1972_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season
1972 Kansas City Chiefs season
NFL team season
The 1972 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's third season in the National Football League, tenth as the Kansas City Chiefs, and thirteenth overall. The Chiefs moved into the new Arrowhead Stadium and ended with an 8–6 record, runner-up in the AFC West, but missed the playoffs.[1]
Quick Facts Kansas City Chiefs season, Owner ...
| 1972 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Lamar Hunt |
| General manager | Jack Steadman |
| Head coach | Hank Stram |
| Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–6 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | WR Otis Taylor LB Willie Lanier LB Bobby Bell CB Emmitt Thomas P Jerrel Wilson |
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The last original member of the franchise (1960 Dallas Texans) departed on July 12 when safety Johnny Robinson announced his retirement at training camp.[2] Starting quarterback Len Dawson ended speculation about his retirement and signed 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;[3] Dawson was inducted in 1987 and Robinson in 2019.
After two different construction strikes and a myriad of other delays, Arrowhead Stadium was officially dedicated on August 12,[4] when the Chiefs registered a 24–14 preseason victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. On a very warm Saturday night with an attendance of 78,190, running back Ed Podolak scored the first touchdown in the facility.[5][6] Regular season ticket prices for this first season at Arrowhead were eight dollars for box seats and $7 for reserved seating.[3]
In the opener on September 17, the Chiefs lost 20–10 to Miami (the first win of their perfect season) in the first regular season game at the new Arrowhead Stadium, in front of a crowd of 79,829.[3][7] A standing-room-only crowd of 82,094 was in attendance for a 27–14 victory over division rival Oakland on November 5,[8] the largest “in-house” attendance total for an NFL contest in Arrowhead's history.[3] After a 5–3 start, a three-game losing streak effectively eliminated the club from playoff contention.[9] An 8–6 record was only good enough for a second-place finish in the AFC West, 2½ games behind Oakland.[1] Linebacker Willie Lanier became the first Chiefs player to receive the prestigious NFL Man of the Year Award in the offseason.[3]
In week six, the Chiefs dropped a shocking 21–20 decision at home to the lowly Philadelphia Eagles, who entered the game 0–5 and won only once more (also a one-point victory, over the Houston Oilers, who finished 1–13). It was the only time the Chiefs and Eagles met until 1992,[10] and Kansas City did not visit Philadelphia until 1998.[11]
NFL draft
Main article: 1972 NFL Draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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More information Week, Date ...
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOF | July 29 | vs. New York Giants | W 23–17 | 1–0 | Fawcett Stadium (Canton, OH) | 19,307 | Recap |
| 1 | August 5 | vs. Chicago Bears | W 24–10 | 2–0 | Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, IN) | 32,391 | Recap |
| 2 | August 12 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 24–14 | 3–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,190 | Recap |
| 3 | August 21 | Baltimore Colts | L 17–23 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,882 | Recap |
| 4 | August 27 | Los Angeles Rams | W 19–13 | 4–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,064 | Recap |
| 5 | September 2 | Dallas Cowboys | W 20–10 | 5–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 79,592 | Recap |
| 6 | September 9 | at Green Bay Packers | L 0–20 | 5–2 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 47,281 | Recap |
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Schedule
More information Week, Date ...
