games under the moniker of "The Chiefs Radio Network." Mitch Holthus acts as play-by-play announcer as Super Bowl IV MVP Len Dawson acts as color commentator. Bob Gretz gives updates from the field, as well as pre-game and post-game commentary. Legendary Chiefs broadcaster Bill Grigsby adds memories and perspective on game day.[3]
The Chiefs Radio Network has extended its broadcast rights to Chiefs game through the 2009 season.[3] The current relationship between 101 the Fox and the Kansas City Chiefs represents the longest standing relationship in the NFL with an FM station.[3]
The Chiefs Radio Network extends throughout the six-state region of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, with over 60 affiliate stations.,[3] as well as an online stream of the broadcast on the internet.
[edit] Homefield Reputation
Even when their team suffers through losing seasons, devoted Chiefs fans are known for being the loudest in the NFL. These fans often reach sound levels of over 120 decibels (the sound of a jet airliner taking off). Because of this, Sports Illustrated has given the Chiefs' home field, Arrowhead Stadium, the title of being the "Toughest Place to Play".[4]
Arrowhead Stadium's tailgating environment is often compared to a "college football" atmosphere,[5] with fans arriving hours before gametime and even staying in the parking lot hours after the game has ended. Many Chiefs fans are so devoted that some sit in the parking lot and listen to the game even while not possessing any tickets.
[edit] Hospitality
At the end of the National Anthem fans are known to yell "and the home of the CHIEFS!" where traditionally "the brave" is supposed to be said. Only after the September 11, 2001 attacks did Chiefs fans refrain from doing so in honor of those who lost their lives. In fact, the September 23, 2001 home game versus the New York Giants, the first Kansas City regular season contest since the September 11, 2001 attacks, was one of the few times in Chiefs history where Kansas City fans welcomed an opposing team onto the field without booing.[6]
[edit] "The War Chant"
Fans' occasional use of "The War Chant", especially when playing the Washington Redskins has become a tradition and also a controversy among Native American activists who protest the chant.
[edit] Stadium music
Throughout the years, Chiefs kickoff has begun with in-stadium music from Mötley Crüe ("Wild Side" & "Kickstart My Heart"), AC/DC's "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)", Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train", "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones and Ram Jam's "Black Betty".
Other songs played during games include Archie Eversole's "We Ready", Rush's "Tom Sawyer", Eminem's "Lose Yourself", Heart's "Barracuda", P.O.D.'s "Boom" and even the War Chant conjured by the fans.
[edit] "We're gonna beat the hell outta you"
For numerous years up through the 2005 season, after every Chiefs touchdown, the crowd would chant "We're gonna beat the hell outta you...you...you, you, you, you," over Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll (Part 2)." The chant has been said to have originated from Wichita State University's fans at their now defunct football program's games.
Beginning with the 2006 season, the Chiefs organization has opted to honor the NFL's request that this song no longer be played at games following Glitter's conviction in Vietnam of child molestation.
After a vote was taken for the new touchdown song, Chiefs fans chose "Boom" by P.O.D. as the song to replace Glitter's song. "Red" by Sammy Hagar came in second in voting, and "Elevation" by U2 finished third. Though to satisfy fans not willing to lose a tradition, in the first game of the 2006 NFL season, a cover rendition of "Rock and Roll Part 2" performed by the Tube Tops 2000 was played, complete with the "We're gonna..." chant. The song has been played at every home game since.[7][8][9]
[edit] Mascot
The team mascot is the K.C. Wolf which is a man dressed in a wolf costume. He replaced a man in a wolf costume who rode a motorcyle. The mascot during the team's glory years at Municipal Stadium and until 1989 was the horse Warpaint. Warpaint was ridden around the field at the beginning of the game and did a victory dance on the field after each touchdown. The Chiefs are are said to be considering bringing Warpaint back[7] in the near future.
