Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City , Missouri . They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference ( AFC ) in the National Football League ( NFL ) . Originally named the Dallas Texans , the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League ( AFL ) . In 1963 , the team relocated to Kansas City and assumed their current name . They joined the NFL during the AFL – NFL merger of 1970 . The team is legally and corporately registered as Kansas City Chiefs Football Club , Incorporated and according to " Forbes " is valued at just under USD 1 billion . From 1960 to 1969 , the Chiefs were a successful franchise in the AFL , winning three league championships ( 1962 , 1966 , 1969 ) and having an all - time AFL record of 92 – 50 – 5 . The Chiefs were the second AFL team ( after the New York Jets ) to defeat an NFL franchise in an AFL – NFL World Championship Game when they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV . The team ' s victory on January 11 , 1970 remains the club ' s last championship game victory and appearance to date . The Chiefs were the second team , after the Green Bay Packers , to appear in more than one Super Bowl ; and , they were the first team to appear in the championship game in two different decades . Franchise history . 1960 – 1988 . In 1959 Lamar Hunt began discussions with other businessmen to establish a professional football league that would rival the National Football League . Hunt ' s desire to secure a football team was heightened after watching the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts . After unsuccessful attempts to purchase and relocate the NFL ' s Chicago Cardinals to his hometown of Dallas , Texas , Hunt went to the NFL and asked to create an expansion franchise in Dallas . The NFL turned him down , so Hunt then established the American Football League and started his own team , the Dallas Texans , to begin play in 1960 . Hunt hired a little - known assistant coach from the University of Miami football team , Hank Stram , to be the team ' s head coach . Hunt chose Stram after the offer was declined by Bud Wilkinson and Tom Landry . The Texans shared the Cotton Bowl with the NFL ' s cross - town competition Dallas Cowboys for three seasons . While the team averaged a league - best 24 , 500 at the Cotton Bowl , the Texans gained less attention due to the league ' s relatively unknown existence . In the franchise ' s first two seasons , the team managed only a 14 – 14 record . In their third season , the Texans strolled to an 11 – 3 record and a berth in the team ' s first American Football League Championship Game against the Houston Oilers . The game was broadcast nationally on ABC and the Texans defeated the Oilers 20 – 17 in double overtime . The game lasted 77 minutes and 54 seconds , which still stands as the longest championship game in professional football history . Despite having a championship team in the Texans and a Cowboys team that managed only a 9 – 28 – 3 record in their first three seasons , the Dallas – Fort Worth media market could not sustain two professional football franchises . Hunt became interested in moving the Texans to either Atlanta , Georgia or Miami , Florida for the 1963 season . Mayor of Kansas City Harold Roe Bartle extended an invitation to Hunt to move the Texans to Missouri . Bartle promised to triple the franchise ' s season ticket sales and expand seats at Municipal Stadium to accommodate the team . Hunt agreed to relocate the franchise to Kansas City on May 22 , 1963 and on May 26 the team was renamed the Kansas City Chiefs . Hunt and head coach Hank Stram initially planned on retaining the Texans name , but a fan contest determined the new " Chiefs " name in honor of Mayor Bartle ' s nickname that he acquired in his professional role as Scout Executive of the St . Joseph and Kansas City Boy Scout Councils and founder of the Scouting Society , Tribe of the Mic - O - Say . A total of 4 , 866 entries were received with 1 , 020 different names being suggested , including a total of 42 entrants who selected " Chiefs . " The two names that received the most popular votes were " Mules " and " Royals . " The franchise became one of the strongest teams in the now thriving American Football League , with the most playoff appearances for an AFL team ( tied with the Oakland Raiders ) , and the most AFL Championships ( three ) . The team ' s dominance helped Lamar Hunt become a central figure in negotiations with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle to agree on an AFL – NFL merger . In the meetings between the two leagues , a merged league championship game was agreed