1969 Kansas City Chiefs season

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1969 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerJack Steadman
Head coachHank Stram
Home fieldMunicipal Stadium
Results
Record11–3
Division place2nd AFL Western
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(at Jets) 13–6
Won AFL Championship
(at Raiders) 17–7
Won Super Bowl IV
(vs. Vikings) 23–7
Pro Bowlers
11[1]
AP All-Pros
14[2]
The Chiefs topped the Raiders in the 1969 AFL championship game (left) and went on to defeat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV (right).

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.

After two close losses to division rival

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

1969 Kansas City Chiefs, with team commentary from Len Dawson, Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, and narrated by Martin Sheen.[4]

In 2007,

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.

Offseason

1969 AFL Draft

Main article:
1969 NFL/AFL Draft

In the first round of the 1969 AFL Draft, the Chiefs selected cornerback

Tennessee State. Marsalis became an immediate starter at cornerback alongside veteran Emmitt Thomas. He was the only Chiefs rookie to start for the 1969 team, as Ed Podolak and Bob Stein were benched, and Morris Stroud and Jack Rudnay
sat out the season with injuries.

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
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
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

Personnel

Staff

1969 Kansas City Chiefs staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive backfield - John Beake
  • Offensive ends – Darrel Brewster
  • Offensive line – Bill Walsh
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive backs - Tom Bettis
  • Defensive assistant – Tommy O'Boyle
  • Defensive line – Tom Pratt



Roster

1969 Kansas City Chiefs final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad Complete team roster
Rookies in italics
Starters in bold
Positions in parentheses
Rookies in italics
 53 active, 10 inactive, 7 practice squad

Preseason

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

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

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]

Schedule

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.

Game summaries

Week 1: at San Diego Chargers

Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 10 7727
Chargers 3 0 609

at

San Diego, California

Game information

Week 2: at Boston Patriots

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 14 7 10031
Patriots 0 0 000

at Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 22,002
  • Referee: John McDonough
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and George Ratterman
  • Recap
Game information

Week 3: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 6 7 0619
Bengals 7 3 01424

at

Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: September 28
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 27,812
  • Referee: Walt Fitzgerald
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Elmer Angsman
  • Recap
Game information

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 6 31426
Broncos 0 3 01013

at

Denver, Colorado

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,564
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • Recap
Game information

Week 5: vs. Houston Oilers

Week 5: Houston Oilers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 000
Chiefs 14 10 0024

at

Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information

Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 6: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 0 3710
Chiefs 7 10 0017

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 49,809
  • Referee: Bob Finley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis
  • Recap
Game information

Week 7: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 7: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 12 7322
Chiefs 7 14 71442

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 26
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,934
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Elmer Angsman
  • Recap
Game information

Week 8: at Buffalo Bills

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 32329
Bills 7 0 007

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

  • Date: November 2
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 45,844
  • Referee: Jack Vest
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis
  • Recap
Game information

Week 9: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 9: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 0 003
Chiefs 0 10 10727

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 9
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 51,982
  • Referee: Bob Finley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
  • Recap
Game information

Week 10: at New York Jets

Week 10: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 10 10 7734
Jets 3 7 0616

at

New York, New York

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,849
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
  • Recap
Game information

Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 11: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 3 14 10027
Chiefs 7 10 0724

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 23
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 51,982
  • Referee: John McDonough
  • TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
  • Recap
Game information

Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos

Thanksgiving Day games

Week 12: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 3 01417
Chiefs 3 14 01431

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 27
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 48,773
  • Referee: Jack Reader
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Elmer Angsman
  • Recap
Game information

Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 13: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 3 3 10622
Chiefs 7 6 3622

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,112
  • Referee: Jack Vest
  • TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
  • Recap
Game information

Week 14: at Oakland Raiders

Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 066
Raiders 0 3 0710

at

Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
Game information

Standings

AFL Western Division
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

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings of the AFL.

Postseason

Schedule

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

Game summaries

Divisional Playoffs: at New York Jets

AFL Divisional Playoffs: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 3713
Jets 3 0 036

at

New York, New York

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,977
  • Referee: Jack Reader
  • TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
  • Recap
Game information

In the 1969 AFL Divisional Playoff Game at the New York Jets (12/20), 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.[6]

Further information: American Football League playoffs

AFL Championship Game: at Oakland Raiders

Main article: 1969 American Football League Championship Game
AFL Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 7317
Raiders 7 0 007

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
Game information

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

Main article: Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV: Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 707
Chiefs 3 13 7023

at

New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

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

AFL-NFL Merger
.

Honors & Awards

AFL All-Star Game

The Chiefs sent nine players to the American Football League All-Star game to represent the AFL West.[8]

References

  1. ^ "1969 AFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "1969 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. ISBN 978-1-58979-360-6
  4. ^ a b America's Game: The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs Archived January 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine KCChiefs.com December 7, 2006.
  5. ^ The List: Best NFL defense of all-time, 2007
  6. ^ a b c d e Chiefs History: 1960's Archived April 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine KCChiefs.com, retrieved January 1, 2007.
  7. ^ Dawson, "Super Bowl IV"
  8. ^ 1969 Kansas City Chiefs on Pro Football Reference

External links

Preceded by American Football League champion
1969 		Succeeded by
Final champion
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