History of the Kansas City Chiefs The following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs , a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans . The team was a charter member of the American Football League ( AFL ) , and now is currently part of the National Football League ( NFL ) . The Texans won the AFL Championship in 1962 , and the team relocated to Kansas City , Missouri the following year . In 1966 , the Chiefs won their second AFL title and appeared in the inaugural AFL - NFL World Championship game . In 1969 , the Chiefs won the final AFL title and went on to defeat the NFL ' s heavily - favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV . The Texans / Chiefs were the winningest franchise in AFL history , compiling an 87 - 48 record from 1960 to 1969 . However , their victory on January 11 , 1970 remains the franchise ' s only Super Bowl title to date . AFL origins . In 1959 , Lamar Hunt , son of oil tycoon H . L . Hunt , began discussions with other businessmen in establishing an American football organization that would rival that of the National Football League . Since as early as 1958 , Hunt had the interest of purchasing an NFL franchise and moving them to Dallas , Texas . His desire to secure a professional football franchise was further heightened after watching the historic 1958 NFL Championship Game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants . The team that Hunt was most interested in buying was the Chicago Cardinals . The NFL convinced Hunt to contact Cardinals owner Violet Bidwill Wolfner , and her husband Walter Wolfner eventually agreed to sell Hunt 20 percent of the Cardinals franchise . Hunt declined the opportunity . He then conceived the concept of forming a second league . “ Why wouldn ’ t a second league work , ” Hunt recalled . “ There was an American and National League in baseball , why not football ? ” Hunt contacted several other individuals who had expressed interest in the Cardinals franchise — Bud Adams , Bob Howsam , Max Winter and Bill Boyer — and gauged their interest in forming a second league . On August 14 , the first meeting of the new league was held in Chicago . Charter memberships were issued to six original cities — Dallas , New York , Houston , Denver , Los Angeles and Minneapolis . The league was officially christened the American Football League on August 22 . Ralph Wilson was extended the league ’ s seventh franchise on October 28 and Billy Sullivan became the league ’ s eighth team ' s owner on November 22 . Minneapolis withdrew its franchise from the AFL in November after receiving an offer for a team in the NFL , and Oakland , California instead joined the AFL as the Oakland Raiders . Early years in Dallas . For the Texans ' inaugural season , team owner Lamar Hunt pursued both legendary University of Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson and New York Giants defensive assistant Tom Landry to lead his Texans franchise . Wilkinson opted to stay at Oklahoma , while Landry was destined to coach the NFL ’ s franchise in Dallas . In Mid - December 1959 Hunt settled on a relatively unknown assistant coach from the University of Miami , Hank Stram . “ One of the biggest reasons I hired Hank was that he really wanted the job , ” Hunt explained . “ It turned out to be a very lucky selection on my part . ” Reserved seats at the Cotton Bowl cost USD $ 4 , general admission USD $ 2 and high school students paid USD $ . 90 that initial season . Don Rossi served as the team ’ s General Manager until November when he was succeeded by Jack Steadman . The Texans conducted their inaugural training camp at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell , New Mexico . The club embarked on a whirlwind pre - season barnstorming tour that featured road games in Oakland , Tulsa , Boston , Abilene and Little Rock . An announced crowd of 51 , 000 at the Cotton Bowl witnessed a 24 - 3 victory against Houston on September 2 as the club concluded a perfect 6 - 0 preseason record . In their early years , the Texans had a strong home - state identity with quarterback Cotton Davidson from Baylor , linebacker Sherrill Headrick from TCU and running back Abner Haynes from North Texas . Haynes led the league with 875 rushing yards and nine TDs , as well as combined net yards ( 2 , 100 ) and punt return average ( 15 . 4 ) . The Texans also had a flashy , high - scoring club which finished the year at 8 - 6 as three close losses kept the squad from challenging for the division title . The Texans averaged 24 , 500 for their home games , the highest average in the league . In 1961 , the Texans and the NFL ’ s Dallas Cowboys both drafted linebacker E . J . Holub from Texas Tech , described by many scouts as “ the best football player in America . ” Holub decided to play for the Texans , joining three future franchise Hall of Famers — Jerry Mays , Fred Arbanas and Jim Tyrer — as part of the club ’ s draft class . The club moved its training camp to Lamar Hunt ’ s alma mater of Southern Methodist University and started the regular season at 3 - 1 before hitting a six - game losing skid , the longest such streak of Stram ’ s tenure with the franchise . The Texans rebounded to claim wins in three of its final four contests to finish 6 - 8 , marking the club ’ s second straight finish behind the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Western Conference standings . In 1962 , head coach Hank Stram was named AFL Coach of the Year and running back Curtis McClinton was named the AFL Rookie of the Year . Haynes became the franchise ’ s first 1 , 000 - yard rusher , concluding the season with 1 , 049 yards and an AFL - high 13 rushing touchdowns . The Texans clinched their initial AFL Western Division Championship in November and finished with an 11 - 3 regular season record . The team won the 1962 AFL Championship when kicker Tommy Brooker connected on a 25 - yard field goal during the second overtime of the title game , giving the Texans a 20 - 17 victory against the Houston Oilers . Spanning an elapsed time of 77 : 54 , the game stands as the third - longest contest in pro football history . Until a Christmas Day playoff game in 1971 between the Chiefs and Dolphins , the game was the longest ever played . The move to Kansas City . After three seasons in Dallas , Texas , it was apparent that Dallas couldn ’ t support two teams . Hunt investigated opportunities to move his team to several cities for the 1963 season , including Miami , Florida , Atlanta , Georgia , Seattle , Washington and New Orleans , Louisiana . 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 , Missouri , where Mayor H . Roe Bartle persuaded him to move to the Midwest . The negotiations in Kansas City were conducted in secrecy . On several occasions Hunt and Jack Steadman were in Kansas City and met with businessmen , without the general public ' s knowledge . Bartle introduced Hunt as " Mr . Lamar " in all the meetings with other Kansas City businessmen . Steadman was introduced as " Jack X . " The support the team received from the Kansas City community before the team announced the move was extraordinary . Hunt made the move dependent upon the ability of Mayor Bartle and the Kansas City community to guarantee him 35 , 000 in season ticket sales . Hunt had set this number , being that it was the Texans ' average attendance at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas . An ambitious campaign took shape to deliver on Bartle ’ s guarantee to Hunt of tripling the season - ticket base the Texans had enjoyed in Dallas . Kansas City ’ s mayor also promised to add 3 , 000 permanent seats to Municipal Stadium , as well as 11 , 000 temporary bleacher seats . Along with Bartle , a number of other prominent Kansas Citians stepped forward to aid in the efforts , putting together more than 1 , 000 workers to sell season tickets . 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 . " The Gold Coats " had to sell season tickets to people without knowing the team name , where it was coming from , who the owner was , which football league they would play in , who the players or coaches were , when the team would play its first game in Kansas City , or where it would play . Hunt gave Bartle a four - month deadline to accomplish the sales . 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 . On May 22 , Hunt announced he was moving the franchise to Kansas City , Missouri . 