to be played in January 1967 following the conclusion of the leagues ' respective 1966 seasons . Hunt insisted on calling the game the " Super Bowl " after seeing his children playing with a popular toy at the time , a Super Ball . While the first few games were designated the " AFL – NFL World Championship Game , " the Super Bowl name became its officially licensed title in years to come . The Chiefs cruised to an 11 – 2 – 1 record in 1966 , and defeated the defending AFL Champion Buffalo Bills in the AFL Championship Game . The Chiefs were invited to play the NFL ' s league champion Green Bay Packers in the first AFL – NFL World Championship Game . Kansas City and Green Bay played a close game for the first half , but Green Bay took control in the final two quarters , winning the game by a score of 35 – 10 . The Chiefs lost the game but gained the respect of several Packers opponents following the game . The Chiefs ' interleague match - up with the Packers was not the last time that they would face an NFL opponent , especially on the championship stage . The following August , Kansas City hosted the NFL ' s Chicago Bears in the 1967 preseason and won the game 66 – 24 . The turning point in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs came during the 1968 draft . They drafted many collegiate superstars including Mo Moorman and George Daney in the 1st round . However , the key pick in the draft came in the 13th round when they drafted tight end Jim Kavanagh out of Boston College . Jim did not see much time on the field , but he did inspire the team on numerous occasions with stories about punks from Harvard threatening to " kick his ass " . Despite losing to the division rival Oakland Raiders twice in the regular season in 1969 , the two teams met for a third time in the AFL Championship Game where Kansas City won 17 – 7 . Backup quarterback Mike Livingston led the team in a six - game winning streak after Len Dawson suffered a leg injury which kept him out of most of the season ' s games . While getting plenty of help from the club ' s defense , Dawson returned from the injury and led the Chiefs to Super Bowl IV . Against the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings , who were favored by 12½ , the Chiefs dominated the game 23 – 7 to claim the team ' s first Super Bowl championship . Dawson was named the game ' s Most Valuable Player after completing 12 - of - 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown , with 1 interception . The following season , the Chiefs and the rest of the American Football League merged with the National Football League after the AFL – NFL merger became official . The Chiefs were placed in the American Football Conference ' s West Division . In 1970 , the Chiefs won only seven games in their first season in the NFL and missed the playoffs . The following season , the Chiefs tallied a 10 – 3 – 1 record and won the AFC West Division . Head coach Hank Stram considered his 1971 Chiefs team as his best , but they failed to capture their championship dominance from 1969 . Most of the pieces of the team which won Super Bowl IV two years earlier were still in place for the 1971 season . The Chiefs tied with the Miami Dolphins for the best record in the AFC , and both teams met in a Christmas Day playoff game which the Chiefs lost 27 – 24 in double overtime . The Dolphins outlasted the Chiefs with a 37 - yard field goal . The game surpassed the 1962 AFL Championship Game as the longest ever at 82 minutes and 40 seconds . The game was also the final football game at Kansas City ' s Municipal Stadium . In 1972 , the Chiefs moved into the newly constructed Arrowhead Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex outside of Downtown Kansas City . The team ' s first game at Arrowhead was against the St . Louis Cardinals , a game which the Chiefs won 24 – 14 . Linebacker Willie Lanier and quarterback Len Dawson won the NFL Man of the Year Award in 1972 and 1973 , respectively . The Chiefs would not return to the post - season for the remainder of the 1970s , and the 1973 season was the team ' s last winning effort for seven years . Hank Stram was fired following a 5 – 9 season in 1974 , and many of the Chiefs ' future Hall of Fame players would depart by the middle of the decade . From 1975 to 1988 , the Chiefs had become a laughing stock of the NFL and provided Chiefs fans with nothing but futility . Five head coaches struggled to achieve the same success as Stram , compiling an 81 – 121 – 1 record . In 1981 , running back Joe Delaney rushed for 1 , 121 yards and was named the AFC Rookie of the Year . The Chiefs finished the season with a 9 – 7 record