1969_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season

1969 Kansas City Chiefs season
1969 Kansas City Chiefs season
Owner	Lamar Hunt
General manager	Jack Steadman
Head coach	Hank Stram
Home field	Municipal Stadium
Results
Record	11–3
Division place	2nd AFL Western
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs; (at Jets) 13–6; Won AFL Championship; (at Raiders) 17–7; Won Super Bowl IV; (vs. Vikings) 23–7
Pro Bowlers	11 LB Bobby Bell; DT Buck Buchanan; G Ed Budde; DT Curley Culp; QB Len Dawson; RB Robert Holmes; LB Willie Lanier; QB Mike Livingston; CB Jim Marsalis; K Jan Stenerud; OT Jim Tyrer;
AP All-Pros	14 LB Bobby Bell; DE Aaron Brown; DT Buck Buchanan; G Ed Budde; OT Dave Hill; C E.J. Holub; LB Willie Lanier; LB Jim Lynch; DE Jerry Mays; G Mo Moorman; S Johnny Robinson; K Jan Stenerud; OT Jim Tyrer; P Jerrel Wilson;
	← 1968; Chiefs seasons; 1970 →;

1969 Kansas City Chiefs season

10th season in franchise history; first Super Bowl win

The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs season was the team's tenth, their seventh in Kansas City, and the final season of the American Football League (AFL). It resulted in an 11–3 regular season record and three postseason road victories, including a 23–7 victory in Super Bowl IV over the NFL's heavily favored Minnesota Vikings.

Quick Facts Kansas City Chiefs season, Owner ...

The Chiefs topped the Raiders in the 1969 AFL championship game (left) and went on to defeat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV (right).

After two close losses to division rival Oakland in the regular season, the visiting Chiefs upset the Raiders in the final AFL Championship Game, claiming their third AFL title. The Chiefs were led by head coach Hank Stram, quarterback Len Dawson, and a powerful defense led by Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan, Emmitt Thomas, Johnny Robinson, and Curley Culp. The Chiefs' defense became the fourth defense in the history of pro football to lead its league in fewest rushing yards, fewest passing yards and fewest total yards.^[3] The Chiefs were the second AFL team to win the Super Bowl and last AFL team to do so before the AFL-NFL Merger in the following season.

The season was marred not only by an injury to quarterback Len Dawson, but also controversy surrounding Dawson and his purported involvement in a sports gambling ring. Back-up quarterback Mike Livingston and the Chiefs' stellar defense led the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl, this time, to win it all.

Along with owner Lamar Hunt, nine future Hall of Famers were members of the 1969 Chiefs, including QB Len Dawson, LB Willie Lanier, LB Bobby Bell, DT Buck Buchanan, DT Curley Culp, CB Emmitt Thomas, S Johnny Robinson, K Jan Stenerud, and head coach Hank Stram.

In 2006, the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs were ranked as the 18th greatest Super Bowl champions on the NFL Network's documentary America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs, with team commentary from Len Dawson, Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, and narrated by Martin Sheen.^[4]

In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1969 Chiefs as the seventh-greatest defense in NFL history,^[5] noting "Hank Stram's 'Triple Stack' defense, which gave the linebackers lots of room to roam, was superb, holding five opponents to fewer than 10 points and giving up an average of less than two touchdowns a game.... Then they got serious. Against the [defending] Super Bowl champion Jets in the AFL divisional playoff game at Shea Stadium, the Chiefs held on for a 13–6 victory, thanks to a remarkable three-play goal line stand that stifled the Jets on the one. After losing twice to the Raiders during the regular season, the Chiefs allowed a single touchdown, in the first quarter, to win the AFL title over Oakland 17–7. The Chiefs defense then stifled the Vikings in the Super Bowl, allowing only two rushing first downs and picking off three passes in the fourth quarter to win 23–7. Total points against the Chiefs in the playoffs: 20." Kansas City is the only team in the Super Bowl era to win the title without allowing as much as 10 points in any postseason game.

The Chiefs did not return to or win the Super Bowl again until Super Bowl LIV in the 2019 season.