[edit] Season-by-season records
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Texans | |||||
| 1960 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFL West | -- |
| 1961 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 2nd AFL West | -- |
| 1962 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1st AFL West | Won AFL Championship (Oilers) |
| Kansas City Chiefs | |||||
| 1963 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3rd AFL West | -- |
| 1964 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2nd AFL West | -- |
| 1965 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3rd AFL West | -- |
| 1966 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1st AFL West | Won AFL Championship (Bills) Lost Super Bowl I (Packers) |
| 1967 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2nd AFL West | -- |
| 1968 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2nd AFL West | Lost Western Division playoff (Raiders) |
| 1969 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2nd AFL West | Won Divisional Playoffs (Jets) Won AFL Championship (Raiders) Won Super Bowl IV (Vikings) |
| Merged into NFL | |||||
| 1970 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| 1971 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1st AFC West | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) |
| 1972 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| 1973 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 1974 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 1975 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 1976 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 4th AFC West | -- |
| 1977 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1978 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1979 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1980 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 1981 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 1982 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 11th AFC Conf. | -- |
| 1983 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1984 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4th AFC West | -- |
| 1985 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1986 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) |
| 1987 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1988 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 5th AFC West | -- |
| 1989 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| 1990 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) |
| 1991 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | Won Wild Card Playoffs (L.A. Raiders) Lost Divisional Playoffs (Bills) |
| 1992 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Chargers) |
| 1993 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 1st AFC West | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Steelers) Won Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) Lost AFC Championship (Bills) |
| 1994 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Dolphins) |
| 1995 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1st AFC West | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Colts) |
| 1996 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| 1997 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1st AFC West | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) |
| 1998 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th AFC West | -- |
| 1999 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| 2000 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 2001 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 4th AFC West | -- |
| 2002 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4th AFC West | -- |
| 2003 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1st AFC West | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Colts) |
| 2004 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd AFC West | -- |
| 2005 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| *2006 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2nd AFC West | -- |
| Totals | 376 | 328 | 12 | (1960-2006, including AFL & NFL playoffs) | |
* = Current Standing
[edit] Team records and statistics
- For more information, see Kansas City Chiefs statistics.
The following are team and league records. They may have been surpassed between the time of making the record and the current date. Records are listed in chronological order.
[edit] League records
- 1966: Len Dawson ties Johnny Unitas for 4 seasons leading the league in touchdowns.
- 1969: Len Dawson records 6 consecutive seasons leading the league in pass completions.
- December 25, 1971: Ed Podolak amasses 350 all-purpose yards against the Miami Dolphins, a playoff record. The double-overtime game, at 82 minutes, 40 seconds, is the longest NFL game ever played.
- 1975: Len Dawson records 8 seasons leading the league in pass completions.
- November 11, 1990: Derrick Thomas sets league record for most sacks in a game with 7.0.
- 1993: Nick Lowery sets record for most seasons with 100 or more points with 11.
- 1993: Dave Krieg gets record 494 times sacked in a career. Kansas City fans like having that record broken in 1998 by John Elway.
- 1995: Steve Bono sets record for the longest run by a quarterback in NFL history with a 76-tard touchdown scramble against the Arizona Cardinals on October 1, 1995.
- 1998: Chiefs set the record for most penalties (158) and most penalty yardage (1,304) in a season.
- 2002: Morten Andersen sets record with 40 field goals over 50 yards in a career.
- December 22, 2002: Trent Green to Marc Boerigter tied for longest pass completion of 99 yards.
- 2003: Morten Andersen of Kansas City and Gary Anderson of Pittsburgh tie for most seasons with 100 or more points with 14.
- 2003: Morten Andersen has record 316 consecutive scoring games.
- 2003: Dante Hall ties league record with 4 kick-returns for touchdowns in a single season.
- 2003: Priest Holmes sets league record for most touchdowns as well as most rushing touchdowns with 27.(Broken in 2005 by Shaun Alexander.)
- October 24, 2004: the Chiefs completed 8 running touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons, setting the league record for most running touchdowns in a single game, four by Priest Holmes and four by Derrick Blaylock.[10]
- October 2, 2005: Dante Hall ties league record with 6 career kickoff returns for touchdowns.