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 name 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 the Kansas City Chiefs — one of the most popular suggestions Hunt received in a name - the - team contest . A name also considered at the time for the team was the Kansas City Mules . The name , " Chiefs " is not only derived from a fan contest , but also 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 Chiefs moved into Municipal Stadium , located at 22nd and Brooklyn , which opened in 1923 and had 49 , 002 seats . The Chiefs shared the facilities with the Kansas City Athletics of Major League Baseball . The first appearance of the Chiefs in Municipal Stadium attracted just 5 , 721 fans for a 17 - 13 pre - season victory against Buffalo on August 9 . The Chiefs ' inaugural season in Kansas City began with owner Lamar Hunt ’ s trade of starting quarterback Cotton Davidson to the Oakland Raiders , which landed the number one overall selection in the AFL Draft ( which they used to select Buck Buchanan ) . Ironically , the Raiders would later select Gene Upshaw in 1967 for the express purpose of blocking Buchanan . The Chiefs also selected guard Ed Budde from Michigan State with their other first round pick , and Bobby Bell from Minnesota in the seventh round . Buchanan , Budde and Bell all became starters on their way to a combined 526 games with the team and all three of them played their entire careers with the Chiefs . Tragedy struck the club when rookie running back Stone Johnson , who was a sprinter in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome , suffered a fractured vertebra in his neck in a pre - season game against Oakland on August 30 in Wichita , Kansas . He died 10 days later on September 8 and his jersey number 33 was subsequently retired . The Chiefs finished their first season in Kansas City with a 5 - 7 - 2 record and failed to reappear in the AFL Championship game for a consecutive year . Building a champion , 1964 - 69 . In 1964 , the Chiefs began the year with a 2 - 1 mark before dropping three consecutive games as several of the team ’ s best players , including E . J . Holub , Fred Arbanas and Johnny Robinson missed numerous games with injuries . Arbanas missed the final two games of the year after undergoing surgery to his left eye , in which he suffered almost total loss of vision . Running back Mack Lee Hill , who signed with the club as a rookie free agent and received a mere $ 300 signing bonus , entered the starting lineup and earned a spot in the AFL All - Star Game . The club rounded out the season with two consecutive wins to close the season at 7 - 7 , finishing second in the AFL Western Conference behind the San Diego Chargers . An average of just 18 , 126 fans attended each home game at Municipal Stadium , prompting discussion at the AFL owners ’ meeting about the Chiefs future in Kansas City . For the 1965 season , the Chiefs were once again caught in the middle of the AFL and NFL ' s bidding wars for college talent . Kansas City made running back Gale Sayers from the University of Kansas their first - round draft pick , but Sayers eventually signed with the Bears for less money . Running back Mack Lee Hill suffered torn ligaments in his right knee in the second to last regular season game of the year at Buffalo on December 12 . Following what was expected to be a routine surgery on December 14 at Menorah Hospital in Kansas City , Hill died from what was termed " a sudden and massive embolism . " Hunt called Hill ’ s death " the worst shock possible . " Beginning the following year , the club annually bestowed the Mack Lee Hill Award on its top rookie or first - year performer in Hill ' s honor . Just days after Hill ’ s unexpected death , the mourning Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos on December 19 to finish the year with a 7 - 5 - 2 record . In 1966 , the Chiefs were beginning to lay the groundwork for a return to the AFL Championship game and eventual dominance in the later years of the AFL . Team owner Lamar Hunt was publicly negotiating with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle about a possible merger of the two leagues . Defensive end Aaron Brown was highly coveted by many clubs , including the NFL ’ s Steelers , who intended to select him . The Steelers couldn ’ t locate Brown on draft day since he was already aboard a flight with Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt , who carried out the first mid - air signing in team history . The Chiefs signed Heisman Trophy - winning running back Mike Garrett in the 20th round of the 1966 AFL Draft . Garrett went on to earn AFL Rookie of the Year honors for the 1966 season . The Chiefs started the season at 3 - 0 . A crowd of 43 , 885 attended the Chiefs home opener against the defending AFL Champion Buffalo Bills on October 2 , the largest ever to witness a sports event in Kansas City at the time . The Chiefs dropped a 29 - 14 decision to the Bills , but after the contest , Chiefs coach Hank Stram and Buffalo head coach Joe Collier negotiated a trade in the middle of the field . Kansas City received placekicker Mike Mercer for a fifth - round pick . Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson led the league in passing , while Otis Taylor became the first 1 , 000 - yard receiver in franchise history , registering 1 , 297 yards . The Chiefs finished three games in front of Oakland to claim an AFL Western Conference title with an 11 - 2 - 1 record , setting the stage for the franchise ’ s second trip to the AFL Championship Game . Using a dazzling I - formation offense and a smothering defense , the Chiefs claimed a dominating 31 - 7 victory in the AFL title game at Buffalo on New Year ' s Day , 1967 . That victory propelled Kansas City to the first AFL - NFL World Championship Game , later known as the Super Bowl . At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , the Chiefs met Vince Lombardi ’ s powerful Green Bay Packers of the National Football League on January 15 , 1967 . The Chiefs played the Packers close for a half , trailing 14 - 10 , but Green Bay took control in the final two quarters , winning the game by a score of 35 - 10 . For 1967 , the club ’ s special teams got a boost with the addition of kicker Jan Stenerud , and kick returner Noland " Super Gnat " Smith . The Chiefs ' first regular season game against an NFL team resulted in a commanding 66 - 24 Chiefs victory against the Chicago Bears at Municipal Stadium on August 23 . Injuries again hit the club hard during the regular season as the Chiefs clawed their way to a 9 - 5 record . Interest in the team skyrocketed following the team ' s appearance in the AFL - NFL Championship Game , forcing an increase in seating capacity at Municipal Stadium from 40 , 000 to 47 , 000 . In June , Jackson County voters approved a $ 43 million bond issue for construction of a sports complex to be completed by 1972 . Eastern Jackson County was chosen as the site of the Chiefs and Royals ' new stadiums , and groundbreaking ceremonies took place in July with plans calling for a unique " rolling roof " design ( which was later scrapped ) . The 1968 Chiefs defense allowed a franchise - low 170 points ( 12 . 1 ppg ) . The nucleus of the defensive unit was in its prime , producing six AFL All - Stars , including all three of the squad ’ s linebackers . Offensively , quarterback Len Dawson led the AFL in passing for the fourth time . The Chiefs began the season with a 7 - 1 record and rattled off five straight victories to close the regular season at 12 - 2 , sharing the AFL Western Conference title with the Oakland Raiders and setting up a one - game playoff between the two teams . Kansas City lost a 41 - 6 decision at Oakland on December 22 as the Raiders advanced to the 1968 AFL Championship Game against the New York Jets . The loss to Oakland is considered to be the beginning of the Chiefs ' rivalry with the Raiders , one of the NFL ' s most bitter feuds . The Chiefs used the momentum they built during the 1968 campaign by posting a perfect 6 - 0 record during pre - season play for 1969 . The team began the regular season with four consecutive road games for the only time in team history . After a decisive 27 - 9 win at San Diego on September 14 , the club posted a 31 - 0 shutout at Boston on September 21 . During the game , quarterback Len Dawson sustained a knee injury against the Boston Patriots which would sideline him for the following two months . The once - optimistic picture for the Chiefs went from bad to worse the following week when back - up quarterback Jacky Lee went down with a broken ankle in a 24 - 19 loss at Cincinnati on September 28 . That injury left the team ’ s most crucial position in the hands of second - year quarterback Mike Livingston , who took just five snaps as a rookie in 1968 . However , Livingston engineered a five - game winning streak , while getting plenty of help from the club ’ s defense . The team ’ s home opener was played in a day - long deluge referred to as a " frog - strangler " by Chiefs radio broadcaster Bill Grigsby . The Chiefs and Houston Oilers combined for 14 fumbles in a 24 - 0 Kansas City victory on October 12 . Len Dawson returned to the starting lineup in a 27 - 3 win against San Diego on November 9 and guided the club to three wins in the season ’ s next four games . The Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos 31 - 17 on Thanksgiving Day . Trailing 24 - 17 late in the game , Denver attempted an onside kick that was recovered by linebacker Bobby Bell , who promptly returned that kick for a 53 - yard touchdown . Mike Livingston started the following week against Buffalo on December 7 for an again - injured Dawson , who returned for the regular season finale at Oakland on December 13 . A 10 - 6 loss against the Raiders gave the Chiefs an 11 - 3 record , good for second in the AFC Western Conference behind Oakland ( 12 - 1 - 1 ) . In an AFL Divisional Playoff Game at New York , Kansas City rode its dominating defense which produced a crucial goal - line stand en route to a 13 - 6 win over the defending Super Bowl champions to set up a rematch with the Raiders in the final AFL Championship Game . Looking for retribution of the previous losses in the regular season and in the 1968 playoffs , the Chiefs