My All Time Favorite Kansas City Chiefs Players

Founded by football pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Kansas City Chiefs were originally the Dallas Texans. The franchise started in 1960, but moved to KC in 1963. The Chiefs had some of the best players in the AFL during those early days. Many of the greatest players in Chiefs history were on these teams. Superstars like Len Dawson, Buck Buchanan, Abner Haynes and Otis Taylor were on the Chiefs during the formative days of the franchise. With the foundation of the team in place, the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV with a convincing 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. That Chiefs team is considered one of the best teams in franchise history.

After those initial glory years, the Chiefs wallowed in the NFL wilderness for years. The late ’80s saw the Chiefs draft two of the greatest players in team history, including one of the best linebackers ever. Beginning with Neil Smith in 1988, the Chiefs hit the jackpot when they drafted superstar linebacker Derrick Thomas in 1989. Thomas was one of the most feared defensive players in the league and along with Buchanan, is considered one of the best Chiefs of all time.

The Kansas City Chiefs have some of the best fans in the NFL and their past is filled with Hall of Fame players.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Len Dawson

 

Joe Montana

 

RUNNING BACKS

Abner Haynes

 

Priest Holmes

 

Marcus Allen

 

Christian Okoye

 

FB – Mack Lee Hill (1964-1965)

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Otis Taylor

 

Stephone Paige

 

Chris Buford

 

Dwayne Bowe

 

TIGHT ENDS

Tony Gonzalez

 

Fred Arbanas

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

OT – Jon Alt (1984-1996)

Ed Budde

 

Jack Rudnay

 

Will Shields

 

Jim Tyrer

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Neil Smith

 

Junious “Buck” Buchanan

 

Jerry Mays

 

Art Still

 

LINEBACKERS

Willie Lanier

 

Derrick Thomas

 

Bobby Bell

 

E.J. Holub

 

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Albert Lewis

 

Emmitt Thomas

 

Kevin Ross

 

Dale Carter

 

Johnny Robinson

 

Deron Cherry

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Nick Lowery

 

P – Jarrel Wilson

 

PR – Abner Haynes

 

KR – Dante Hall

 

NICKNAME

• When the team was moved to Kansas City in 1963, the name was selected by a fan contest.

TEAM NAMES

• Dallas Texans (1960-1962)
• Kansas City Chiefs (1963-Present)

HEAD COACHES

• Hank Stram (1963-1974)
• Paul Wiggin (1975-1977)
• Tom Bettis (1977)
• Marv Levy (1978-1982)
• John Mackovic (1983-1986)
• Frank Gansz (1987-1988)
• Marty Schottenheimer (1989-1998)
• Gunther Cunningham (1999-2000)
• Dick Vermeil (2001-2005)
• Herm Edwards (2006-2008)
• Todd Haley (2009-2011)
• Romeo Crennel (2011-2012)
• Andy Reid (2013-Present)

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

• Super Bowl IV (1969) – Kansas City Chiefs defeat Minnesota Vikings 23-7

AFL CHAMPIONS (PRE-1966)

• None

SUPER BOWL APPEARANCES

• Super Bowl I (1966) – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers
• Super Bowl IV (1969) – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings

AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES (PRE-1966)

• None

AFL/AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

• 1966, 1969, 1993

DIVISION CHAMPIONS

• 1966, 1971, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2010

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES

• 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2010

PLAYOFF RECORD

• 9-16 .360

HALL OF FAME PLAYERS

• Marcus Allen RB (1993-1997)
• Bobby Bell LB (1963-1974)
• Buck Buchanan DT (1963-1975)
• Len Dawson QB (1962-1975)
• Lamar Hunt Owner (1960-2006)
• Willie Lanier LB (1967-1977)
• Marv Levy Coach (1978-1982)
• Joe Montana QB (1993-1994)
• Warren Moon QB (1999-2000)
• Willie Roaf T (2002-2005)
• Jan Stenerud PK (1967-1979)
• Hank Stram Coach (1963-1974)
• Derrick Thomas LB (1989-1999)
• Emmit Thomas CB (1966-1978)
• Mike Webster C (1989-1990)

RETIRED NUMBERS

• 3 Jan Stenerude PK (1967-1979)
• 16 Len Dawson QB (1962-1975)
• 18 Emmitt Thomas CB (1966-1978)
• 28 Abner Haynes RB (1960-1965)
• 33 Stone Johnson RB (1963)
• 36 Mack Lee Hill RB (1964-1965)
• 58 Derrick Thomas LB (1989-1999)
• 63 Willie Lanier LB (1967-1977)
• 78 Bobby Bell LB (1963-1974)
• 86 Buck Buchanan DT (1963-1975)

PRO BOWL MVP

• 1969 Len Dawson QB
• 1972 Jan Stenerud PK
• 1972 Willie Lanier LB

AWARDS

COACH OF THE YEAR

• 1968 Hank Stram

AFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• None

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• 1984 Bill Maas NT
• 1989 Derrick Thomas LB
• 1992 Dale Carter CB

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

• None

AFL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• None

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• None

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

• 2002 Priest Holmes RB

NFL MVP

• None

SUPER BOWL MVP

• Super Bowl IV – Len Dawson QB (1969)

 

©MMXIX My All Time Favorites, all pictures and logos, team names are property of the National Football League. This site is not affiliated with the NFL or Kansas City Chiefs.  All Football Cards are low resolution scans from a personal collection and each is credited with the production company name and year.  This site is maintained for research purposes only.