Regular season

The Chiefs began the regular season with four consecutive road games for the only time in team history, due to a scheduling conflict with the Kansas City Royals about usage of Municipal Stadium.^[6] After a decisive 27–9 win at San Diego (9/14), the club posted a 31–0 shutout at Boston (9/21), but QB Len Dawson sustained a knee injury against the Patriots. The once-optimistic picture for the Chiefs went from bad to worse the following week when backup QB Jacky Lee went down with a broken ankle in a 24–19 loss at Cincinnati (9/28). That injury left the team's most crucial position in the hands of second-year QB Mike Livingston, who took just five snaps as a rookie in ‘68.^[6]

However, Livingston engineered a five-game winning streak, while getting plenty of help from the club's defense. The team's home opener at Municipal Stadium was played in a daylong deluge referred to as a "frog-strangler" by Chiefs radio broadcaster Bill Grigsby. The Chiefs and Oilers combined for 14 fumbles in a 24–0 Kansas City victory (10/12).^[6]

Dawson returned to the starting lineup in a 27–3 win vs. San Diego (11/9) and guided the club to three wins in the season's next four games. Denver Broncos coach Lou Saban was infuriated following the Chiefs 31–17 win vs. Denver (11/27). Trailing 24–17 late in the game, Denver attempted an onside kick that was recovered by LB Bobby Bell, who promptly returned that kick for a 53-yard TD. Mike Livingston started the following week vs. Buffalo (12/7) for an again-injured Dawson, who returned for the regular-season finale at Oakland (12/13). A 10–6 loss vs. the Raiders gave the Chiefs an 11–3 record, good for second in the division behind Oakland (12–1–1).^[6]

Game summaries

Postseason

Game summaries

AFL Championship Game: at Oakland Raiders

More information Period, Total ...

More information Game information ...

AFL Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Date: January 4
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
Game attendance: 54,443
Referee: Jack Vest
TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
Recap

The Kansas City Chiefs won the last championship of the AFL, 17–7, by slowing down the Oakland passing attack and capitalizing on big plays. The Raiders looked on their way to their third win of the year against Kansas City when Charlie Smith scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter. But then, Len Dawson who had thrown seven incompletions in a row, hit Frank Pitts for a 41-yard gain to the Raiders' 1. Three plays later, Wendell Hayes blasted in for the tying touchdown. Dawson again pulled out a big play with the game tied, 7–7, in the third quarter. Facing a third-and-14 at the Kansas City 2, Dawson scrambled out of trouble and fired a 35-yard pass to Otis Taylor. That play was the key to a 94-yard drive that culminated in a five-yard scoring run by Robert Holmes. The Chiefs turned the ball over inside their own 30 three times in the fourth quarter, but each time they intercepted Raider quarterback Daryle Lamonica, who was playing despite having severely jammed his throwing hand against the helmet of Aaron Brown early in the final period.

Super Bowl IV: vs. (NFL) Minnesota Vikings

More information Period, Total ...

More information Game information ...

Super Bowl IV: Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary

at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

Date: January 11
Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
Game attendance: 80,562
Referee: John McDonough
TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck, Pat Summerall, Frank Gifford and Jack Whitaker
Recap

The fourth annual AFL-NFL Championship Game, now officially known as the "Super Bowl", was played on January 11, 1970, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs defeated the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings, 23–7.

Even though the Vikings were 13-point favorites coming into the game, the Chiefs defense dominated the game by limiting the Minnesota offense to only 67 rushing yards, forcing 3 interceptions, and recovering 2 fumbles. The victory by the AFL evened the Super Bowl series with the NFL at two games apiece.

Kansas City's Len Dawson became the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, with 1 interception. Dawson also recorded 3 rushing attempts for 11 yards.

The Vikings began the game by taking the opening kickoff and marching from their own 20-yard line to the Kansas City 39-yard line, but were forced to punt. The Chiefs then drove 42 yards in 8 plays to score on kicker Jan Stenerud's Super Bowl record 48-yard field goal. (According to Dawson, the Vikings were shocked that the Chiefs would attempt a 48-yard field goal. "Stenerud was a major factor", he said.)^[7] Minnesota then managed to reach midfield on their next drive, but were forced to punt again.

On the first play of their ensuing drive, Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson threw a 20-yard completion to wide receiver Frank Pitts, followed by a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Otis Taylor. Four plays later, on the first play of the second quarter, a pass interference penalty on Vikings defensive back Ed Sharockman nullified Dawson's third down incompletion and gave Kansas City a first down at the Minnesota 31-yard line. However, on third down and 4 at the 25-yard line, Vikings cornerback Earsell Mackbee broke up a deep pass intended for Taylor. Stenerud then kicked another field goal to increase the Chiefs lead to 6–0.

On the second play of their next drive, Vikings wide receiver John Henderson fumbled the ball after catching a 16-yard reception, and Chiefs defensive back Johnny Robinson recovered the ball at the Minnesota 46-yard line. But the Vikings made key defensive plays. First defensive tackle Alan Page tackled running back Mike Garrett for a 1-yard loss, and then safety Paul Krause intercepted Dawson's pass at the 7-yard line on the next play.

