The best Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback seasons from each decade

1990s: Joe Montana’s 1993 Season

The 1990s were a far better decade for the Chiefs, both in quarterback play and overall success. While they still struggled to groom a franchise quarterback of their own, they had several outside hires, so to speak, that stepped in and performed admirably in what was the franchise’s best decade since the ’60s. In total, the team won 102 games averaging double digit wins and only lost 59 games.

The quarterbacks of note in the nineties were Future Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Montana, Steve DeBerg, Steve Bono, Elvis Grbac, and future NFL MVP and Super Bowl runner-up Rich Gannon. While some had better statistical campaigns, arguably the greatest overall season for a Chiefs’ quarterback in the decade was Joe Montana’s 1993 season.

Montana had a short career with the Chiefs, playing for the team for only two years before retiring after the 1994 season. While his time with the organization was short, he provided fond memories for Chiefs’ fans as he led the team to one of its most successful seasons in recent memory.

The 1993 season brought with it significant expectations. After making the playoffs the prior three seasons and losing in the wild card round in 1992, the Chiefs’ organization was ready to take the next step. To make that happen the Chiefs made multiple roster moves including signing Marcus Allen and trading for Joe Montana.

Montana was in the twilight of his career, but he still had quite a bit left to give the Chiefs’ franchise and its fans. During the 1993 season he played in only 11 games, missing five due to injury. However, he was still very productive completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,144 yards, 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He would get even better in the playoffs completing 62 percent of his passes for 575 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the first two games.

At this point the Chiefs were rolling right into the AFC Championship game. The team looked poised to break the years-long curse and play in the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 24 seasons. After beating the Steelers at Arrowhead in the Wild Card round and the Oilers at the Astrodome in the Divisional Round, the Chiefs entered the championship round against a team they had pummeled just eight weeks earlier in Kansas City.

Unfortunately, this time around, the tables would turn violently. Early in the game Montana looked stiff—he would later reminisce about the weather conditions and their potential effect on the team. The Chiefs’ defense, faced with a hurry-up offense in Buffalo, looked to be performing well into the second quarter. Then everything began to unravel.

Montana would eventually be knocked out of the game with a concussion early in the second half, backup Dave Krieg would be unable to shoulder the offensive burden, and the Chiefs’ defense would falter. Ultimately, the Chiefs would go on to lose by a score of 30 to 13. The team they had mastered in the regular season had mastered them in the playoffs, shattering the players’ and the fans’ dreams of a Super Bowl berth in a matter of hours.

Even though the season ended in defeat, it was still one to be remembered. The 1993 Chiefs made it further than any Chiefs’ team had in the previous 24 seasons. Coincidentally, they made it further than any Chiefs’ team would for next 24 years. While it ended in heartbreak, it was still the best season the team and its respective quarterback had during the 1990s.

Other Notable Seasons:

• Steve DeBerg – 1990 – 11 wins, 58% completion rate, 23 touchdowns, 3,444 yards passing
• Steve Bono – 1995 – 13 wins, 56.3% completion rate, 21 touchdowns, 3,121 yards passing