and entered the 1982 season with optimism . However , the NFL Players Association strike curbed the Chiefs ' chances of returning to the postseason for the first time in over a decade . By employing replacement players , the Chiefs tallied a 3 – 6 record and in the off - season , Joe Delaney died while trying to save several children from drowning in a pond near his home in Louisiana . The Chiefs made a mistake in drafting quarterback Todd Blackledge over future greats such as Jim Kelly and Dan Marino in the 1983 NFL Draft . Blackledge never started a full season for Kansas City while Kelly and Marino played Hall of Fame careers . While the Chiefs struggled on offense in the 1980s , the Chiefs had a strong defensive unit consisting of Pro Bowlers such as Bill Maas , Albert Lewis , Art Still and Deron Cherry . John Mackovic took over head coaching duties for the 1983 season after Marv Levy was fired . Over the next four seasons , Mackovic coached the Chiefs to a 30 – 34 record , but took the team to its first post - season appearance in 15 years in the 1986 NFL playoffs . Following the team ' s loss to the New York Jets in the playoffs , Mackovic was fired . Frank Gansz served as head coach for the next two seasons , but won only eight of 31 games . 1989 – 2008 . On December 19 , 1988 , owner Lamar Hunt hired Carl Peterson as the team ' s new president , general manager , and chief executive officer . Peterson fired head coach Frank Gansz two weeks after taking over and hired Marty Schottenheimer as the club ' s seventh head coach . In the 1988 and 1989 NFL Draft s , the Chiefs selected both defensive end Neil Smith and linebacker Derrick Thomas , respectively . The defense that Thomas and Smith anchored in their seven seasons together was a big reason why the Chiefs reached the postseason in six straight years . In Schottenheimer ' s tenure as head coach ( 1989 – 1998 ) , the Chiefs became a perennial playoff contender , featuring offensive players including Steve DeBerg , Christian Okoye , Stephone Paige and Barry Word , and a strong defense , anchored by Thomas , Smith , Albert Lewis and Cherry . The team recorded a 101 – 58 – 1 record , and clinched seven playoff berths . The Chiefs ' 1993 season was the franchise ' s most successful in 22 years . With newly - acquired quarterback Joe Montana and running back Marcus Allen — two former Super Bowl champions and MVP ' s — the Chiefs further strengthened their position in the NFL . The 11 – 5 Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Oilers on their way to the franchise ' s first and to date only AFC Championship Game appearance against the Buffalo Bills . The Chiefs were overwhelmed by the Bills and lost the game by a score of 30 – 13 . The Chiefs ' victory on January 14 , 1994 against the Oilers remains the franchise ' s last post - season victory to date . In the 1995 NFL playoffs , the 13 – 3 Chiefs hosted the Indianapolis Colts in a cold , damp night game at Arrowhead Stadium . Kansas City lost the game 10 – 7 against the underdog Colts after kicker Lin Elliot missed three field goal attempts and quarterback Steve Bono threw three interceptions . The Chiefs selected tight end Tony Gonzalez with the 13th overall selection in the 1997 NFL Draft , a move which some considered to be a gamble being that Gonzalez was primarily a basketball player at California . During a 1997 season full of injuries to starting quarterback Elvis Grbac , backup quarterback Rich Gannon took the reins of the Chiefs ' offense as the team headed to another 13 – 3 season . Head coach Marty Schottenheimer chose Grbac to start the playoff game against the Denver Broncos despite Gannon ' s successes in previous weeks . Grbac ' s production in the game was lacking , and the Chiefs lost to the Broncos 14 – 10 . Denver went on to capture their 6th AFC Championship by defeating Pittsburgh , and then defeated the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII . Coach Schottenheimer announced his resignation from the Chiefs following the 1998 season , and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham took over coaching duties for the next two seasons , compiling a 16 – 16 record . By the end of the Chiefs ' decade of regular - season dominance , Gannon had signed with the Oakland Raiders , Neil Smith signed with the Denver Broncos , and Derrick Thomas was paralyzed from a car accident on January 23 , 2000 . Thomas died from complications of his injury weeks later . After allegedly reading online that he would be relieved of duties , head coach Gunther Cunningham was fired . Looking to change the Chiefs ' game plan which relied on a tough defensive strategy for the