However, the Vikings also could not take advantage of the turnover. Quarterback Joe Kapp's two incompletions and a delay of game penalty forced Minnesota to punt from their own 5-yard line. The Chiefs then took over at the Viking 44-yard line after punter Bob Lee's kick only went 39 yards. A 19-yard run by Pitts on a reverse play then set up another field goal by Stenerud to increase the Chiefs' lead to 9–0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Vikings returner Charlie West fumbled the ball, and Kansas City's Remi Prudhomme recovered it at Minnesota 19-yard line. Defensive tackle Jim Marshall sacked Dawson for an 8-yard loss by on the first play of the drive, but then a 13-yard run by running back Wendell Hayes and a 10-yard reception by Taylor gave the Chiefs a first down at the 4-yard line. Two plays later, running back Mike Garrett's 5-yard touchdown run gave Kansas City a 16–0 lead. The play call was “65 Toss Power Trap”, which became a classic play call in NFL history. It was heard because head coach Hank Stram was wearing a microphone for NFL Films, making him the first person to ever do that.^[4]

West returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards to the 32-yard line. Then on the first play of the drive, Kapp completed a 27-yard pass to Henderson to advance the ball to the Kansas City 41-yard line. However, on the next 3 plays, Kapp threw 2 incompletions and was sacked by defensive tackle Buck Buchanan for an 8-yard loss. Then on fourth down, kicker Fred Cox's 56-yard field goal attempt fell short of the goal posts.

In the third quarter, the Vikings managed to build some momentum. After forcing the Chiefs to punt on the opening possession of the second half, Minnesota drove 69 yards in 10 plays to score on fullback Dave Osborn's 4-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead, 16–7. However, Kansas City responded on their next possession with a 6-play, 82-yard drive to score on Dawson's 46-yard touchdown completion to Taylor three minutes later.

The Chiefs would then go on to shut out the Vikings in the fourth quarter, forcing three interceptions on three Minnesota possessions, to clinch the 23–7 victory. The defeat was total for the Vikings, as even their "Indestructible" quarterback Joe Kapp had to be helped off the field in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Chiefs defensive lineman Aaron Brown.

Garrett was the top rusher of the game, recording 11 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 25 yards and returned a kickoff for 18 yards. Taylor was the Chiefs' leading receiver with 6 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Kapp finished the game with 16 of 25 completions for 183 yards, with 2 interceptions. Henderson was the top receiver of the game with 7 catches for 111 yards.

This was the last game where the winner was awarded the World Championship Game Trophy, as later that fall the trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy due to Lombardi's death and the AFL-NFL Merger.

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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 1969_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] [1]
"1969 AFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

[2] [2]
"1969 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

[3] [3]
The Best Show in Football:The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns, p.294, Andy Piascik, Taylor Trade Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-58979-360-6

[America's_Game-4] [4]
America's Game: The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs Archived January 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine KCChiefs.com December 7, 2006.

[5] [5]
The List: Best NFL defense of all-time, 2007

[Chiefs_History-6] [6]
Chiefs History: 1960's Archived April 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine KCChiefs.com, retrieved January 1, 2007.

[7] [7]
Dawson, "Super Bowl IV"

[8] [8]
1969 Kansas City Chiefs on Pro Football Reference

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1969 Kansas City Chiefs Draft
Round	Selection	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	23	Jim Marsalis	Defensive back	Tennessee State
2	48	Ed Podolak	Running back	Iowa
3	61	Traded to Denver			from Boston
3	76	Morris Stroud	Tight end	Clark
4	101	Jack Rudnay	Center	Northwestern
5	126	Bob Stein	Linebacker	Minnesota
6	155	John Pleasant	Running back	Alabama State
7	179	Tom Nettles	Wide receiver	San Diego State
8	204	Clanton King	Tackle	Purdue
8	206	Maurice LeBlanc	Defensive back	Louisiana State	from Oakland
9	231	Dan Klepper	Guard	Omaha
10	257	John Spoonheimer	Defensive tackle	Cornell
11	282	Skip Wupper	Defensive end	C.W. Post
12	309	John Lavin	Linebacker	Notre Dame
13	335	Rick Piland	Guard	Virginia Tech
14	360	Al Bream	Defensive back	Iowa
15	388	Leland Winston	Offensive tackle	Rice
16	413	Eural Johnson	Defensive back	Prairie View
17	438	Ralph Jenkins	Defensive back	Tuskegee