became the league ’ s only three - time champions , defeating the Raiders by a 17 - 7 count at Oakland on January 4 , 1970 . During the days preceding Kansas City ’ s clash with the heavily - favored Minnesota Vikings of the NFL , unsubstantiated media reports associating Len Dawson with a known gambler hounded the Chiefs quarterback . Dawson was later revealed to be mistaken for another man with the same last name . The night before Super Bowl IV , Ed Sabol of NFL Films approached Vikings coach Bud Grant about being wired for sound for the game . Grant declined , but Chiefs coach Hank Stram accepted . As both the Chiefs and the cameras rolled , Stram clamored for his team to run " 65 toss power trap " and to " keep matriculating the ball down the field . " Stram became the first - ever coach to be wired for NFL Films , and ironically , as a coach in the rival AFL . The Chiefs used the game as a crusade for the American Football League and wore " AFL - 10 " patches honoring the league ’ s 10 - year existence . The Chiefs used three field goals from Jan Stenerud and a rushing touchdown from Mike Garrett to take a 16 - 0 halftime lead . A dynamic 46 - yard TD pass from Len Dawson to Otis Taylor in the third quarter sealed the victory as Dawson was named the game ’ s Most Valuable Player . Perhaps the grittiest performance of the day came from safety Johnny Robinson , who registered two interceptions and a fumble recovery despite playing with three broken ribs . At approximately 5 : 20 PM , the final seconds ticked off the clock at Tulane Stadium as the Chiefs were crowned World Champions by claiming a 23 - 7 victory in the final game between the AFL and NFL . A victory parade ensued upon the club ’ s triumphant return the following day in downtown Kansas City . As of 2011 , Super Bowl IV remains as the last championship won by the Chiefs . Alignment to the NFL . Fall from glory , 1970 - 77 . Following their championship win , the NFL - AFL merger placed the Chiefs in the newly - created AFC West division with the Chargers , Raiders , and Broncos . The team traded running back Mike Garrett to San Diego in 1970 and replaced him in the lineup with Ed Podolak . Despite a 44 - 24 win against Baltimore on September 28 in just the second - ever telecast of ABC ’ s " Monday Night Football " package , the Chiefs owned a 3 - 3 - 1 record at the season ’ s midpoint . The Chiefs and the Raiders tied a game at 17 - 17 on November 1 following a controversial play from Oakland . The Chiefs were ahead 17 - 14 when Len Dawson apparently sealed the win , running for a first down which would have allowed Kansas City to run out the clock . While on the ground , Dawson was speared by Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson in an infamous incident that cost the Chiefs a victory and further inflamed the already heated Chiefs - Raiders rivalry . Wide receiver Otis Taylor retaliated and a bench - clearing brawl ensued . Offsetting penalties were called , nullifying Dawson ’ s first down . The Chiefs were forced to punt and Raiders kicker George Blanda booted a game - tying field with eight seconds remaining . That tie ultimately cost the Chiefs the opportunity to split the AFC West division title with Oakland as Kansas City finished the year with a 7 - 5 - 2 record , while the Raiders went 8 - 4 - 2 and reached the conference championship . In 1971 , the Chiefs were regarded by many as the finest squad ever assembled by the franchise , including team owner Lamar Hunt . The team featured a franchise record 11 Pro Bowlers . Offensively , wide receiver Otis Taylor led the league with 1 , 110 receiving yards . In just his third pro season , Ed Podolak surpassed Abner Haynes as the all - time leading rusher in team history . The longstanding linebacking trio of Willie Lanier , Bobby Bell and Jim Lynch was the league ’ s best . The offensive line was headlined by guard Ed Budde and tackle Jim Tyrer , while the defensive front featured a pair of Pro Bowlers in tackles Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp . Both placekicker Jan Stenerud and punter Jerrel Wilson represented the squad in the Pro Bowl , as well . After bolting to a 5 - 1 - 1 start , the club went 5 - 2 during the second half of the season to finish the year at 10 - 3 - 1 . A 16 - 14 victory against Oakland on December 12 gave the franchise its initial AFC West title . The great promise of the 1971 campaign ended dramatically in in NFL history , an AFC Divisional Playoff Game played on Christmas Day against the Miami Dolphins . It took 82 : 40 to finish the contest , but a 37 - yard field goal from Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian finally ended this epic as Miami claimed a 27 - 24 double overtime win in the final football contest played at Kansas City ' s Municipal Stadium . Chiefs ' running back Ed Podolak accounted for 350 combined net yards , a figure that remains an NFL post - season record . The baton of power in the AFC was officially passed to the Dolphins , who went on to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls . It would be the Chiefs last playoff appearance for 15 years , effectively signaling the conclusion of the franchise ’ s glory days . In 1972 , the last original member of the 1960 Dallas Texans team departed when safety Johnny Robinson announced his retirement at training camp . Meanwhile , starting quarterback Len Dawson ended speculation about his retirement by signing a two - year contract . Franchise owner Lamar Hunt became the first AFL figure to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 29 . After two different construction strikes and a myriad of other delays , Arrowhead Stadium was officially dedicated on August 12 when the Chiefs registered a 24 - 14 victory against the St . Louis Cardinals . Running back Ed Podolak scored the first touchdown in the facility . Regular season ticket prices for the team ' s first season at Arrowhead were USD $ 8 for box seats and $ 7 for reserved seating . On September 17 , the Chiefs lost a 20 - 10 decision against Miami in the first regular season game at Arrowhead in front of a crowd of 79 , 829 . A standing - room - only crowd of 82 , 094 fans was in attendance for a 27 - 14 victory against Oakland on November 5 , the largest “ in - house ” attendance total for an NFL contest in Arrowhead ’ s history . After a 5 - 3 start , a three - game losing streak effectively eliminated the club from playoff contention , including an embarrassing home loss to the winless Philadelphia Eagles . An 8 - 6 record was good enough for only a second - place finish in the AFC West behind Oakland . Linebacker Willie Lanier became the first Chiefs player to receive the prestigious NFL Man of the Year Award in the offseason . For 1973 , quarterback Mike Livingston started in a 23 - 13 Opening Day loss against Los Angeles , but Len Dawson returned to rally the club for three consecutive wins to get the club off to a 3 - 1 start for a third consecutive year . The aging Len Dawson made his final start of the year in a 23 - 14 loss at Buffalo on October 29 on " Monday Night Football " and was replaced for the remainder of the year by Livingston , beginning a string of three straight seasons in which both players split time at the position . Livingston led the club to another three straight wins , putting the team in first place in mid - November with a 6 - 3 - 1 record . A 1 - 2 - 1 ledger over the season ’ s final month ended the club ’ s post - season aspirations as the team finished the year in a second - place tie with Denver at 7 - 5 - 2 . Len Dawson became the second Chiefs player in as many years to win the NFL Man of the Year Award . Following Super Bowl VIII , The AFC - NFC Pro Bowl was held at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20 with the AFC claiming a 15 - 13 win thanks to five field goals from Miami placekicker Garo Yepremian . While the club ’ s sparkling new facility at Arrowhead Stadium was drawing rave reviews , the Chiefs roster was beginning to show its age in 1974 . The result was the team ’ s first losing season in 11 years as the club was unable to string together consecutive victories during the year , a first in franchise history . Most of the team ' s starters were advancing in age : Len Dawson was 39 , Jim Tyrer was 35 , Bobby Bell , Buck Buchanan , and Ed Budde were 34 , Dave Hill was 33 and Otis Taylor was 32 . One of the year ’ s few bright spots in the 5 - 9 season was cornerback Emmitt Thomas , who led the league with a franchise - record 12 interceptions . The final game of the 1974 campaign marked the final time all five of Kansas City ’ s future Hall of Fame players from the club ’ s AFL championship era took the field together with coach Hank Stram . Including Lamar Hunt and five future Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famers , an amazing total of 12 Hall of Fame inductees were involved in that 1974 season finale game . That 35 - 15 loss against Super Bowl - bound Minnesota provided an anticlimactic conclusion to Hank Stram ’ s illustrious coaching career in Kansas City . Stram , the only head coach in franchise history was relieved of his duties on December 27 after compiling a 124 - 76 - 10 regular season record with the club . San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Paul Wiggin was named the second head coach in franchise