past decade , Carl Peterson contacted Dick Vermeil about the Chiefs ' head coaching vacancy for the 2001 season . Vermeil previously led the St . Louis Rams to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV . Vermeil was hired on January 12 . The Chiefs then traded a first round draft pick in the 2001 NFL Draft to St . Louis for quarterback Trent Green and signed free agent running back Priest Holmes to be the team ' s cornerstones on offense . In 2003 , Kansas City began the season with nine consecutive victories , a franchise record . They finished the season with a 13 – 3 record and the team ' s offense led the NFL in several categories . Running back Priest Holmes surpassed Marshall Faulk ' s single - season touchdown record by scoring his 27th rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the team ' s regular season finale . The team clinched the second seed in the 2004 NFL playoffs and hosted the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Playoffs . In a game where neither team punted , the Chiefs lost the shoot - out 38 – 31 . It was the third time in nine seasons that the Chiefs went 8 – 0 at home in the regular season , and earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs , only to lose their post - season opener at Arrowhead . After a disappointing 7 – 9 record in 2004 , the 2005 Chiefs finished with a 10 – 6 record but no playoff berth . They were the fourth team since 1990 to miss the playoffs with a 10 – 6 record . Running back Larry Johnson started in place of the injured Priest Holmes and rushed for 1 , 750 yards in only nine starts . Prior to the Chiefs ' final game of the season , head coach Dick Vermeil announced his retirement . The Chiefs won the game 37 – 3 over the playoff - bound Cincinnati Bengals . Within two weeks of Vermeil ' s resignation , the Chiefs returned to their defensive roots with the selection of its next head coach . The team introduced Herman Edwards , a former Chiefs scout and head coach of the New York Jets , as the team ' s tenth head coach after trading a fourth - round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft to the Jets . Quarterback Trent Green suffered a severe concussion in the team ' s season opener to the Cincinnati Bengals which left him out of play for eight weeks . Backup quarterback Damon Huard took over in Green ' s absence and led the Chiefs to a 5 – 3 record . Kansas City was awarded a Thanksgiving game against the Denver Broncos in response to owner Lamar Hunt ' s lobbying for a third Thanksgiving Day game . The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 19 – 10 in the first Thanksgiving Day game in Kansas City since 1969 . Hunt was hospitalized at the time of the game and died weeks later on December 13 due to complications with prostate cancer . The Chiefs honored their owner for the remainder of the season , as did the rest of the league . Trent Green returned by the end of the season , but struggled in the final stretch , and running back Larry Johnson set an NFL record with 416 carries in a season . Kansas City managed to clinch their first playoff berth in three seasons with a 9 – 7 record and a bizarre sequence of six losses from other AFC teams on New Year ' s Eve , culminating with a Broncos loss to the 49ers . The Indianapolis Colts hosted the Chiefs in the Wild Card playoffs and defeated Kansas City 23 – 8 . In 2007 , Trent Green was traded to the Miami Dolphins leaving the door open for either Damon Huard or Brodie Croyle to become the new starting quarterback . After starting the season with a 4 – 3 record , the Chiefs lost the remaining nine games when running back Larry Johnson suffered a season - ending foot injury and the quarterback position lacked stability with Huard and Croyle . Despite the team ' s 4 – 12 record , tight end Tony Gonzalez broke Shannon Sharpe ' s NFL record for touchdowns at the position ( 63 ) and defensive end Jared Allen led the NFL in quarterback sacks with 15 . 5 . The Chiefs began their 2008 season with the youngest team in the NFL . The starting lineup had an average of 25 . 