The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most successful and innovative teams in the National Football League (NFL). They have won four league championships, including three Super Bowls, and have been a dominant force in the American Football Conference (AFC) West division for decades. They are also known for their loud and loyal fans, their iconic Arrowhead Stadium, and their contributions to the evolution of the game. Here are some interesting facts and stories about the Kansas City Chiefs that you may not know.
(Speaking of the Superbowl, they will face off against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Feb 11/2024 for Superbowl LVIII).
From Dallas to Kansas City
The Chiefs were not always based in Kansas City, Missouri. They were originally founded in 1959 as the Dallas Texans by businessman Lamar Hunt, who wanted to create a rival league to the NFL. Hunt was one of the founding members of the American Football League (AFL), which competed with the NFL for players, fans, and television contracts. The Texans were one of the original eight teams of the AFL, and played in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
However, the Texans faced stiff competition from the already established Dallas Cowboys, who joined the NFL in 1960. Hunt realized that his team could not survive in the same market as the Cowboys, and decided to relocate his franchise to a more favorable city. He chose Kansas City, Missouri, after receiving an offer from the city’s mayor to play in the Municipal Stadium and receive 25 percent of the gate receipts. Hunt also agreed to change the team’s name to avoid confusion with the Houston Oilers, another AFL team. He chose the name Chiefs, after a nickname for the mayor, who was also the founder of a Native American-based honor society.
The Chiefs moved to Kansas City in 1963, and began playing in the AFL’s Western Division. They quickly became one of the best teams in the league, winning three AFL championships in 1962, 1966, and 1969. They also made history by playing in two of the first four Super Bowls, which were the championship games between the AFL and the NFL champions. The Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers in 1967, but won the fourth Super Bowl against the Minnesota Vikings in 1970. That victory was the last game before the AFL and the NFL merged into one league, with the Chiefs joining the AFC.
A Legacy of Innovation
The Chiefs have been known for their innovation and creativity on and off the field. They have been pioneers in many aspects of the game, such as scouting, coaching, offense, defense, and special teams. Here are some examples of how the Chiefs have influenced the game of football:
- Scouting: The Chiefs were one of the first teams to scout and draft players from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), such as Grambling State, Morgan State, and Tennessee State. They also hired the first full-time black scout in the NFL, Lloyd Wells, who helped them discover talents like Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, and Emmitt Thomas. The Chiefs also scouted and signed players from other sports, such as basketball, baseball, and soccer, as well as from other countries, such as Canada, Nigeria, and Germany.
- Coaching: The Chiefs have had some of the most successful and influential coaches in NFL history, such as Hank Stram, Marty Schottenheimer, Dick Vermeil, and Andy Reid. Stram, who coached the Chiefs from 1960 to 1974, was one of the first coaches to use a headset to communicate with his assistants, to mic up his players for television broadcasts, and to implement the two-point conversion. Schottenheimer, who coached the Chiefs from 1989 to 1998, was one of the first coaches to use the 3-4 defense, the nickel package, and the zone blitz. Vermeil, who coached the Chiefs from 2001 to 2005, was one of the first coaches to use the West Coast offense, the no-huddle offense, and the spread offense. Reid, who has coached the Chiefs since 2013, is one of the first coaches to use the pistol formation, the run-pass option, and the jet sweep.
- Offense: The Chiefs have been known for their explosive and versatile offense, which has featured some of the best players in NFL history, such as Len Dawson, Otis Taylor, Tony Gonzalez, Jamaal Charles, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have led the league in scoring, passing, rushing, and total offense multiple times, and have set several records, such as the most points scored in a quarter (35), the most touchdowns scored in a game (10), and the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (26).
- Defense: The Chiefs have also been known for their fierce and formidable defense, which has featured some of the best players in NFL history, such as Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Derrick Thomas, Neil Smith, Derrick Johnson, and Tyrann Mathieu. The Chiefs have led the league in sacks, interceptions, fumble recoveries, and defensive touchdowns multiple times, and have set several records, such as the most sacks in a game (12), the most interceptions in a game (8), and the most consecutive games with a turnover (29).
- Special Teams: The Chiefs have also been known for their outstanding and innovative special teams, which have featured some of the best players in NFL history, such as Jan Stenerud, Dante Hall, Dustin Colquitt, and Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs have led the league in field goals, punts, kick returns, and punt returns multiple times, and have set several records, such as the longest field goal (63 yards), the longest punt (81 yards), the most kick return touchdowns in a season (6), and the most punt return touchdowns in a game (2).
A Passionate Fan Base
The Chiefs have one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in the NFL. They have sold out every home game since 1991, and have a waiting list of over 10,000 people for season tickets. They also have one of the largest and most active fan clubs in the NFL, the Chiefs Kingdom, which has chapters in all 50 states and several countries. The Chiefs fans are known for their loud and enthusiastic support, which often gives the team a home-field advantage. The Chiefs fans hold the world record for the loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium, which they achieved in 2014, when they reached 142.2 decibels during a game against the New England Patriots. The Chiefs fans are also known for their traditions, such as tailgating, wearing red, and chanting the Tomahawk Chop.
The Chiefs have a rich and proud history of success and innovation, and a fan base that loves and supports them. They are one of the most respected and admired teams in the NFL, and have a bright future ahead of them. The Chiefs are more than just a football team, they are a family, a community, and a culture.