history on January 23 , 1975 . Wiggin inherited the unenviable task of rebuilding a squad whose pool of talent had been largely depleted due to age and a number of ill - considered trades that had left the club devoid of first - round draft choices in 1973 and 1975 . After an 0 - 3 start to the season , Wiggin directed the Chiefs to three straight wins , beginning with a convincing 42 - 10 victory against the Raiders . The highlight of the season was a 34 - 31 upset win at Dallas on " Monday Night Football " . The club could not maintain the early success ; Owning a 5 - 5 record heading into the homestretch of the season , injuries to a number of key players crippled the team . The team dropped its final four contests of the year to finish at 5 - 9 for the second consecutive season . The regular season finale at Oakland marked the final games in the Hall of Fame careers of Len Dawson and Buck Buchanan . By 1976 , many of the Chiefs ' championship players were on their way out of Kansas City . Buck Buchanan announced his retirement in February , while Dawson announced his own departure on May 1 . Off the field , Jack Steadman was promoted to team president and Jim Schaaf was named general manager in August . On the field , Kansas City ’ s fortunes didn ’ t improve in the second year of the Wiggin regime . The club dropped three straight home games , including a 27 - 17 loss to a New Orleans Saints team coached by Stram , before suffering a 50 - 17 setback at Buffalo on October 3 , opening the season at 0 - 4 for the first time in team history . The team registered a 3 - 1 record during a successful midseason stretch , but like most of the previous seasons , could not maintain that momentum . After lingering in Len Dawson ’ s shadow for eight seasons , Mike Livingston was firmly entrenched as the team ’ s starting quarterback , becoming the first QB to start every regular season game since Dawson in 1968 . Although Livingston played well and rallied the squad for wins in two of the season ’ s final three games , the Chiefs still ended the year with their third consecutive 5 - 9 record . Running back MacArthur Lane was the club ’ s top offensive threat , becoming the only player at the time in franchise history to lead the league in receptions ( 66 ) . On the field , the Chiefs suffered their worst season ever in 1977 , winning just twice and undergoing a mid - season coaching change . Following three consecutive 5 - 9 seasons , the team finished with a league worst 2 - 12 record . An 0 - 5 start doomed the squad with a 44 - 7 loss at Cleveland , where Wiggin starred as a defensive lineman during the Browns ' glory days , effectively sealing the coach ' s fate . Wiggin was relieved of his duties on Halloween , marking the only in - season coaching switch in team history . Defensive backs coach Tom Bettis was named interim coach and claimed a 20 - 10 victory against Green Bay in the club ’ s initial contest under his direction , but it was the only victory of his brief head coaching tenure . Bettis and the remainder of the coaching staff assembled by Wiggin were relieved on December 19 , one day after a 21 - 20 loss at Oakland in the regular season finale . Marv Levy , the former head coach of the Canadian Football League ’ s Montreal Alouettes , was named the fourth head coach in franchise history the following day . The heart and soul of the Chiefs once - vaunted defense departed when Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch retired following the season . Signs of improvement , 1978 - 1982 . For 1978 , Marv Levy ’ s systematic restocking of a relatively barren defensive roster began with a 1978 draft class that included defensive end Art Still and linebacker Gary Spani . Running back Ed Podolak , who was the club ’ s all - time leading rusher at the time , retired in the offseason on June 15 . Perhaps Levy ’ s most unconventional tactic in rebuilding the Chiefs was installing the " Wing - T offense " . " It was a situation where we took over a team that had the worst defensive record in the history of the National Football League , " Levy explained . " We wanted to keep that defense off the field , so we ran the ball 60 times a game . " The 1978 Chiefs team ran and ran often , posting franchise records with 663 rushing attempts and 2 , 986 ground yards . Levy ’ s squad ran the ball a staggering 69 times in a 24 - 23 Opening Day win at Cincinnati on September 3 , the most rushing attempts in an NFL contest since 1948 . Five different players had 100 - yard rushing games during the year , including running back Tony Reed , who finished the season with 1 , 053 yards to become the team ’ s first 1 , 000 - yard back since 1967 . Despite the squad ’ s Opening Day success , the club lost 10 of its next 11 games , including a pair of overtime decisions . However , the team showed signs of improvement with the defense recording a 23 - 0 shutout against San Diego on November 26 as the club concluded its first 16 - game schedule with a 4 - 12 mark . In 1979 , Kansas City owned a pair of picks in the first round of the Draft , selecting defensive end Mike Bell and quarterback Steve Fuller . By the season ’ s third game , Fuller had supplanted Mike Livingston as the club ’ s starter . With Fuller at the helm , the Chiefs owned a 4 - 2 record after six games , but a five - game mid - season losing stretch sullied that effort . Despite finishing fifth in the AFC West for a second straight season , Kansas City ’ s 7 - 9 record was a notable accomplishment considering the fact that the division ’ s other four clubs all posted winning records for a second consecutive season . The Chiefs lost a 3 - 0 decision at Tampa Bay on December 16 in one of the most water - logged contests in franchise annals . As both clubs struggled to move the ball under monsoon - like conditions , a late , fourth - quarter field goal by the Buccaneers averted the NFL ’ s first scoreless tie since 1943 . In 1980 , the Chiefs selected guard Brad Budde in the first round of the Draft , the son of former Chiefs guard Ed Budde , as the team ' s first - round draft choice , making the Buddes the first father - son combination to become first - round draftees of the same team in NFL history . In a then - controversial move on August 26 , the Chiefs released placekicker Jan Stenerud , who at the time was club ’ s all - time leading scorer . He was replaced by journeyman Nick Lowery , who had been cut 11 times by eight different teams himself . After enduring an 0 - 4 start , the club rebounded to post a four - game winning streak , starting with a 31 - 17 victory in Oakland , in which Raiders quarterback Dan Pastorini broke his leg and was replaced by Jim Plunkett , who guided the team to the Super Bowl XV championship . After Steve Fuller was sidelined with a knee injury late in the season , former Miami 12th - round draft choice Bill Kenney became the team ' s starting quarterback . He was so anonymous that when he appeared in that contest , the name on the back of his jersey was inadvertently misspelled “ Kenny . ” Kenney went on to lead the club to a 31 - 14 victory against Denver on December 7 in his initial NFL start . The defense continued to evolve as defensive end Art Still and safety Gary Barbaro became the first Chiefs defensive players to be elected to the Pro Bowl in five seasons . The Chiefs finished the year at 8 - 8 , the club ’ s highest victory tally since 1972 . Bill Kenney began the 1981 season as the club ' s starting quarterback and directed the Chiefs to a 6 - 2 start , including a 37 - 33 win over the Steelers on Opening Day . Second - round draft choice , running back Joe Delaney electrified the club ’ s offense by rushing for 1 , 121 yards , a team single - season record at the time . He was named the AFC ’ s Rookie of the Year and became the first running back to represent the franchise in the Pro Bowl . Delaney registered a 193 - yard performance in a 23 - 10 victory against the Oilers on November 15 , the best single - game total ever amassed by a Kansas City rookie . Owning an 8 - 4 record with four games remaining , the Chiefs were poised to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years . However , a three - game losing streak ended the anticipation . Bill Kenney missed the club ’ s final three contests due to injury as Steve Fuller temporarily reclaimed the starting QB position and guided the club to a 10 - 6 win at Minnesota , in the final contest played at Metropolitan Stadium . With the Chiefs winning the game , Vikings fans began dismembering the stadium as early as the second half — taking seats , pieces of the scoreboard and even chunks of sod as souvenirs . The victory assured the Chiefs of a 9 - 7 record , the club ’ s first winning mark since 1973 as coach Marv Levy increased the club ’ s victory total for a third consecutive year . Inspired by the Washington Redskins ’ s “ Hail to the Redskins , ” Levy penned a fight song for the Chiefs ( " Give a Cheer for Kansas City " ) , but much like the team ' s Wing - T offense , the concept never really caught on . In 1982 , running back Joe Delaney underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his eye , a radical procedure at the time . Optimism abounded at Arrowhead thanks to the club ’ s promising 9 - 7 record from 1981 , but swelling labor unrest from NFL players spelled doom for both the Chiefs and Levy in 1982 . The Chiefs split their first two games of the year before a 57 - day strike by the NFL Players Association began at midnight on September 20 . The strike concluded on November 17 after six games were canceled and one was rescheduled , but the Chiefs would never recover , dropping four straight games after their return to the field . Center Jack Rudnay , who had been one of the franchise ’ s most durable and decorated offensive performers over the past decade , announced on December 20 that he would retire after the season . Despite wins in two of the season ’ s final three games , the Levy era concluded as the club finished the strike - shortened campaign at 3 - 6 . Unbalanced chemistry , 1983 - 88 . 