The Chiefs definitely had talent in 1969. Six of their players would eventually be voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as would their coach.
But their road to the Super Bowl was no an easy one. The Chiefs had to overcome rugged opposition like the Oakland Raiders and the defending Super Bowl champion New York Jets. Their quarterback, Len Dawson, was hindered by injuries.
And when the Chiefs finally made it to the Super Bowl, they were tabbed as heavy underdogs to the Minnesota Vikings.
In the end, Kansas City was more than equal to the task.
Stram Was Coaching Pioneer
The Chiefs had the benefit of being led by one of the more imaginative coaches in NFL history. Stram is credited with such innovations as the double-tight end offense, the moving pocket and the stack defense.
He helped pave the way for widespread use of the 3-4 defense, as he always preferred to have a man lined up directly in front of the opposing center. On offense, he used a variety of formations.
Stram was also creative with his use of running backs. He didn't mind utilizing short ones – like 5-foot-9 players Mike Garrett and Robert Holmes – because he figured the defense would have trouble seeing them.
And unlike many coaches of his day, he was perfectly willing to use the backs as receivers. In 1969, Garrett led the team in receptions.
Stram led the Chiefs to the American Football League title in 1966, and that gave them the right to meet the NFL champion Green Bay Packers in the very first Super Bowl. Kansas City got creamed, 35-10.
But things were different three years later. In January of 1969, the Jets stunned the Baltimore Colts 16-7, giving the younger AFL its first Super Bowl win over the NFL in three tries. And with the two leagues slated to merge in 1970, the AFL looked to even the score in its final campaign.
Chiefs Used Variety of Offensive Weapons
Dawson was limited to nine games during the 1969 regular season because of a knee injury. But young Mike Livingston filled in admirably, going 6-0 as a starter, and the Chiefs went 11-3. They lost twice to Oakland Raiders – 10-6 and 24-7 – and lost 24-19 to Cincinnati.
The two QBs combined for 2,446 passing yards, with 13 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, as the Chiefs ranked second in the league in points scored and third in yardage.
Garrett ran for 732 yards and six touchdowns, and also caught 43 passes for 432 yards. The Chiefs got additional backfield production from the likes of Holmes (612 rushing yards, 26 catches for 266 yards) and young Warren McVea (500 rushing yards, 7 TDs).
McVea shared the team in lead in touchdowns with Otis Taylor, who had 41 catches for 696 yards. Frank Pitts (31 catches), Gloster Richardson (23) and tight end Fred Arbanas (16) were also receiving threats.
Kansas City's offensive line was formidable with Jim Tyrer, Ed Budde, Dave Hill and Mo Moorman, along with converted linebacker E.J. Holub at center.
Also, the Chiefs had a skilled kicker in Jan Stenerud, a Norwegian who was one of the first to use "soccer style" technique on the football field.
KC Defense Was Best in AFL
The Chiefs defense might have been one of the all-time best. Six-foot-7 Buck Buchanan anchored the defensive line, which also featured Curley Culp, Jerry Mays and Aaron Brown. Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch still rank as one of history's best linebacking trios.
Emmitt Thomas, Johnny Robinson, Jim Kearney and rookie Jim Marsalis manned a secondary that came up with 24 interceptions. Cornerback Thomas had nine picks, safety Robinson made eight and safety Kearney had five.
Bell added four picks for Kansas City, which had 32 picks overall.
The Chiefs allowed league lows in points and yardage. Their offense ranked second and points and third in yardage.
Kansas City's Postseason Run
Kansas City made the playoffs as what is now known as a wild-card team. The Chiefs finished second in the AFL Western Division to Oakland (12-1-1), and as a result had to spend the entire postseason on the road.
But KC stopped the Jets 13-6 in the first round, as Dawson hit Richardson with a tiebeaking fourth-quarter TD pass and the Chiefs defense frustrated Joe Namath on a windy day at Shea Stadium. Marsalis intercepted Namath twice.
Then the Chiefs prevailed at Oakland, 17-7. to win the AFL championship. KC intercepted Daryle Lamonica three times and Kansas City got TD runs from Holmes and Wendell Hayes. Thomas made two interceptions and Brown had two sacks.
Chiefs Win Super Bowl IV
Kansas City was a 13-point underdog to the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV on January 33, 1970, at New Orleans. And five days before the game, Dawson's name surfaced in a federal gambling investigation. He was later cleared.
The distraction didn't bother the QB, as his cool-headed performance against Minnesota's "Purple People Eaters" helped produce a 23-7 win. Dawson completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards, including a back-breaking 46-yard touchdown pass to Taylor in the third quarter. He was name Super Bowl MVP.
Taylor had six catches for 81 yards, Garrett ran for a 5-yard TD and Stenerud kicked three field goals, including a 48-yarder.
The Minnesota defense forced five turnovers, with Lanier, Robinson and Thomas intercepting Joe Kapp. Brown, Buchanan and Mays all recorded sacks.
Kansas City Blanked Since Super Bowl IV
Although the Chiefs posted winning records in their four seasons following Super Bowl IV, and although they've made it to the playoffs 11 times since 1969, they've never been back to football's biggest game.
They came closest in 1993, when they reached the AFC championship game, falling to the Buffalo Bills 30-13.
Bell, Buchanan, Dawson, Lanier, Stenerud, Stram and Thomas have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sources
ProFooballReference.com
Pro FootballHOF.com