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17 | Miami Dolphins | L 10–20 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 79,829 | Recap |
| 2 | September 25 | at New Orleans Saints | W 20–17 | 1–1 | Tulane Stadium | 70,793 | Recap |
| 3 | October 1 | at Denver Broncos | W 45–24 | 2–1 | Mile High Stadium | 51,656 | Recap |
| 4 | October 8 | at Cleveland Browns | W 31–7 | 3–1 | Cleveland Stadium | 83,819 | Recap |
| 5 | October 15 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 16–23 | 3–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 79,068 | Recap |
| 6 | October 22 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 20–21 | 3–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,389 | Recap |
| 7 | October 29 | at San Diego Chargers | W 26–14 | 4–3 | San Diego Stadium | 54,533 | Recap |
| 8 | November 5 | Oakland Raiders | W 27–14 | 5–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 82,094 | Recap |
| 9 | November 12 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 7–16 | 5–4 | Three Rivers Stadium | 50,350 | Recap |
| 10 | November 19 | San Diego Chargers | L 17–27 | 5–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 79,011 | Recap |
| 11 | November 26 | at Oakland Raiders | L 3–26 | 5–6 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 54,801 | Recap |
| 12 | December 3 | Denver Broncos | W 24–21 | 6–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 66,725 | Recap |
| 13 | December 10 | Baltimore Colts | W 24–10 | 7–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 44,175 | Recap |
| 14 | December 17 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 17–14 | 8–6 | Atlanta Stadium | 58,850 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
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Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Dolphins | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
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Week 1: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 17
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 81 °F (27.2 °C), relative humidity 65%, wind 15 mph
- Game attendance: 79,829
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
- Box score
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Saints | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
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Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
at Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 79 °F (26.1 °C), relative humidity 81%, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 70,793
- Referee: Tommy Bell
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
- Box score
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 45 |
| Broncos | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
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Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), relative humidity 24%, wind 7 mph
- Game attendance: 51,656
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Bill Enis and Willie Davis
- Box score
Week 4: at Cleveland Browns
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
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Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: October 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 50 °F (10.0 °C), relative humidity 74%, wind 14 mph
- Game attendance: 83,819
- Referee: Jack Reader
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Al De Rogatis
- Box score
Week 5: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 23 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 16 |
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Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 47 °F (8.3 °C), relative humidity 56%, wind 11 mph
- Game attendance: 79,068
- Referee: Fred Swearingen
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Al De Rogatis
- Box score
Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
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Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 55 °F (12.8 °C), relative humidity 92%, wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 78,389
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui, Irv Cross and Jim Thacker
- Box score
Week 7: at San Diego Chargers
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 26 |
| Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
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Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 8 mph
- Game attendance: 54,533
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and George Ratterman
- Box score
Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Raiders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
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Week 8: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 5
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 53 °F (11.7 °C), relative humidity 60%, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 82,094
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al De Rogatis
- Box score
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 16 |
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Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 41 °F (5.0 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 50,350
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote
- Box score
Week 10: vs. San Diego Chargers
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 7 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
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Week 10: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 32 °F (0.0 °C), relative humidity 81%, wind 11 mph, wind chill 23
- Game attendance: 79,011
- Referee: Jack Reader
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote
- Box score
Week 11: at Oakland Raiders
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Raiders | 10 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 26 |
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Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: November 26
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 50 °F (10.0 °C), relative humidity 88%, wind 8 mph
- Game attendance: 54,801
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al De Rogatis
- Box score
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Broncos | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
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Week 12: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 30 °F (−1.1 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 19 mph, wind chill 18
- Game attendance: 66,725
- Referee: John McDonough
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Willie Davis
- Box score
Week 13: vs. Baltimore Colts
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Colts | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
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Week 13: Baltimore Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 10
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 8 °F (−13.3 °C), relative humidity 56%, wind 11 mph, wind chill -8
- Game attendance: 44,175
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Bill Enis and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Week 14: at Atlanta Falcons
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
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Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 27 °F (−2.8 °C), relative humidity 35%, wind 15 mph, wind chill 15
- Game attendance: 58,850
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al De Rogatis
- Box score
More information AFC West, W ...
| AFC West | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Oakland Raiders | 10 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 3–2–1 | 7–3–1 | 365 | 248 | W6 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | 4–2 | 6–5 | 287 | 254 | W3 |
| Denver Broncos | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 2–4 | 4–6 | 325 | 350 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 2–3–1 | 4–6–1 | 264 | 344 | L3 |
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- "Chiefs wrap it up on winning note". Lawrence Daily Journal World. (Kansas). Associated Press. December 18, 1972. p. 28.
- "Chiefs begin trying to fill Robinson void". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. July 13, 1972. p. 21.
- "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970s". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
- "Kinney slated for long look against Cards". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. August 12, 1972. p. 12.
- "Chiefs blitz Cards". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. August 13, 1972. p. 2C.
- Woodling, Chuck (August 14, 1972). "KC's Disneyland finally arrives, but don't look at lights". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). p. 18.
- Woodling, Chuck (September 18, 1972). "Miami topples sluggish Chiefs". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). p. 24.
- "Dawson's TD passes carry Chiefs, 27-14". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 6, 1972. p. 21.
- "KC licks wounds after Raider loss". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. November 27, 1972. p. 17.
- Urena, Ivan; Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present, p. 18 ISBN 0786473517
- Urena; Pro Football Schedules, p. 17