Top five Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks in team history

2. Len Dawson

For decades Len Dawson has been revered in Kansas City, and rightfully so. Surprising as it might be, the most revered quarterback in team history prior to Mahomes had a rough start to his professional career. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns over a five-year span and started in only two games. His stats were even less impressive, throwing for 204 yards, 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in those five seasons.

As the fifth overall pick in the 1957 NFL Draft, Dawson would be considered a major bust in today’s terms. Imagine if Todd Blackledge, one of the greatest draft busts in team history, wrapped his career in Kansas City and then went on to become a Hall of Famer with another team. Though Dawson was indeed a bust for the team that drafted him, he’d go on to do great things for another.

In Dawson’s first year with the Chiefs—then the Dallas Texans—Dawson would lead the franchise to its first AFL Championship. He’d set a blistering pace for the era by completing 61 percent of his passes for nearly 2,800 yards and 29 touchdowns en route to his first of multiple All-Pro honors. He was also an adept runner, rushing 38 times with a 6.6 yards per carry and 3 touchdowns.

That season, 1962, would be no fluke for Dawson. He’d finish his 13-year career firmly entrenched as one of the best players in team history. His high of 30 touchdown passes in 1964 would remain a top-10 mark in the NFL until the 1994 season, and the top mark in franchise history until 2018. His 9.4 yards per pass attempt in 1968 ranks 11th all time, and is still the top mark for a season in franchise history.

Truth be told, there’s a great argument to be made that Len Dawson is not only the best player in Chiefs history but also the most important. Take Dawson and the team’s success in the 1960s out of the equation, and you remove the majority of the franchise’s success.

In the end, Dawson had an impressive three AFL Championships to his name and one Super Bowl. No player in team history has amassed that type of record to this day. That said, expectations are high for the player checking in at number one on this list. If i was a betting man, I’d put my money on him surpassing Dawson’s accomplishments when it’s all said and done.

The next player on this list is there for his accomplishments, but also for his unworldly potential to change the game.