- October 21, 2005: The Chiefs became the only NFL team to travel and play an away game on the same day. The approach of Hurricane Wilma prompted the Commissioner on October 20 to move up the game vs. the Miami Dolphins from Sunday to Friday, requiring a waiver of the rule requiring both teams to be in the game city at least 24 hours before kickoff. The Chiefs went on to win the game by a score of 30-20.
- November 20, 2005: Tony Gonzalez sets a new record, becoming the first tight end with at least 50 receptions in eight consecutive seasons. The previous record was held by Shannon Sharpe, who accomplished the feat with Denver between 1992–98.[11]
- December 24, 2005: Chiefs extend their December home win streak to 18 games—the longest in the NFL since 1970—and giving them a 20-1 December home record since 1995. Their last loss at home in December was versus the Indianapolis Colts on December 15, 1996. (The streak was broken in their next opportunity, on December 10, 2006, with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.)
[edit] Franchise records
- 1987: Gary Spani records his team-record 999th career tackle and retires in the off-season.
- 1990: Derrick Thomas sets team record with 20.0 sacks in a season.
- 1990: Derrick Thomas established an NFL single-game record with 7.0 sacks in an inspiring Veterans Day performance vs. Seattle (11/11). The game was won by the Seahawks 17-16, after a last-second 25-yard TD pass to WR Paul Skansi by future Chiefs QB Dave Krieg. Kreig barely slipped out of Thomas' arms for what would have been the record breaking eighth sack.
- 1995: Chiefs make team record sixth consecutive playoff berth.
- 1996: Chiefs have first 4-0 start.
- 2001: Priest Holmes sets the team single-season rushing record with 1,555 yards.
- 2002: Team sets franchise record for most offensive yards with 6,000.
- 2002: Priest Holmes sets the team single-season rushing record with 1,615 yards.
- 2002: Mike Maslowski sets the team single-season tackles record with 162 tackles (109 solo).
- November 9, 2003: the Chiefs beat the Cleveland Browns (41-20), winning their ninth straight game which sets a new franchise record for consecutive victories.
- 2003: Priest Holmes surpasses Otis Taylor for most career touchdowns by a Chief.
- November 28, 2004: Dante Hall sets team record with 213 kickoff returns.
- December 5, 2004: Will Shields extends team record of consecutive starts to 187 (actual consecutive games also a team record of 188).
- December 5, 2004: Trent Green extends team record of consecutive quarterback starts to 60.
- October 21, 2005: Priest Holmes surpasses Christian Okoye's previous record of 1246 career carries as a Chief.
- January 1, 2006: Tony Gonzalez sets a new record of 84 consecutive games with at least one reception, surpassing Stephone Paige (83 games in 1985–91).[12]
- January 1, 2006: After only his ninth game start in the season, Larry Johnson surpasses Priest Holmes's single-season rushing record with 1,750 yards and scores a career-high three touchdowns in one game. This is also his ninth straight 100-yard game (including two 200-yard performances) to tie him for third-longest streak in NFL history with Walter Payton, Fred Taylor and Deuce McAllister.
- November 5, 2006: Tony Gonzalez Most receiving touchdowns in team history as he catches # 58 & # 59 surpassing the previous record holder, Otis Taylor
[edit] Players of note
[edit] Current roster
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Offensive backs
Receivers
Kickers
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Offensive line
Defensive line
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
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Practice squad Injured reserve
Physically unable to perform
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[edit] Pro Football Hall of Famers
- Marcus Allen (November 9, 2003; 1993-1997) Running Back. Scored the 100th rushing touchdown of his career as a Chief.
- Bobby Bell (July 30, 1983; 1963-1974) Linebacker.
- Buck Buchanan (1990; 1963-1975) Lineman. First player taken in 1963 American Football League Draft. NAIA All-America in 1962.
- Len Dawson (1987; 1963-1975) Quarterback. Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1978. Two AFL championships. MVP of Super Bowl IV. 19-year career, passed for 28,711 yards and 239 touchdowns. 11th ranked passer in NFL history (retired No. 1).
- Lamar Hunt (1972; 1960-2006) Founder and owner. Started American Football League that was the genesis of modern professional football.