1983 . To begin 1983 , the Chiefs fired head coach Marv Levy on January 4 after compiling a 31 - 42 record . Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach John Mackovic was named the fifth head coach in team history on February 2 . The 39 - year - old Mackovic became the youngest individual ever to hold that post for the club . The Chiefs held the seventh overall pick in the quarterback - laden 1983 NFL Draft and selected Todd Blackledge . The five other signal - callers selected in the first round that year included John Elway , Jim Kelly , Tony Eason , Ken O ' Brien and Dan Marino . Tragedy struck the club on June 29 when Joe Delaney drowned trying to save the lives of three youngsters in Monroe , Louisiana . Delaney was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen ' s Medal by Ronald Reagan on July 13 . Linebacker Bobby Bell became the first Chiefs player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 30 , providing some solace for the mourning Chiefs fan base following Joe Delaney ' s death . With Kenney and Blackledge both on the roster , starting QB Steve Fuller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on August 19 . Kenney earned a Pro Bowl berth after racking up a franchise - record 4 , 348 passing yards , while wide receiver Carlos Carson hauled in 80 passes for 1 , 351 yards . Despite the team ’ s high - flying passing game , head coach John Mackovic had trouble finding a suitable replacement for Joe Delaney and the running back position . The highest scoring contest in franchise history took place as the Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks combined for 99 points in a wild , 51 - 48 overtime loss at the Kingdome . A meager crowd of 11 , 377 attended the club ’ s season - ending 48 - 17 win against Denver on December 18 , the smallest attendance figure ever for a Chiefs game at Arrowhead as the club finished the year at 6 - 10 . 1984 . Pro Bowl safety Gary Barbaro became the most notable Chiefs player to defect to the rival United States Football League , signing with the New Jersey Generals on February 2 after sitting out the entire 1983 campaign in a contract dispute . Barbaro ' s departure and the trade of cornerback Gary Green began a youth movement that produced the most vaunted secondary in team history . Cornerbacks Kevin Ross and Albert Lewis , and safeties Deron Cherry and Lloyd Burruss accounted for a combined 13 Pro Bowl appearances for the Chiefs in the years to come . All - America defensive tackle Bill Maas and offensive tackle John Alt were both selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL Draft . Maas was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year , while Alt eventually became the cornerstone of the club ’ s offensive line later in the decade . Kansas City ’ s defense registered a team - record 11 . 0 sacks in a 10 - 6 win against Cleveland on September 30 , coming one sack shy of the NFL single - game record . Quarterback Bill Kenney suffered a broken thumb during the preseason and was sidelined until the season ’ s seventh week . Second year back - up QB Todd Blackledge opened the first six contests of the season and had the club at 3 - 3 . Kenney returned to the starting lineup against the New York Jets on October 21 , but inconsistency marked the rest of the season as the club dropped four of first five contests after his return . However , the team rattled off three consecutive wins to conclude the year at 8 - 8 . 1985 . The Chiefs got off to a flying start in 1985 with a 47 - 27 win at New Orleans , while safety Deron Cherry tied an NFL record by registering four interceptions in a 28 - 7 win against Seattle on September 29 as the club boasted a 3 - 1 record four games into the season . The club was then confronted with a seven - game losing streak that wasn ’ t snapped until QB Todd Blackledge was installed as the starter against Indianapolis on November 24 . The team rebounded to win three of its final five contests of the year with Blackledge under center , further inflaming a quarterback controversy that continued into the 1986 season . One of the few remaining bright spots in a disappointing 6 - 10 season came in the regular season finale against San Diego when wide receiver Stephone Paige set an NFL record with 309 receiving yards in a 38 - 34 win , breaking the previous mark of 303 yards set by Cleveland ' s Jim Benton in 1945 . Paige ’ s mark was subsequently surpassed by a 336 - yard effort by Flipper Anderson ( L . A . Rams ) in 1989 . 1986 . Former linebacker Willie Lanier was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 2 . On the field , the pieces started coming together for head coach John Mackovic . His offense displayed plenty of scoring punch , while the club ’ s defense and special teams became increasingly effective . With the team sitting at 3 - 3 , Bill Kenney replaced Todd Blackledge for the second half of the season in a game against San Diego , guiding the club to a 42 - 41 victory . That win was the first of four consecutive triumphs with Kenney at the helm , the club ’ s longest winning streak since 1980 . Poised with a 7 - 3 record after 10 games , three straight losses in November put the Chiefs playoff chances in jeopardy . Two December wins gave Kansas City a 9 - 6 mark , putting the Chiefs on the verge of their first postseason berth in 15 years . The defining moment of the season came in the regular season finale at Pittsburgh on December 21 . Despite being outgained in total yardage by a 515 - to - 171 - yard margin , the Chiefs were able to notch a 24 - 19 victory as all of the team ’ s points came via special teams on a blocked punt return , a field goal , a kickoff return and a blocked field goal return . With a 10 - 6 record the Chiefs earned an AFC Wild Card berth , winning a tiebreaker with Seattle . Bill Kenney was injured in the fourth quarter of the Steelers contest , meaning Todd Blackledge would draw the starting assignment for the club ’ s first playoff contest since 1971 , a 35 - 15 loss at New York . 1987 . One of the most tumultuous weeks in franchise history took place following the club ’ s playoff loss against the Jets . Assistant head coach and special teams coach Frank Gansz , resigned his position on January 7 in order to pursue opportunities as an NFL offensive coordinator . The following day , the Chiefs announced in an impromptu press conference that John Mackovic was relieved of his duties as head coach on January 8 . A popular figure among Chiefs players , Gansz was reinstated on January 10 and was named the sixth head coach in franchise history . Former quarterback Len Dawson became the third Chiefs player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8 , while injuries forced the retirement of the club ’ s all - time leading tackler Gary Spani . A duo of rookies made a splash in a 20 - 13 win on Opening Day against San Diego as running back Paul Palmer returned a kickoff for a TD and Christian Okoye dashed for 105 yards . A 24 - day players strike began on September 22 , effectively canceling the club ’ s contest against Minnesota . Replacement players participated in games for the next three weeks . Much like Marv Levy five years earlier , Gansz ’ s grip on the club ’ s coaching reins was crippled by the labor unrest . Kansas City ’ s replacement squad consisted primarily of players cut in training camp . One of the few bright spots among this motley crew was running back Jitter Fields , who remained on the active roster following the strike . The Chiefs strike squad received an ominous welcome in Los Angeles when in the early morning hours of October 4 , the day prior to a contest against the Raiders , an earthquake rattled Southern California . The shaken Chiefs lost a 35 - 17 decision later that day . The low point of the year came the following week at Miami in the first regular season game played at what then was known as Joe Robbie Stadium . Chiefs replacement QB Matt Stevens was injured early in the contest , forcing into duty QB Alex Espinoza , a player who had never taken an NFL snap . The result was a 42 - 0 Dolphins victory , setting the stage for an 0 - 3 performance by Kansas City ’ s replacement unit , giving the Chiefs a 1 - 4 record before the club ’ s regular roster returned at San Diego on October 25 . Five straight losses followed , giving the Chiefs a team - record nine - game losing skid . For the only time in team history , five different players started games at quarterback for the club . Behind Kenney , Kansas City won two of its last three games to conclude the strike - shortened 4 - 11 campaign . 