5 years of age . By releasing several veteran players such as cornerback Ty Law and wide receiver Eddie Kennison and trading defensive end Jared Allen , the Chiefs began a youth movement . The Chiefs had a league - high thirteen selections in the 2008 NFL Draft and chose defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive lineman Branden Albert in the first round . Analysts quickly called Kansas City ' s selections as the best of the entire draft . Entering the season , the Chiefs were unsure if injury - prone quarterback Brodie Croyle , who was the incumbent starter , could be their quarterback in the long - term . Croyle was injured in the team ' s first game of the season and Damon Huard started in Croyle ' s absence . Tyler Thigpen become the third Chiefs starting quarterback in as many games for a start against the Atlanta Falcons . After a poor performance by Thigpen , in which he threw three interceptions against the Falcons defense , Huard was retained as the starting quarterback . The Chiefs struggled off the field as much as on as tight end Tony Gonzalez demanded a trade and running back Larry Johnson was involved in legal trouble . Croyle returned for the Chiefs ' game against the Tennessee Titans , but both he and Damon Huard suffered season - ending injuries in the game . The Chiefs reorganized their offense to a new spread offense game plan focused around Tyler Thigpen . The Chiefs ' new offense was implemented to help Thigpen play to the best of his abilities and also following the absence of Larry Johnson , who was suspended for his off - field conduct . The Chiefs made a huge gamble by using the spread offense , as most in the NFL believe that it cannot work in professional football , and also head coach Herman Edwards was traditionally in favor of more conservative , run - oriented game plans . 2009 – 10 . The 2008 season ended with a franchise worst 2 – 14 record . The team lost two games by 24 point margins against the Falcons and Titans , a 34 – 0 shut - out to the Carolina Panthers , and allowed a franchise - high 54 points against the Buffalo Bills . The team ' s general manager , chief executive officer , and team president Carl Peterson resigned at the end of the season , and former New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli was hired as his replacement for 2009 . On January 23 , 2009 Herman Edwards was fired as head coach , and two weeks later Todd Haley signed a four - year contract to become Edwards ' successor . In April , Tony Gonzalez was traded to the Atlanta Falcons after failed trade attempts over the previous two seasons . The Chiefs also fired Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey 2 weeks before the start of the season . Throughout 2009 the Chiefs acquired veterans to supplement the Chiefs ' young talent including Matt Cassel , Mike Vrabel , Bobby Engram , Mike Brown , Chris Chambers , and Andy Alleman . On December 26 , 2010 , the Kansas City Chiefs won their first AFC West title since 2003 , by beating the Tennessee Titans at The New Arrowhead Stadium . On January 9 , 2011 , the Chiefs lost their Wild Card Playoff game to the Baltimore Ravens 30 – 7 . 2011 . For their first pick in the 2011 NFL draft , and 26th overall , Tim Lee selected Jonathan Baldwin , Wide Receiver from Pitt , who was predicted to go in the second or third round . This was one of the biggest shocks in the first round because of Baldwin ' s character and Pioli ' s strict self enforced rules on drafting players who have had a police record . For their 135th pick in the 2011 NFL draft , the Chiefs selected quarterback Ricky Stanzi from the Iowa Hawkeyes . Season - by - season records . " Note : The Finish , Wins , Losses , and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play . " Since 1989 , KCFX , a . k . a " 101 The Fox " , has broadcast all Chiefs games on FM radio under the moniker of The Chiefs Fox Football Radio Network . Since 1994 , Mitch Holthus has served as play - by - play announcer and former Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson serves as color commentator . Former Chiefs longsnapper Kendall Gammon serves as the field reporter . Former Chiefs broadcasters Bill Grigsby and Bob Gretz also contribute to the broadcasts . KCFX holds broadcast rights to Chiefs games through the 2009 season . The Chiefs and KCFX hold the distinction of being the longest FM radio broadcast partnering tenure in the NFL . The Chiefs Radio Network extends throughout the six - state region of Missouri , Kansas , Iowa , Nebraska , Oklahoma , and Arkansas , with 61 affiliate stations . KCTV Channel 5 ( CBS ) broadcasts most Chiefs regular season games , with exceptions as following . KCTV also broadcasts all Chiefs pre - season games . WDAF Channel 4 ( Fox ) broadcasts games in which the Chiefs host an NFC opponent . KSHB Channel 41 ( NBC ) broadcasts all games in which the Chiefs play on " NBC Sunday Night Football " or NBC ' s NFL playoffs coverage . KMBC Channel 9 ( ABC ) has aired " Monday Night Football " games locally since 1970 . Prior to the 1994 season , WDAF was the primary station for the Chiefs as an NBC affiliate ( they aired on KMBC when ABC had the AFL package through 1964 ) , since NBC had the AFC package . The interconference home games aired on KCTV starting in 1973 ( when the NFL allowed local telecasts of home games ) . After week one of the 1994 season , WDAF switched to Fox ( which got the NFC package ) , and has aired the Chiefs ' interconference home games since . The bulk of the team ' s games moved to KSHB through the end of the 1997 season . Since that time , they have aired on KCTV . Mascots and cheerleaders . The Chiefs ' first mascot was Warpaint , a nickname given to several different breeds of pinto horse . Warpaint served as the team ' s mascot from 1963 to 1988 . The first Warpaint ( born in 1955 , died in 1992 ) was ridden bareback by rider Bob Johnson who wore a full Native American headdress . Warpaint circled the field at the beginning of each Chiefs home game and performed victory laps following each Chiefs touchdown . On September 20 , 2009 a new Warpaint horse was unveiled at the Chiefs ' home opener against the Oakland Raiders . In the mid - 1980s , the Chiefs featured a short - lived unnamed " Indian man " mascot which was later scrapped in 1988 . Since 1989 the cartoon - like K . C . Wolf , portrayed by Dan Meers in a wolf costume , has served as the team ' s mascot . The mascot was named after the Chiefs ' " Wolfpack , " a group of rabid fans from the team ' s days at Municipal Stadium . K . C . Wolf is one of the most popular NFL mascots and was the league ' s first mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006 . The Chiefs have employed a cheerleading squad since the team ' s inception in 1960 . In the team ' s early days , the all - female squad was referred to as the Chiefettes . From 1986 to 1992 , the cheerleader squad featured a mix of men and women . Since 1993 , the all - female squad has been known as the Chiefs Cheerleaders . Training camp and practice facility . When the franchise was based in Dallas , the team conducted their inaugural training camp at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell , New Mexico . They moved camp to Southern Methodist University , owner Lamar Hunt ' s alma mater , for 1961 and continued to practice there until 1965 . From 1966 to 1971 , the Chiefs practiced in Swope Park in Kansas City , and from 1972 to 1991 held camp at William Jewell College in Clay County , Missouri – where Lamar Hunt had extensive business dealings including Worlds of Fun , Oceans of Fun and SubTropolis . From 1991 to 2009 the Chiefs conducted summer training camp at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in River Falls , Wisconsin . The Chiefs ' 2007 training camp was documented in the HBO / NFL Films documentary reality television series , " Hard Knocks " . Following the passage of a $ 25 million state tax credit proposal , the Chiefs will move their training camp to Missouri Western State University in St . Joseph , Missouri in 2010 . The bulk of the tax credits will go for improvements to Arrowhead Stadium with $ 10 million applied to the move to Missouri Western . A climate - controlled , 120 - yard NFL regulation grass indoor field , and office space for the Chiefs was constructed at Missouri Western adjacent to the school ' s Spratt Stadium before the 2010 season . Outside of training camp and during the regular season , the Chiefs conduct practices at their own training facility nearby Arrowhead Stadium . The facility is located near the Raytown Road entrance to the Truman Sports Complex just west of Interstate 435 . Notable players . Retired numbers . 3 Jan Stenerud Chiefs Hall of Fame . The Chiefs are one of 16 organizations that honor their players , coaches and contributors with a team Hall of Fame or Ring of Honor . Established in 1970 , the Chiefs Hall of Fame has inducted a new member in an annual ceremony with the exception of the 1983 season . Several of the names were featured at Arrowhead Stadium in the stadium ' s architecture prior to renovations in 2009 . The requirements for induction are that a player , coach , or contributor must have been with the Chiefs for four seasons and been out of the NFL for four seasons at the time of induction . There are some exceptions , such as Joe Delaney , who was with the team for only two seasons before his death . The Chiefs have the second - most enshrinees of any NFL team in their team hall of fame behind the Green Bay Packers , who have enshrined over 100 players and team contributors over the years in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame . 1970s 1970 Lamar Hunt , team founder and owner 1971 # 36 Mack Lee Hill , Running back 1972 # 75 Jerry Mays , Defensive tackle 1973 # 84 Fred Arbanas , Tight end 1974 # 42 Johnny Robinson , Safety 1975 # 88 Chris Burford , Wide receiver 1976 # 55 E . J . Holub , Center / Linebacker 1977 # 77 Jim Tyrer , Offensive tackle 1978 # 21 Mike Garrett , Running back 1979 # 16 Len Dawson , Quarterback 1980s 1980 # 78 Bobby Bell , Linebacker 1981 # 86 Buck Buchanan , Defensive tackle 1982 # 89 Otis Taylor , Wide receiver 1983 " No induction " 1984 # 71 Ed Budde , Guard 1985 # 63 Willie Lanier , Linebacker 1986 # 18 Emmitt Thomas , Cornerback 1987 Hank Stram , Coach 1988 # 44 Jerrel Wilson , Punter 1989 # 77 Chad Russell , Offensive Tackle 1989 # 14 Ed Podolak , Running back 1990s 1990 # 51 Jim Lynch , Linebacker 1991 # 28 Abner Haynes , Running back 1992 # 3 Jan Stenerud , Kicker 1993 # 69 Sherrill Headrick , Linebacker 1994 # 58 Jack Rudnay , Center 1995 # 32 Curtis McClinton , Running back 1996 # 20 Deron Cherry , Safety 1997 # 73 Dave Hill , Offensive tackle 1998 # 67 Art Still , Defensive end 1999 # 34 Lloyd Burruss , Safety 2000s 2000 # 35 Christian Okoye , Running back 2001 # 58 Derrick Thomas , Linebacker 2002 # 76 John Alt , Offensive tackle 2003 # 59 Gary Spani , Linebacker 2004 # 37 Joe Delaney , Running back 2005 Jack Steadman , team administrator 2006 # 90 Neil Smith , Defensive end 2007 # 29 Albert Lewis , Cornerback 2008 # 61 Curley Culp , Defensive tackle 2009 # 8 Nick Lowery , Kicker 2010s 2010 Marty Schottenheimer , Coach Head coaches . Eleven head coaches have served the Texans / Chiefs franchise since their first season in 1960 . Hank Stram , the team ' s first head coach , led the Chiefs to three AFL championship victories and two appearances in the Super Bowl . Stram was the team ' s longest - tenured head coach , holding the position from 1960 to 1974 . Marty Schottenheimer was hired in 1989 and led Kansas City to seven playoff appearances in his ten seasons as head coach . Schottenheimer had the best winning percentage ( . 634 ) of all Chiefs coaches . Gunther Cunningham was on the Chiefs ' coaching staff in various positions from 1995 to 2008 , serving as the team ' s head coach in between stints as the team ' s defensive coordinator . Dick Vermeil coached the team to a franchise - best 9 – 0 start in the 2003 season . Of the ten Chiefs coaches , Hank Stram and Marv Levy have been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Herman Edwards served as the team ' s head coach from 2006 to 2008 , compiling a 15 – 33 record and a franchise worst 6 – 26 record over a two - year span . Todd Haley began his first season with the team in 2009 , and in 2010 led the team to its first AFC West division title since 2003 . Ownership and administration . The franchise was founded in 1959 by Lamar Hunt after a failed attempt by Hunt to purchase an NFL franchise and relocate them to Texas . Hunt purchased the team for $ 25 , 000 in 1960 . Hunt remained the team ' s owner until his death in 2006 . The Hunt family kept ownership of the team following Lamar ' s death and Clark Hunt , Lamar ' s son , represents the family ' s interests . While Hunt ' s official title is Chairman of the Board , he serves as the franchise ' s " de facto " owner . In 2010 , Hunt assumed role as CEO alongside his role as Chairman of the Board . According to " Forbes " , the team is valued at just under $ 1 billion and ranks 20th among NFL teams in 2010 . Owner Lamar Hunt served as the team ' s president from 1960 to 1976 . Because of Lamar Hunt ' s contributions to the NFL , the AFC Championship trophy is named after him . He promoted general manager Jack Steadman to become the team ' s president in 1977 . Steadman held the job until Carl Peterson was hired by Hunt in 1988 to replace him . Peterson resigned the title as team president in 2008 . Denny Thum became the team ' s interim president following Peterson ' s departure and was officially given the full position in May 2009 . Thum resigned from his position on September 14 , 2010 . Don Rossi served as the team ' s general manager for half of the 1960 season , resigning in November 1960 . Jack Steadman assumed duties from Rossi and served in the position until 1976 . Steadman was promoted to team president in 1976 and despite being relieved of those duties in 1988 , he remained with the franchise until 2006 in various positions . Jim Schaaf took over for Steadman as general manager until being fired in December 1988 . Carl Peterson was hired in 1988 to serve as the team ' s general manager , chief executive officer and team president . Peterson remained in the position for 19 years until he announced his resignation from the team in 2008 . Denny Thum served as interim general manager until January 13 , 2009 when the Chiefs named New England Patriots executive Scott Pioli the team ' s new general manager .