- Willie "Contact" Lanier (1986; 1967-1977) Middle linebacker. Second Chief selected to go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 1969 Super Bowl IV Champion.
- Marv Levy (1978-1982) Head Coach.
- Joe Montana (2000; 1993-1994) Quarterback. Popular for come-from-behind wins, including the 1993 playoffs and the outdueling of John Elway in 1994 as a Chief.
- Warren Moon (2006; 1999-2000) Quarterback.
- Jan Stenerud (1991; 1967-1979) Placekicker. Only pure kicker in the Hall of Fame. 19-year career. 186 consecutive games played. Career 409 PATs and 436 field goals attempted. 44 field goals in a season. 7 field goal attempts in a game. Six postseason All-Star games (four NFL Pro Bowl). 48-yard field goal, the longest in Super Bowl history, against the Vikings in Super Bowl IV.
- Hank Stram (2003; 1960-1974) Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs coach won three AFL titles and Super Bowl IV. Victories 87. Post-season appearances 6. Post-season record 5-1. Head coach of the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs for the entire ten-year history of the AFL.
- Mike Webster (1997; 1989-1990) Offensive line coach and center.
[edit] Retired numbers
- #3 Jan Stenerud (Placekicker)
- #16 Len Dawson (Quarterback)
- #28 Abner Haynes (Running Back)
- #33 Stone Johnson (Running Back)
- #36 Mack Lee Hill (Running Back)
- #58 Derrick Thomas (Linebacker)
- #63 Willie Lanier (Linebacker)
- #78 Bobby Bell (Linebacker)
- #86 Buck Buchanan (Defense Tackle)
Also the number 37 has not been worn since the death of Joe Delaney and is considered to be unofficially retired. Numbers 16 and 28 are the only numbers to have been worn by a single player.
[edit] Chiefs Hall of Fame
External Link: Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
|
1970s |
1980s |
|
1990s |
2000s |
[edit] Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
- Lamar Hunt, team Founder and Owner
- Hank Stram, Coach
- #32 Marcus Allen, Running Back
- #84 Fred Arbanas, Tight End
- #78 Bobby Bell, Linebacker
- #71 Ed Budde, Guard
- #20 Deron Cherry, Safety
- #16 Len Dawson, Quarterback
- #46 Jim Kearney, Safety
- #63 Willie Lanier, Linebacker
- #54 Curt Merz, Guard
- #76 Mo Moorman, Guard
- #35 Christian Okoye, Running Back
- #42 Johnny Robinson, Safety
- #3 Jan Stenerud, Kicker
- #67 Art Still, Defensive End
- #89 Otis Taylor, Wide Receiver
[edit] Other notable alumni
- #82 Derrick Alexander, WR
- #26 Gary Barbaro, DB
- #4 Steve Fuller, QB
- #24 Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, DB
- Bobby Hunt (1962 Dallas Texans - 1967 Kansas City Chiefs; Defensive Back, and a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.)
- #9 Bill Kenney, QB
- #99 Ernie Ladd (Defensive tackle; 1967-1968. Also played for the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Oilers, and a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.)