1988 . The spring was marked by several notable trades as the club jockeyed to improve on its 4 - 11 finish in 1987 . Todd Blackledge was traded to Pittsburgh on March 29 and 12 - year veteran quarterback Steve DeBerg was acquired from Tampa Bay on March 31 . The Chiefs moved up one spot in the first round of the draft to select defensive end Neil Smith with the third overall pick . Bill Kenney opened the team ’ s initial two games at quarterback , but was replaced by DeBerg for the second half against Seattle . DeBerg guided the team to a 20 - 13 win against Denver in his initial start as a member of the Chiefs . However , six losses and a tie followed as Kenney and DeBerg jostled for the QB job . As the season drew to a close , it became apparent the winds of change were blowing across the organization . President Jack Steadman resigned on December 8 , while general manager Jim Schaaf was relieved of his duties the same day . Steadman was later named Chairman of the Board . On the field , the Chiefs finished the year at 4 - 11 - 1 as questions swirled regarding Gansz ’ s future and who would fill the club ’ s leadership void . One day after the season ’ s conclusion , former Philadelphia Eagles and USFL executive Carl Peterson was named the club ’ s President / General Manager and Chief Operating Officer on December 19 . A change of face . " Martyball , " 1989 - 2000 . After compiling an 8 - 22 - 1 record in two seasons , Frank Gansz was relieved of his duties as head coach on January 5 , 1989 . General manager Carl Peterson ’ s selection as Gansz ’ s successor would be former Cleveland Browns head coach Marty Schottenheimer , who was named the seventh head coach in Chiefs history on January 24 . The first draft choice of the Peterson era set the tone for the next decade as the club selected linebacker Derrick Thomas with the fourth overall selection . Thomas paired with defensive end Neil Smith to form one of the most feared pass - rushing duos in NFL history , compiling a combined 212 . 5 sacks during their illustrious Chiefs careers . The Peterson - Schottenheimer era got off to an inauspicious start in a 34 - 20 loss at Denver on September 10 as quarterback Steve DeBerg ’ s first pass attempt was intercepted and returned for a TD . The club won just four times in its next 10 games as former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski and Steve Pelluer , who was acquired in a trade from Dallas , each opened three games apiece during that span . DeBerg regained the starting job for the final five weeks of the season , generating four wins that put the Chiefs just out of post - season qualification at 8 - 7 - 1 . A 34 - 0 shutout win against Houston highlighted the club ’ s stretch run . Running back Christian Okoye became the first Chief to lead the NFL in rushing with 1 , 480 yards , while Derrick Thomas won consensus NFL Rookie of the Year honors . 1990 . The foundation for the club ’ s formidable offensive line of the 1990s gathered two key ingredients when center Tim Grunhard and guard Dave Szott were acquired in the 1990 NFL Draft . Construction began on the club ’ s indoor practice facility at the Truman Sports Complex , giving the Chiefs an 80 - yard indoor field and weight room facilities upon its completion . Former defensive tackle Buck Buchanan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 4 . In the pre - season , The Chiefs made their initial overseas appearance , losing a 19 - 3 American Bowl decision against the Los Angeles Rams at Olympic Stadium in Berlin , Germany . Schottenheimer ’ s club got out of the starting gate quickly , winning three of their first four games . The club then struggled , splitting its next six contests . Free agent running back Barry Word produced a team - record 200 - yard rushing outburst in a 43 - 24 victory against Detroit on October 14 . Kansas City led the NFL with a franchise - record 60 . 0 sacks , including a team - record 20 . 0 by Derrick Thomas . Thomas established an NFL single - game record with 7 . 0 sacks in an inspiring Veterans Day performance against Seattle , a game the Seahawks miraculously won , 17 - 16 , on a last - second , 25 - yard TD pass to wide receiver Paul Skansi . That loss brought on the furious stretch run which saw the club record victories in six of its last seven outings . Behind DeBerg ’ s offensive leadership ( 23 TD passes with just four interceptions ) Kansas City finished the year with a franchise - best + 26 turnover differential . The Chiefs clinched their first post - season berth since 1986 with a 24 - 21 win at San Diego and finished the year at 11 - 5 , marking the franchise ’ s best finish since 1969 . The Chiefs suffered a heart - breaking , 17 - 16 loss at Miami on January 5 , 1991 in an AFC Wild Card Game as placekicker Nick Lowery ’ s potential game - winning 52 - yard field goal fell short with 0 : 56 remaining . 1991 . On July 27 , former placekicker Jan Stenerud became the first of his position to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . The Chiefs moved their training camp to the University of Wisconsin – River Falls after spending the previous 28 summers at William Jewell College in Liberty , Missouri . On September 1 , the Chiefs defeated the Atlanta Falcons 14 - 3 in front of a sold - out crowd at Arrowhead Stadium . The Chiefs were featured on " Monday Night Football " three times , including a 33 - 6 victory over the defending AFC Champion Buffalo Bills before a raucous crowd at Arrowhead on October 7 , marking the club ’ s first home " Monday Night Football " contest in eight years . The club finished the regular season at 10 - 6 , marking the first time since 1968 - 69 that the franchise had qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons . A 27 - 21 victory against the Los Angeles Raiders in the regular season finale gave the Chiefs the right to host the Raiders just six days later in the inaugural post - season game in Arrowhead ’ s history , and the Chiefs ' first home playoff game in 20 years . Thanks to six Los Angeles turnovers , the Chiefs registered their first post - season victory since Super Bowl IV with a 10 - 6 win in an AFC Wild Card Game on December 28 . The following week , the Chiefs lost a 37 - 14 decision at Buffalo on January 5 , 1992 in an AFC Divisional Playoff match - up as the Buffalo Bills ' dynamic offense proved to be too much for the Chiefs . 1992 . A longtime nemesis with Seattle , “ Plan B ” free agent quarterback Dave Krieg was signed as the club ’ s starter on March 19 . A melancholy off - season awaited the Chiefs , who mourned the passing of Player Personnel Director Whitey Dovell on May 22 and Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan on July 16 . Both Dovell and Buchanan lost courageous battles with cancer . Six - time Pro Bowl safety Deron Cherry announced his retirement in July after registering 50 interceptions in 11 seasons with the franchise . The Chiefs retired the jerseys of former players Buck Buchanan ( # 86 ) , Willie Lanier ( # 63 ) and Jan Stenerud ( # 3 ) in a ceremony prior to a pre - season contest against Buffalo . First - round draft pick , cornerback Dale Carter won the Bert Bell Trophy as the NFL ’ s Rookie of the Year . The very first time Carter touched the ball in an NFL contest , he registered a 46 - yard punt return touchdown in a 24 - 10 win at San Diego on September 6 . Running back Christian Okoye surpassed Ed Podolak as the all - time leading rusher in team history against Seattle on September 13 . Injuries eventually made the 1992 campaign Okoye ’ s last with the Chiefs after he compiled 4 , 897 rushing yards with the franchise . The club got off to a 3 - 1 start , but was faced with a 4 - 4 record at the season ’ s midpoint . Despite four consecutive victories , the club ’ s post - season hopes still came down to the season ’ s final contest . Owning a 9 - 6 record and needing one more victory to secure a playoff berth , the Chiefs defense tallied three touchdowns , while Dave Krieg tossed a pair of scoring passes as Kansas City claimed a 42 - 20 win against Denver to finish the season at 10 - 6 . Despite the big win against Denver , the Chiefs made a quick exit from the playoffs as Krieg was sacked 7 times in a 17 - 0 AFC Wild Card loss at San Diego on January 2 , 1993 . 