	Quarterbacks 16 Len Dawson 12 Tom Flores 10 Mike Livingston 7 John Huarte 15 Jacky Lee Running backs 21 Mike Garrett HB 38 Wendell Hayes 45 Robert Holmes FB 23 Paul Lowe 14 Ed Podolak Wide receivers 25 Frank Pitts SE 1 Noland Smith 30 Gloster Richardson FL 89 Otis Taylor FL Tight ends 84 Fred Arbanas 32 Curtis McClinton 81 Mickey McCarty		Offensive linemen 71 Ed Budde G (L) 60 George Daney G 73 Dave Hill T (R) 55 E.J. Holub C 76 Mo Moorman G (R) 65 Remi Prudhomme C 77 Jim Tyrer T (L) Defensive linemen 87 Aaron Brown DE (R) 86 Buck Buchanan DT (R) 61 Curley Culp DT (L) 82 Ed Lothamer DT 75 Jerry Mays DE (L) 74 Gene Trosch DE		Linebackers 78 Bobby Bell OLB (L) 85 Chuck Hurston 63 Willie Lanier MLB 51 Jim Lynch OLB (R) 66 Bob Stein Defensive backs 24 Caesar Belser S 46 Jim Kearney SS (L) 40 Jim Marsalis CB (L) 42 Johnny Robinson FS (R) 20 Goldie Sellers CB 18 Emmitt Thomas CB (R) Special teams 44 Jerrel Wilson P 3 Jan Stenerud K 6 Warren McVea HB/KR 22 Willie Mitchell CB/PR		Reserve lists 58 Jack Rudnay C 88 Morris Stroud TE Practice squad Complete team roster Rookies in italics Starters in bold Positions in parentheses Rookies in italics 53 active, 10 inactive, 7 practice squad

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	Attendance	Recap
1	August 2	vs. Oakland Raiders	W 23–17	1–0	Legion Field (Birmingham)	21,000	Recap
2	August 9	Detroit Lions	W 38–13	2–0	Municipal Stadium	38,000	Recap
3	August 16	vs. Cincinnati Bengals	W 23–7	3–0	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (Jackson)	24,513	Recap
4	August 23	at Los Angeles Rams	W 42–14	4–0	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	58,306	Recap
5	August 29	at St. Louis Cardinals	W 31–21	5–0	Busch Memorial Stadium	48,006	Recap
6	September 6	Atlanta Falcons	W 14–10	6–0	Municipal Stadium	37,273	Recap

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	Attendance	Recap
1	September 14	at San Diego Chargers	W 27–9	1–0	San Diego Stadium	47,988	Recap
2	September 21	at Boston Patriots	W 31–0	2–0	Alumni Stadium	22,002	Recap
3	September 28	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 19–24	2–1	Nippert Stadium	27,812	Recap
4	October 5	at Denver Broncos	W 26–13	3–1	Mile High Stadium	50,564	Recap
5	October 12	Houston Oilers	W 24–0	4–1	Municipal Stadium	45,805	Recap
6	October 19	Miami Dolphins	W 17–10	5–1	Municipal Stadium	49,809	Recap
7	October 26	Cincinnati Bengals	W 42–22	6–1	Municipal Stadium	50,934	Recap
8	November 2	at Buffalo Bills	W 29–7	7–1	War Memorial Stadium	45,844	Recap
9	November 9	San Diego Chargers	W 27–3	8–1	Municipal Stadium	51,104	Recap
10	November 16	at New York Jets	W 34–16	9–1	Shea Stadium	63,849	Recap
11	November 23	Oakland Raiders	L 24–27	9–2	Municipal Stadium	51,982	Recap
12	November 27	Denver Broncos	W 31–17	10–2	Municipal Stadium	48,773	Recap
13	December 7	Buffalo Bills	W 22–19	11–2	Municipal Stadium	47,112	Recap
14	December 13	at Oakland Raiders	L 6–10	11–3	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	54,443	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bills	3	3	10	6	22
Chiefs	7	6	3	6	22

1969_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season

1969 Kansas City Chiefs season

Offseason

1969 AFL Draft

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Diego Chargers

Week 2: at Boston Patriots

Week 3: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers

Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 7: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 8: at Buffalo Bills

Week 9: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 10: at New York Jets

Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 14: at Oakland Raiders

Standings

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

Divisional Playoffs: at New York Jets

AFL Championship Game: at Oakland Raiders

Super Bowl IV: vs. (NFL) Minnesota Vikings

Honors & Awards

AFL All-Star Game

References

External links

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AFL Western Division
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Oakland Raiders	12	1	1	.923	7–1	377	242	W6
Kansas City Chiefs	11	3	0	.786	5–3	359	177	L1
San Diego Chargers	8	6	0	.571	2–6	288	276	W4
Denver Broncos	5	8	1	.385	3–5	297	344	W1
Cincinnati Bengals	4	9	1	.308	3–5	280	367	L5

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game Site	Attendance	Recap
Divisional	December 20	at New York Jets	W 13–6	1–0	Shea Stadium	62,977	Recap
AFL Championship	January 4	at Oakland Raiders	W 17–7	2–0	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	53,564	Recap
Super Bowl IV	January 11	vs. Minnesota Vikings	W 23–7	3–0	Tulane Stadium	80,562	Recap