- #61 Curley Culp, DT
- #8 Nick Lowery, K
- #63 Bill Maas, DT
- #32 Curtis McClinton (scored a touchdown in Super Bowl I)
- #32 Tony Reed, RB
- #86 J.T. Smith, WR
- #83 Stephone Paige, WR
- #17 Elmo Wright and the Elmo Wright Touchdown Dance
- #10 Mike Livingston, QB (Led the Chiefs in their championship 1969 season while Len Dawson was injured)
- #29 Albert Lewis, DB
- #31 Kevin Ross, DB
- #61 Tim Grunhard, C
- #38 Kimble Anders, RB
- #17 Steve DeBerg, QB
- #40 James Hasty, CB
- #49 Tony Richardson, FB (1995-2005, a major factor in the Chiefs' offensive success)
- #59 Donnie Edwards, LB (1996-2002)
- #77 Willie Roaf, T (2002-2005, dubbed the "heart and soul" of Kansas City's offense by fans during the Dick Vermeil era)
- #12 Rich Gannon, QB (1995-1998, backup quarterback under Steve Bono and Elvis Grbac)
- #87 Joe Horn, WR (1996-1999, Drafted in 1996, special teams returner)
[edit] Coaches
[edit] Head coaches
Chiefs head coaches with years of service, win-loss-tie record, and reason for leaving if other than firing:
- Hank Stram (1960–74), 124-76-10
- Paul Wiggin (1975–77), 11-24
- Tom Bettis* (1977), 1-6
- Marv Levy (1978–82), 31-42
- John Mackovic (1983–86), 30-34
- Frank Gansz (1987–88), 8-22-1
- Marty Schottenheimer (1989–98), 101-58-1, resigned
- Gunther Cunningham (1999–2000), 16-16, current Chiefs defensive coordinator
- Dick Vermeil (2001–05), 44-36, retired
- Herman Edwards (2006-present), 7-6**
- *Interim head coach
- **As of Week 14, 2006 NFL season
[edit] Current staff
- Head Coach - Herman Edwards
- Offensive Coordinator - Mike Solari
- Defensive Coordinator - Gunther Cunningham
- Special Teams Coach - Mike Priefer
- Quarterbacks Coach - Terry Shea
- Running Backs Coach - James Saxon
- Wide Receivers Coach - Charlie Joiner
- Tight Ends Coach - Jon Embree
- Offensive Line Coach - John Matsko
- Offensive Assistant - Mike Ketchum
- Defensive Line Coach - Tim Krumrie
- Linebackers Coach - Don Blackmon
- Defensive Backs Coach - David Gibbs
- Defensive Assistant - Darvin Wallis
- Strength and Conditioning - Jeff Hurd
[edit] See also
- List of American Football League players
- Kansas City Chiefs statistics
- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation—The Chiefs have partnered with the foundation to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment and prevention.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ "Clark Hunt will oversee the family's sports interests. [1]
- ^ a b c Covitz, Randy; Pulliam, Kent. Chiefs' founder Lamar Hunt dies Kansas City Star, 14 December 2006.
- ^ a b c d 101 THE FOX EXTENDS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS RADIO BROADCAST RIGHTS THROUGH 2009 SEASON KCChiefs.com, 24 August 2006.
- ^ Sports Illustrated's 2005 poll: "Toughest Places to Play"
- ^ Crumpacker, John. 49ers have to cope with the din of Arrowhead San Francisco Chronicle, 1 October 2006.
- ^ Giants beat Chiefs 13-3 in defensive struggle Associated Press, 24 September 2001.
- ^ a b Christopher Jr., Hearne.Part 3: Chiefs still ‘Rock and Roll’ Kansas City Star, September 1, 2006.
- ^ Cross, William."Chiefs eke out just enough offense", Lawrence Journal-World, 27 August 2006.
- ^ NFL Asks Teams To Stop Playing Gary Glitter Song Associated Press, 18 September 2006.
- ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20041024012
- ^ "Chiefs' Gonzalez sets new mark for TEs", NFL.com wire reports, November 20, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
- ^ "Chiefs beat Bengals, but miss playoffs", NFL.com wire reports, January 1, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
[edit] External links
- Kansas City Chiefs - Official site
- Year by Year Statistics (pdf)
- Texans/Chiefs page on the American Football League Website
- Sports E-Cyclopedia.com
- NFL KC Chiefs' News
- KC Star's Chiefs, from the Kansas City Star
- Warpaint, from scout.com
| Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Head Coaches |
|---|
| Stram • Wiggin • Bettis • Levy • Mackovic • Gansz • Schottenheimer • Cunningham • Vermeil • Edwards |
| The American Football League |
|---|
| Eastern Division |
| Boston Patriots | Buffalo Bills | Houston Oilers | New York Titans/Jets | Miami Dolphins |
| Western Division |
| Denver Broncos | Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs | Oakland Raiders | Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Seasons | Playoffs | All-Star games | AFL Draft | All-Time Team | NFL |