1993 . The Chiefs spent the off - season installing the " West Coast offense " under the direction of new offensive coordinator Paul Hackett , who at one time served as quarterbacks coach to Joe Montana in San Francisco . On April 20 , the Chiefs traded for Joe Montana , who directed the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories in the previous decade . Guard Will Shields was selected with the club ’ s third - round draft choice , rounding out the “ law firm ” of Grunhard , Szott and Shields which anchored the interior of Chiefs offensive line for most of the decade . On June 9 , the club signed unrestricted free agent running back Marcus Allen , who had spent 11 seasons tormenting the Chiefs as a member of the rival Los Angeles Raiders . Montana and Allen made their debuts in a 27 - 3 win at Tampa Bay on September 5 , marking Montana ’ s first Opening Day appearance since 1990 . Shields initiated a franchise - record streak of 175 consecutive starts the following week at Houston . Thanks to a pair of " Monday Night Football " wins at Arrowhead , the club owned a 6 - 2 mid - season record . Before taking the field in a Sunday night contest at Minnesota on December 26 , the team learned it had clinched its first AFC West title since 1971 thanks to a Raiders loss earlier in the day . The team finished the season with an 11 - 5 regular season record , marking the club ’ s fourth consecutive year with a double - digit victory tally . Linebacker Derrick Thomas was named the NFL ’ s Man of the Year following the season . Thomas , who founded “ The Third and Long Foundation , ” received the honor in large part due to his efforts in promoting children ’ s literacy . Kansas City got its first true taste of " Montana Magic " as the Hall of Fame passer engineered a brilliant comeback in a 27 - 24 OT win in an AFC Wild Card thriller against Pittsburgh on January 8 , 1994 . Next , the Chiefs traveled to the Astrodome to face the red - hot Oilers , whom had won 11 straight games to conclude the regular season . The heavily - favored Oilers opened up a 13 - 7 lead in the fourth quarter , but once again , Montana conjured a comeback , guiding the club to a 28 - 20 victory . The Chiefs playoff journey ended as the club made its initial AFC Championship Game appearance at Buffalo on January 23 . Montana was knocked out of the contest early in the second half as Buffalo claimed its record fourth straight AFC title by a score of 30 - 13 . 1994 . While the previous off - season saw the Chiefs stockpile several key free agents , a number of familiar faces departed following the 1993 season , most notably cornerbacks Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross , as well as placekicker Nick Lowery . Quarterback Steve Bono was acquired in a trade with San Francisco on May 2 to serve as Joe Montana ’ s backup , a job he previously held when both were with the 49ers . A grass playing field was installed at Arrowhead Stadium , replacing the previous AstroTurf surface . The club made its second American Bowl appearance in the pre - season , meeting Minnesota in Tokyo , Japan . On September 11 , Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers came to Arrowhead to play against Joe Montana and the Chiefs in a highly anticipated matchup . The Chiefs prevailed over the 49ers and Montana ’ s successor by a 24 - 17 count before a crowd of 79 , 907 , the second - largest “ in - house ” attendance in Arrowhead history . After starting the season 3 - 0 , the Chiefs dropped back - to - back games before snapping an 11 - game losing streak against Denver at Mile High Stadium on October 17 in a memorable Monday night contest . Montana orchestrated a masterful comeback , connecting with WR Willie Davis for a five - yard TD with 0 : 08 remaining to give the Chiefs a 31 - 28 triumph . A late - season , three - game losing skid put the club ’ s playoff hopes in jeopardy . The Chiefs found themselves at 8 - 7 faced with a do - or - die regular season finale against the Raiders in the final NFL contest ( to date ) played at the Los Angeles Coliseum . Marcus Allen had his finest game as a Chief , ironically against his former team , rushing 33 times for 132 yards en route to a 19 - 9 win . At 9 - 7 , Kansas City qualified for the playoffs for a fifth straight season . However , the Chiefs made a rapid departure from the playoffs in Montana ’ s final professional contest at Miami on New Year ' s Eve . Montana and Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino conducted a masterful first - half duel that ended deadlocked at 17 - 17 , but Miami eventually prevailed by a 27 - 17 count . 1995 . Joe Montana announced his retirement from football after 16 years in the NFL on April 18 and Steve Bono was promoted to the starting job . Immediately , so - called media experts predicted much gloom and doom for the 1995 Chiefs under Bono , leading Schottenheimer to quip during training camp that his club had been picked " sixth in a five - team division . " Led by Bono , who merited a Pro Bowl berth , Kansas City posted an NFL - best 13 - 3 record with unblemished 8 - 0 marks in the AFC West and at Arrowhead . The Chiefs led the NFL in rushing offense ( 138 . 9 ypg ) , scoring defense ( 15 . 1 ppg ) and turnover ratio ( + 12 ) . A 24 - 3 win at Arizona on October 1 featured a surreal , 76 - yard TD run on a bootleg by Bono as the Chiefs initiated a seven - game winning streak , the franchise ’ s longest since 1969 . In a " Monday Night Football " classic against San Diego on October 9 , wide receiver Tamarick Vanover returned a punt for an 86 - yard TD to provide the winning points in a 29 - 23 victory , the team ’ s third straight home win in overtime . The club ’ s defense began to flex its muscle , beginning with a 21 - 7 win at Denver on October 22 . The contest , played in a Rocky Mountain snowstorm , featured the 100th rushing TD of Marcus Allen ’ s career . The Chiefs won a home game for the third time on a last - second return score that concluded in Arrowhead ’ s west end zone when cornerback Mark Collins scooped up a fumble for a 20 - 13 win against Houston . Kansas City clinched a division title with a 29 - 23 victory at Oakland on December 3 en route to a franchise - best 13 - 3 regular season record and a team - record sixth consecutive postseason berth . The Chiefs were represented by seven players in the Pro Bowl , more than any other AFC team . In the playoffs , the Chiefs dropped an AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the underdog Indianapolis Colts on January 7 — a blustery afternoon with the temperature at 11 degrees and a wind chill of - 9 . Three interceptions and three missed field goals from placekicker Lin Elliot contributed to the 10 - 7 loss at Arrowhead . 1996 . Kansas City entered the 1996 campaign with essentially the same lineup as the club boasted in 1995 and were featured on the cover of " Sports Illustrated " along with Green Bay as pre - season Super Bowl favorites . Kansas City made its third American Bowl appearance , this time against Dallas in Monterrey , Mexico . The club started the season with a 4 - 0 record for the first time in team history , but the season ’ s lofty expectations came crashing down as the squad lost three of its next four games . A three - game winning streak , including a victory over the eventual Super Bowl champion Packers , put the club back in post - season contention at 8 - 3 . That rosy picture quickly crumbled in a 28 - 14 loss against San Diego on November 24 as Steve Bono was relieved in the second half by back - up quarterback Rich Gannon . Gannon assumed the starting reins for a 28 - 24 win in a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit as Marcus Allen registered his 111th career rushing TD to surpass Walter Payton as the NFL ’ s all - time leader in that department , a mark that was later broken by Emmitt Smith . Needing just one more win to qualify for the playoffs , the Chiefs dropped their next two games as an injury - hampered Gannon was sidelined for good in the second quarter of a 24 - 19 loss against Indianapolis . Faced with a must - win situation in a frigid regular season finale at Buffalo , the club ’ s post - season hopes hinged on Bono . Despite a 20 - 9 loss to the Bills , the Chiefs still had a shot to slip into the playoffs if Atlanta could secure a win at Jacksonville . However , Atlanta placekicker Morten Andersen ’ s 30 - yard field goal attempt went wide left with 0 : 04 remaining , preserving a 19 - 17 win and the AFC ’ s final Wild Card spot for the Jaguars , who won a tiebreaker with Kansas City . The Chiefs finished with a 9 - 7 record , missing the postseason for the first time since 1989 . 1997 . Kansas City dramatically retooled its roster in 1997 , beginning with the signing of free agent quarterback Elvis Grbac on March 17 . In addition to Grbac , the Chiefs lineup featured 11 new starters , including wide recevier Andre Rison , who won team MVP honors after becoming the club ’ s first Pro Bowl receiver in a decade . On defense , the club ’ s top four picks from the 1996 Draft , safeties Jerome Woods and Reggie Tongue , defensive end John Browning and linebacker Donnie Edwards , all emerged as starters . Tackle John Alt announced his retirement at training camp in River Falls , WI on July 21 . All the new faces quickly formed a cohesive unit as the Chiefs posted a 13 - 3 record , an 8 - 0 Arrowhead record and their second AFC West title in three years . The club engineered several dramatic finishes , the first of which came in a " Monday Night Football " thriller at Oakland on September 8 when Elvis Grbac connected with Andre Rison on an improbable 32 - yard TD pass with just 0 : 03 remaining to cap a 28 - 27 win . Six days later , Kansas City ’ s defense produced a remarkable goal - line stand to preserve a 22 - 16 victory at Arrowhead vs . Buffalo . After posting a 6 - 2 record during the season ’ s first half , Kansas City ’ s good fortune appeared to run out against Pittsburgh when Grbac suffered a broken clavicle . However , Rich Gannon led the team to a 5 - 1 mark in their next six outings . Placekicker Pete Stoyanovich provided one of the year ’ s most memorable moments , connecting on a line - drive 54 - yard field as time expired to give Kansas City a 24 - 22 win against Denver on November 16 . San Francisco entered Arrowhead boasting an 11 - game winning streak , the team departed after suffering a 44 - 9 defeat . The Chiefs ' vaunted defensive unit pitched a 30 - 0 shutout vs . Oakland on December 7 . The Chiefs led the NFL in scoring defense , allowing a mere 14 . 