My All-Time Kansas City Chiefs Team: The Quarterbacks
Jan. 11, 1970; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) at the line of scrimmage against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV at Tulane Stadium. The Chiefs won the game, 23-9. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports
With the slow time of the football year upon us, I decided to dig into the ultimate all-time Kansas City Chiefs roster. During the course of the summer, I will highlight the positions of my All-Time team, starting with quarterbacks this week. This is an exercise I have done numerous times, either during a boring lecture in college or on a slow workday. Now I will share it with all my fellow Addicts, ready to start to the debate!
Starting Quarterback – Len Dawson
This was an easy one. Let’s just name the accolades. Super Bowl Winner, Super Bowl MVP, NFL Man of the Year in 1973, 3x AFL Champion, 6x AFL All-Star, 1x Pro Bowler, 2nd Team, AFL All-Time Team, 4x All-AFL selection, 1x All-Pro, member of the Chiefs Ring of Honor and number retired by the organization. Wow, Lenny the Cool is the king of quarterbacks of the franchise, that’s for sure. The guy is a legend, only building to it since retiring, serving as sports director for KMBC from 1966 to 2009 and also has been the color analyst for the Chiefs Radio network currently since 1985. Dawson retired in 1975 but is still the franchise leader in passing yardage at 28,507 and touchdowns at 237. All of these records were set mind you when the league was not the passing league it is today. He is also the only quarterback to lead the franchise to the Super Bowl, two in fact, winning one. If there was a Mount Rushmore of Kansas City Sports icons, the man’s face is definitely on there.
Backup – Joe Montana
It’s odd to make any list and put Joe Montana behind anyone. Joe Cool played only two years in Kansas City, but boy was that a magical two years. I will admit, I was 9 when we traded for Montana, and was really getting into football as a youth at this time period. All I wanted for my 10th birthday was a Joe Montana Chiefs jersey, and I got it. I think for the next two Halloween’s I was Joe Montana. Let’s just say I wore that jersey out. But I digress. It’s Joe Montana, and for two years, he was our quarterback. We will all remember the Monday Night Shootout with John Elway and the Denver Broncos that Joe won coming from behind. What about taking on the 49er’s and beating them in Joe only game against his former team? It is depressing that he was the last QB to guide our team to a playoff victory. And his injury in the AFC Championship game in Buffalo is still one of my most painful sports memories. Joe went 17-8 in the games he started for the Chiefs, including 5 fourth quarter comebacks, 2 in that amazing 1993 playoff run. He also made his last Pro Bowl for the Chiefs after the 1993 season.
Backup – Trent Green
Trent Green quarterbacked the team during one of my favorite eras of Chiefs football. Dick Vermeil’s high-flying offense created entertaining games with weapons like Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes, Eddie Kennison and Dante Hall. Green had the benefit of having the keys to offense, and he thrived in it. Green now sits in second place in both TD’s and yardage in franchise history. Green also set the season yardage mark in 2004 with 4,591. Green was a 2x Pro Bowler during his tenure with the Chiefs. Green was a great quarterback during his tenure as Chiefs quarterback; he just never had a defense to help him, we all remember the infamous “No Punt Game” against the Colts. His concussion against the Bengals still makes me cringe, and really ended his Chiefs career. Green has since went into broadcasting where his knowledge of the game has helped to turn him into an excellent color commentator.