1971 Kansas City Chiefs season - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1971
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...

Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...

season saw the club bounce back from a 7–5–2 campaign in 1970 to record a 10–3–1 mark and win the AFC West division championship, the Chiefs' first division title since 1966. The Chiefs tied with the Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

for the best record in the AFC and were tied for the third-best record overall in the NFL, trailing only the 11–3 marks of the Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

and Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

.

Most of the pieces of the team which won Super Bowl IV

Super Bowl IV

Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...

two years earlier were still in place. Left defensive end

Defensive end

Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...

Jerry Mays retired after the 1970 season

1970 NFL season

The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...

, with Marvin Upshaw

Marvin Upshaw

Marvin Allen Upshaw is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League. He played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns , the Kansas City Chiefs and the St...

taking his spot, but the other 10 defensive starters

Starting lineup

A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...

were the same as they were two years prior. Middle linebacker

Linebacker

A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...

Willie Lanier

Willie Edward Lanier is a former American football middle-linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from...

was a unanimous All-Pro

All-Pro

All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...

selection following the season, and would likely have been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year had not Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

defensive tackle Alan Page

Alan Page

Alan Cedric Page is a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1963, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of...

become the second defensive player to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Outside linebacker Bobby Bell

Bobby Bell

Bobby Lee Bell, Sr is a former professional American football linebacker/defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Chiefs' team that won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.- High school career :He excelled in...

, defensive tackle Buck Buchanan

Buck Buchanan

Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American collegiate and professional Football defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League ....

and cornerback

Cornerback

A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...

Emmitt Thomas

Emmitt Earl Thomas is currently the secondary coach of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. He is a former college and professional football player who played for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs from 1966 to 1969, and then for the Chiefs in the NFL from 1970 to 1978...

joined Lanier on the AFC

American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....

Pro Bowl

In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...

squad following the season. Bell, Buchanan, Lanier and Thomas are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...

.

On offense, fullback

Fullback (American football)

A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...

Robert Holmes

Robert Holmes (American football)

Robert Holmes is a former American football running back who played collegiately at Southern University and professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in the National Football League for the Chiefs, the Houston Oilers, and the San Diego Chargers...

was traded to the San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

midway through the season, leaving Wendell Hayes

Wendell Hayes

Wendell Hayes is a former Professional Football running back. Wendell played college football at Humboldt State University...

to assume the fullback duties next to third-year pro Ed Podolak

Ed Podolak

Edward Joseph Podolak is a former professional American football player. He played quarterback and halfback at the University of Iowa before being selected by the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 1969 Common Draft.During a nine-year career from 1969 to 1977,...

, who had become the starting halfback

Halfback (American football)

A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...

slot when Mike Garrett

Mike Garrett

Michael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and professional football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans. Garrett also played professional football for eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers...

was traded to San Diego in 1970. Morris Stroud

Morris Stroud

Morris Stroud , was a former tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He did not play in the 1969 regular season but was on the roster for the 1969 AFL Championship Game. From 1970 to 1974, he played for the NFL's Chiefs...

, the tallest player in NFL history at 6-foot-10, and Willie Frazier

Willie Frazier

Willie C. Frazier is a former professional American football tight end.At 6'4", 225 lbs. from Arkansas AM&N , Frazier played 10 seasons from 1964–1975, all in the American Football League or the American Football Conference of the National Football League.-See also:*List of American Football...

, acquired from San Diego, alternated at tight end

Tight end

The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...

for the retired Fred Arbanas

Fred Arbanas

Frederick Vincent Arbanas is an American former college and professional football player. Drafted out of Michigan State by the American Football League's Dallas Texans in 1961, he missed the 1961 season with injuries...

, but the rest of the offensive line, save for center

Center (American football)

Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...

Jack Rudnay

John Carl "Jack" Rudnay is a former professional American football center in the National Football League...

, remained the same from the Super Bowl winning team. Rudnay assumed the starting center spot in 1970 over veteran E. J. Holub

E. J. Holub

Emil Joe Holub is a former American football center and linebacker in the American Football League and the National Football League . Collegiately, he played for Texas Technological College .-College:E.J. Holub graduated from Lubbock High School in 1957 and went on to attend Texas Technological...

. At wide receiver

Wide receiver

A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...

, rookie Elmo Wright

Elmo wright

Elmo Wright is the first football player ever to perform an end zone dance, while at the University of Houston.Wright was an All-American receiver for the Cougars and, somewhere during his collegiate career, he began the practice of "high-stepping" into the end zone at the end of long touchdown...

, the Chiefs' first-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft

1971 NFL Draft

The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...

from the University of Houston

University of Houston

The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...

, assumed the slot opposite all-pro Otis Taylor

Otis Taylor (American football)

Otis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...

, as Frank Pitts

Frank Pitts

Frank H. Pitts is a former professional American football wide receiver in the American Football League and the National Football League...

had moved on to the Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

. Taylor earned selection to the Pro Bowl, along with guard Ed Budde

Ed Budde

Edward Leon Budde , a product of Denby High School in Detroit, Michigan and later Michigan State University, was the number one draft pick of the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963....

, quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

Len Dawson

Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...

, and tackle Jim Tyrer

Jim Tyrer

James Efflo Tyrer was an American football offensive tackle in the American Football League for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...

.

Kansas City's special teams remained among the league's elite units, thanks to the combination of kicker

Placekicker

Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...

Jan Stenerud

Jan Stenerud is a former professional football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings .-Background:...

and punter Jerrel Wilson

Jerrel Wilson

Jerrel "Thunderfoot" Wilson was an American football player. He was a punter who spent sixteen professional seasons, fifteen of them with the Kansas City Chiefs, in the American Football League and then the National Football League. He was selected to three AFL All-Star Teams and three AFC-NFC...

, both of whom were named to the Pro Bowl. Podolak and Warren McVea

Warren McVea

Warren McVea was a football player who made civil rights history by becoming the first African-American to play the sport for the University of Houston....

handled the bulk of the return duties

Return specialist

A Return Specialist is a player on American football or Canadian football special teams who specializes in returning punts and kickoff returns. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most play other positions as well. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a...

.

The season was the last for the Chiefs in Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

Kansas City Municipal Stadium was a baseball and football stadium that formerly stood in Kansas City, Missouri. It hosted the minor league Kansas City Blues of the American Association from 1923 to 1954 and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues during the same period...

, as owner Lamar Hunt

Lamar Hunt

Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...

and general manager Jack Steadman

Jack Steadman

Jack W. Steadman is the former chairman, vice president, president and general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League....

were overseeing the construction of Arrowhead Stadium

Arrowhead Stadium

Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....

, located at the junction of Interstate 70

Interstate 70

Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...

and Interstate 435

Interstate 435

Interstate 435 is an Interstate Highway beltway that encircles much of the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area in the states of Kansas and Missouri, USA.- Route description :...

in Jackson County, Missouri

Jackson County, Missouri

Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...

, at the eastern edge of the Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

city limits. Arrowhead, along with Royals Stadium

Kauffman Stadium

Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...

, being constructed for the Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

of Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

, would form the Truman Sports Complex

Truman Sports Complex

The Harry S. Truman Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.. It is home to two major sports venues- Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, and Kauffman Stadium, home of Major League Baseball's Kansas City...

, bucking the trend of multi-purpose stadium

Multi-purpose stadium

Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...

s in vogue at the time.

The season ended in heartbreak, as the Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins

won the longest game in National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

history on Christmas Day, defeating the Chiefs 27–24 in double overtime

Overtime (sports)

Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...

on a 37-yard field goal

Field goal (football)

A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...

by Garo Yepremian

Garo Yepremian

Garabed Sarkis "Garo" Yepremian is an Armenian-American former football placekicker in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a career that spanned from 1966 to 1981. -Career:Yepremian was born in Larnaca, Cyprus to...

in the last football game in Municipal Stadium, as well as the last game for safety Johnny Robinson, who was an original member of the Dallas Texans

History of the Kansas City Chiefs

The following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...

in 1960. Coach Hank Stram

Hank Stram

Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...

often called the 1971 Chiefs the franchise's best-ever squad, and this loss haunted Stram for the rest of his life, even after his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame

in 2003. Stram died July 4, 2005 at age 82.

The loss to Miami began a nosedive in the Chiefs' fortunes. Kansas City backslid to 8–6 and 7–5–2 in 1972

1972 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1972 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the Chiefs moving into the newly constructed Arrowhead Stadium and ended with a 8–6 record and second place finish in the AFC West.The Chiefs introduced the newly completed Arrowhead Stadium to the general public...

and 1973

1973 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1973 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 7–5–2 record and third place finish in the AFC West.For 1973, the defense kept the club in contention thanks to a nucleus that still included the bulk of the squad’s Super Bowl IV starters...

, before falling to 5–9 and last in the AFC West in 1974

1974 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1974 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 5–9 record and third place finish in the AFC West, effectively costing head coach Hank Stram his job....

, leading to the Stram's firing following the season. Kansas City would not reach the playoffs again until 1986

1986 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1971. The Chiefs clinched a wild card playoff berth, but lost to the New York Jets 15–35....

, did not host (or win) another playoff game until 1991

1991 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record and Wild Card spot in the 1992 playoffs. The Chiefs defeated their division rival, the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round, resulting in the franchise's first playoff victory since Super Bowl IV in 1970...

, and did not win the AFC West division title until 1993

1993 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1993 Kansas City Chiefs season was arguably the franchise's most successful in 22 years: The Chiefs won the AFC Western Division and finished with a 11–5 record...

NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School/Club Team

Roster

This is a list of the 1971 Kansas City Chiefs' regular starters.

Offense

{| class="wikitable"

|-
!Position || Player
|-
| Quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

|| Len Dawson

Len Dawson

|-
| Running Back

Running back

A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...

|| Wendell Hayes

Wendell Hayes

Wendell Hayes is a former Professional Football running back. Wendell played college football at Humboldt State University...

|-
| || Ed Podolak

Ed Podolak

|-
| Wide Receiver

Wide receiver

|| Elmo Wright

Elmo wright

|-
| || Otis Taylor

Otis Taylor (American football)

Otis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...

|-
| Left Tackle || Jim Tyrer

Jim Tyrer

James Efflo Tyrer was an American football offensive tackle in the American Football League for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...

|-
| Left Guard

Guard (American football)

In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....

|| Ed Budde

Ed Budde

|-
| Center

Center (American football)

Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...

|| Jack Rudnay

Jack Rudnay

John Carl "Jack" Rudnay is a former professional American football center in the National Football League...

|-
| Right Guard

Guard (American football)

In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....

|| Mo Moorman

Mo Moorman

Maurice "Mo" Moorman was an American college and professional football player. He played collegiately for Texas A&M, and went to the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs as a first-round draft choice in 1968...

|-
| Right Tackle || Dave Hill

Dave Hill (American football)

David Harris Hill is a former college and professional American football player.Hill was born in Lanett, Alabama and attended Lanett High School. He graduated in 1958 and attended Auburn University along with fellow Lanett High School alumnus, Bobby Hunt...

|-
| Tight End

Tight end

|| Morris Stroud

Morris Stroud

|-
| || Willie Frazier

Willie Frazier

|-
| Kicker

Placekicker

Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...

|| Jan Stenerud

Jan Stenerud

Jan Stenerud is a former professional football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings .-Background:...

Defense

{| class="wikitable"

|-
!Position || Player
|-
| Left Defensive End

Defensive end

|| Marvin Upshaw

Marvin Upshaw

Marvin Allen Upshaw is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League. He played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns , the Kansas City Chiefs and the St...

|-
| Left Defensive Tackle || Curley Culp

Curley Culp

Curley Culp is a former professional American football player. An offensive and defensive lineman, he played college football at Arizona State University, was the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion while at ASU, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs...

|-
| Right Defensive Tackle || Buck Buchanan

Buck Buchanan

|-
| Right Defensive End

Defensive end

|| Aaron Brown
|-
| Left Outside Linebacker

Linebacker

|| Bobby Bell

Bobby Bell

|-
| Middle Linebacker

Linebacker

|| Willie Lanier

Willie Lanier

|-
| Right Outside Linebacker

Linebacker

|| Jim Lynch
|-
| Left Cornerback

Defensive back

In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...

|| Jim Marsalis

Jim Marsalis

James "Jim" Marsalis was a college and professional American football player. A star at Tennessee State, he played nine professional seasons as a cornerback from 1969-1977...

|-
| Right Cornerback

Defensive back

|| Emmitt Thomas

Emmitt Thomas

|-
| Left Safety

Defensive back

|| Jim Kearney

Jim Kearney

James Lee Kearney is a former American football safety who played twelve seasons in the National Football League and the American Football League from 1965-1976. He started in Super Bowl IV for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1972 he tied an NFL record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns. ...

|-
| Right Safety

Defensive back

|| Johnny Robinson
|-
| Punter || Jerrel Wilson

Jerrel Wilson

|-
|}

Regular season

In an interesting coincidence, the Chiefs opened the 1971 season in the same location where they closed 1970

1970 NFL season

, in San Diego Stadium

Qualcomm Stadium

Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....

against the division rival San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers

. The Chiefs were seeking revenge for a 31–13 loss in the 1970 finale, but John Hadl

John Hadl

John Willard Hadl is a former collegiate and professional football player.Hadl was born in Lawrence, Kansas. After playing halfback on both offense and defense at the University of Kansas as a sophomore, Hadl played quarterback for his last two years at Kansas, and was selected as the school's...

twice burned Kansas City's secondary, considered to be among the league's elite untis, for two long touchdowns as the Chargers claimed a 21–14 victory.

Kansas City won its next two games to wrap up a three-game road trip to open the season, but were unimpressive in defeating the Houston Oilers, 20–16, and the Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, 16–3, two teams which combined to finish the year 8–18–2. The Chiefs began to pick up steam upon returning to Municipal Stadium, routing the Chargers in the rematch, 31–10, and defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...

, 38–16.

Week six brought the undefeated Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...

, under the leadership of first-year coach George Allen. Willie Lanier

Willie Lanier

recovered a fumble by Redskin running back Larry Brown

Larry Brown (running back)

Lawrence "Larry" Brown, Jr. is a former professional American football player in the National Football League who played running back for the Washington Redskins from 1969 to 1976....

on the second play of the game deep in Washington territory, but the drive went for naught when Mike Bass

Mike Bass

Michael Thomas Bass is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins...

intercepted an underthrown pass by Len Dawson

Len Dawson

at the 4-yard line. Dawson was interecepted again on the Chiefs' second drive, this time by Pat Fischer

Pat Fischer

Patrick Fischer is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins from 1968 to 1977....

, who took the ball deep into Kansas City territory, setting up a touchdown pass from Billy Kilmer

Billy Kilmer

William Orland Kilmer, Jr. was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins...

to Charley Taylor

Charley Taylor

Charles Robert Taylor is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984....

. Two field goals by Stenerud cut the deficit to 7–6, but late in the second quarter, Washington added a field goal, and another touchdown pass from Kilmer to Taylor. But on the play, Taylor broke his ankle on a tackle by Emmitt Thomas

Emmitt Thomas

, leaving the Redskin offense short-handed for the rest of the game, and the season. Trailing 17–6 at halftime, Dawson engineered a touchdown drive to start the third quarter by hitting Otis Taylor

Otis Taylor (American football)

Otis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...

on a post pattern to cut the deficit to 17–13. Washington added a field goal early in the fourth quarter, but a 50-yard pass from Dawson to rookie Elmo Wright

Elmo wright

put the Chiefs in position to tie the game on a scoring strike from Dawson to the team's first-round draft pick out of the University of Houston

University of Houston

. On Kansas City's next drive, Taylor made an incredible leaping catch of a Dawson pass in front of Fischer with 3:46 remaining, giving the Chiefs their final margin, 27–20.

The Chiefs could not sustain the momentum from the emotional victory, playing to a 20–20 tie against the hated Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

before dropping a shocking 13–10 decision to a New York Jets

New York Jets

The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

squad forced to play third-string quarterback Bob Davis

Bob Davis (quarterback)

Robert Ellersie Davis, Jr. is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback. He played at the University of Virginia...

. Kansas City bounced back to defeat the Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

and Broncos at home, but on Thanksgiving Day, the Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...

' passing combination of Greg Landry

Greg Landry

Gregory Paul Landry is a former American football player and coach who played quarterback in the National Football League from 1968 to 1981 and again in 1984...

to Charlie Sanders

Charlie Sanders

Charles Alvin Sanders is a former American football player who played tight end for the Detroit Lions from 1968-77. On February 3, 2007, Sanders was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-Playing career:...

proved to be too much to handle, and Kansas City fell, 32–21.

Kansas City returned to the Bay Area, but this trip was more successful, as the Chiefs ousted the NFC West

NFC West

The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...

leading San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

on Monday Night Football, 26–17, setting up a showdown at home against the Raiders. Dawson and Taylor got the home team going with a touchdown pass on the opening drive, but it would be the only time Kansas City reached the end zone. The Chiefs led 13–7 early in the fourth quarter before Marv Hubbard

Marv Hubbard

Marvin "Marv" Hubbard was an American college and professional American football player. Originally from Randolph, New York, Hubbard attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. He played for the Hartford Knights of the Atlantic Coast Football League...

's 1-yard touchdown run in the final period gave Oakland a 14–13 lead. Kansas City drove from deep in its own territory to what would be the game-winning field goal, helped by a tripping penalty against Oakland cornerback Jimmy Warren

Jimmy Warren

James Davis Warren is a former American college and professional football cornerback who played twelve seasons of professional football, with the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins and with the NFL Oakland Raiders.In 1992, he served as defensive backs coach for the...

. The Raiders' final gasp came when George Blanda

George Blanda

George Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...

's pass was intercepted by Jim Kearney

Jim Kearney

. With the AFC West title secured, the Chiefs rested many of their starters in a 22–9 victory against the woeful Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

to close the season.

Schedule

{| class="wikitable"
! Week || Opponent || Result || Game site || Attendance
|-style="background: #ffdddd;" align="center"
| 1 || at San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers

|| L 14–21 || San Diego Stadium

Qualcomm Stadium

Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....

|| 54,061
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 2 || at Houston Oilers

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...

|| W 20–16 || Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...

|| 46,498
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 3 || at Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

|| W 16–3 || Mile High Stadium

Mile High Stadium

Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...

|| 51,200
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 4 || San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers

|| W 31–10 || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 50,514
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 5 || Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers

|| W 38–16|| Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 49,533
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 6 || Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins

|| W 27–20 || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 51,989
|-align="center" bgcolor="#ffeeaa"
| 7 || at Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders

|| T 20–20 || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum || 54,715
|-style="background: #ffdddd;" align="center"
| 8 || at New York Jets

New York Jets

|| L 13–10 || Shea Stadium

Shea Stadium

William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...

|| 62,812
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 9 || Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

|| W 20–14 || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 50,388
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 10 || Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

|| W 28–10 || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 49,945
|-style="background: #ffdddd;" align="center"
| 11 || at Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions

|| L 21–32 || Tiger Stadium || 54,418
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 12 || at San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers

|| W 26–17 || Candlestick Park || 45,306
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 13 || Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders

|| W 16–14 || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 51,215
|-style="background: #ddffdd;" align="center"
| 14 || Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

|| W 22–9 || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 48,121
|-
|colspan=7 align="center"|1971 NFL playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1971-72
The NFL playoffs following the 1971 NFL season led up to Super Bowl VI. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road...

|-style="background: #ffdddd;" align="center"
| Divisional
Playoffs || Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins

|| L 24–27 (2OT) || Municipal Stadium

Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)

|| 45,822
|-
|}

Standings

{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" border="1"
|- bgcolor="#FFCCCC"
| colspan="7" align="center" | AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...

|- bgcolor="#efefef"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd"
|align="left"| Kansas City Chiefs
|10||3||1||.769||302||208
|- align="center"
|align="left"| Oakland Raiders

1971 Oakland Raiders season

The 1971 Oakland Raiders season was the team’s 12th season. After winning the AFC West in 1970, the Raiders failed to make the playoffs as their main rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, would win the division title.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:...

|8||4||2||.667||344||278
|- align="center"
|align="left"| San Diego Chargers

1971 San Diego Chargers season

The 1971 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–6–3 record in 1970. It was Harland Svare first season as the teams head coach.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...

|6||8||0||.429||311||341
|- align="center"
|align="left"| Denver Broncos

1971 Denver Broncos season

The 1971 Denver Broncos season was the teams 12th season in professional football and 2nd in the NFL. The team finished the season with four wins, nine losses, and one tie. They once again finished fourth in the AFC West. Floyd Little became the 13th player ever in professional football to rush for...

|4||9||1||.308||203||275
|}

External links

1971 Kansas City Chiefs on Database Football

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