5 points per game . The 232 total points permitted by the Chiefs in 1997 were the lowest tally ever allowed in a 16 - game season in team history . Kansas City also broke a 63 - year - old mark owned by the 1934 Detroit Lions by not permitting a second - half TD in 10 consecutive games . Grbac returned for the regular season finale against New Orleans on December 21 as the squad finished the year with six consecutive victories , a first in team history . 1998 . 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 . 1999 . 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 . An explosive offense , 2001 - 05 . 2001 . 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 forced after quarterback Elvis Grbac voided his contract , forgoing an 11 million dollar bonus , leaving to lead the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens . Vermeil replaced him with his primary pick for the Rams ' quarterback , Trent Green . Another notable replacement was Priest Holmes at running back , who 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 , Casey Wiegemann at center , Brian Waters at guard , 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 . 2003 . 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 in which neither team punted , an NFL playoffs first . The Chiefs ' defense came under fire immediately after the loss , and Greg Robinson , the team ' s defensive coordinator , resigned after the season . 2004 . As with the loss to the Broncos in 1997 , 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 . 2005 . For their 2005 campaign , the Chiefs brought in several new players to boost a defense that had finished among the worst units the past three years . The year also saw Larry Johnson start at running back in place of an injured Priest Holmes . But despite winning ten games , the Chiefs became just the fourth team in NFL history to go 10 - 6 and not reach the playoffs . Rebuilding a contender , 2006 - present . 2006 . A tearful head coach Dick Vermeil announced his retirement before the final game of the 2005 season . Within two weeks , then - New York Jets head coach Herm Edwards had signed a new 4 - year contract to coach the Chiefs . The 2006 Chiefs returned to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons , only to lose 23 - 8 in the Wild Card round againsttheir playoff nemesis , the Indianapolis Colts . Meanwhile , Chiefs owner and founder Lamar Hunt died on December 13 , 2006 due to complications brought on by a ten - year battle with prostate cancer . Hunt was remembered throughout the remainder of the 2006 season all throughout the NFL with moments of silence and ceremonies in Kansas City . 2007 . The Chiefs ' 2007 off - season began with turmoil over the contract of Tony Gonzalez , and the long - term career of Trent Green in Kansas City . Backup quarterback Damon Huard was signed to a three - year contract in February and Green was not only asked to restructure his contract but offered in trades to other teams . On June 5 , the Chiefs agreed to trade Green to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional fifth round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft , pending a physical from Green . The pick can be upgraded to a fourth - rounder if Green reaches certain predetermined playing time and performance levels . The Chiefs ' 2007 training camp was documented in the HBO / NFL Films documentary reality television series , " " The series premiered on August 8 , 2007 . After a strong 4 - 3 start , the Chiefs ' offensive woes slowed the team down . Five different running backs were used after Larry Johnson was injured in week 9 against Green Bay . The team also had no stability at quarterback with Croyle and Huard , while their offensive line depleted in the absence of their former Pro Bowl guard Will Shields . The season ended with a nine game losing streak , the team ' s first since 1987 and a 4 - 12 record . It was the Chiefs ' first season with twelve losses since 1978 . Head coach Herman Edwards continued to build upon the Chiefs ' roster with young players , mostly on defense , and attempted stabilize a once record - setting offensive line . The Chiefs continue to rebuild a defense that may quietly creep its way back to respectability . To honor their late owner Lamar Hunt , the Chiefs wore a special American Football League patch on their uniforms with the initials " LH " emblazoned inside the logo ' s football . 2008 - present . On the season opener at New England , Tom Brady was hit in the leg by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard , tearing his ACL and removing him from action for the rest of the year . Other than that , there was little else of note about the season , which saw Kansas City fall to a franchise - worst 2 - 14 record . During the next offseason , the team made news by acquiring quarterback Matt Cassel ( who had filled in for Tom Brady during the previous year ) and veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel from New England for a second - round draft pick , which was used to obtain LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson . The Chiefs were also awarded the 256th and last player in the draft for the first time since 1970 , South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop . Also , Scott Pioli was hired as general manager , yet another acquisition from New England . There was little apparent sign of improvement as the Chiefs began 2009 by losing five games in a row before a victory over the Redskins in Week 6 . The team did manage to inflict an overtime defeat on the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh in Week 11 however , and closed out the year with a 4 - 12 record by overpowering Denver and preventing that team from going to the playoffs . The Chiefs got off to a 3 - 0 start in 2010 by beating San Diego 21 - 14 on Monday Night Football . This was their first MNF win in a decade , in addition to their first home win over the Chargers since 2006 . They followed up the next week with a 16 - 14 win in Cleveland , followed by a 31 - 10 thrashing of the 49ers at home . The Chiefs entered their bye week as the only remaining undefeated team , but as most experts predicted , fell to Indianapolis 19 - 9 in Week 5 . They lost a close match with the Texans ( 35 - 31 ) in Week 6 , beat Jacksonville in Week 7 , and then won a razor - thin game with the winless Bills . After going into overtime with a 10 - 10 score , neither team was able to score anything until Ryan Succop kicked a 35 - yard FG just as the clock reached 0 : 00 and avoiding a tie . Then came losses to Oakland and Denver , three straight wins over the latter , Seattle , and Arizona , a loss in San Diego , and wins over St . Louis and Tennessee . Losing the final game at home versus Oakland , the Chiefs finished 10 - 6 and won their first division title since 2003 . However , the team ' s lack of postseason experience showed up as they were buried 30 - 7 by the Ravens in the wild card round of the playoffs . Chiefs quarterbacks . Throughout the Chiefs ' near five - decade existence , there have been twelve starting quarterbacks to lead the team . Among the most prolific include Hall of Famers Len Dawson and Joe Montana , as well as quarterbacks like Trent Green . In the past few decades , the Chiefs have relied on veteran quarterbacks to lead their team . The last quarterback to be drafted by Kansas City that later went on to claim the starting position was Bill Kenney in 1980 . Since Kenney ' s retirement in 1988 . the Chiefs never drafted their own quarterback to develop until Brodie Croyle , whom started some games in 2007 and 2008 , was drafted in 2006 . When head coach Herman Edwards arrived in 2006 , he stated that he was looking towards implementing younger players into his gameplan , and he was arguably looking to start at the quarterback position . The Chiefs acquired Matt Cassel in a trade with the New England Patriots in the 2009 offseason after a breakout performance with the Patriots in 2008 in place of the injured Tom Brady . Cassel is widely expected to be the team ' s franchise quarterback and is an intricate part of the teams current rebuilding process . The Chiefs have also had a repeated history of backup quarterbacks that steal the spotlight . Mike Livingston led the Chiefs to the playoffs in their 1969 season after starting quarterback Len Dawson was injured for the majority of the year . Most recently , Rich Gannon took over for the injured Elvis Grbac in the 1997 season , but was revoked of the job in favor of Grbac ' s return for the playoffs . The Chiefs lost in the playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos . A similar incident occurred in the 2006 season and playoffs when Trent Green and the Chiefs ' offense failed to get a first down in the first forty - two minutes of the game . Backup quarterback Damon Huard , whom led the Chiefs on a 5 - 2 record in Green ' s absence , never played a down in the playoff loss to — coincidentally — the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts . Head coaches . < nowiki > † < / nowiki > = Interim head coach < nowiki > ‡ < / nowiki > = As of the end of the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs season