The Kansas City Chiefs are saddened to share the passing of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, Chiefs legend and Kansas City icon, Len Dawson.
"My family and I are heartbroken. Len Dawson is synonymous with the Kansas City Chiefs. Len embraced and came to embody Kansas City and the people that call it home. You would be hard-pressed to find a player who had a bigger impact in shaping the organization as we know it today than Len Dawson did," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "I admired Len my entire life – first as a Hall of Fame player on the field, and later as he transitioned into a successful broadcasting career. Throughout his remarkable career, Len made it a priority to give back to the community that he loved. The franchise has lost a true legend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Linda and his family."
Dawson was the heart and soul of the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs franchise during his illustrious14-year Chiefs career, helping make the franchise one of professional football's premier teams while becoming one of the game's elite passers.
Under the leadership of PFHOF Head Coach Hank Stram, who brought Dawson to the Texans/Chiefs franchise in 1962, Dawson's Chiefs were perennial contenders and won American Football League Championships in 1962, 1966 and 1969. He earned the Most Valuable Player award for Super Bowl IV when he directed Kansas City to a 23-7 win over the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings. Dawson won the AFL passing title four times and still holds the franchise's career records for pass attempts (3,696), completions (2,115), passing yards (28,507) and touchdowns (237).
A photo tribute to legendary Chiefs QB Len Dawson
Len Dawson (16) back to pass during Super Bowl I against the Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) poses for a picture.
AFL Commissioner Joe Foss stands with Dallas Texans fullback Curtis McClinton (32) and Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson (16) following the AFL Championship Game, a 20-17 victory over the Houston Oilers on December 23, 1962, December 23, 1962.
Len Dawson (16) on the sideline during Super Bowl 1.
Len Dawson and head coach Hank Stram pose for a photograph.
QB Len Dawson takes a Gatorade break in '69---the first season was available on the sidelines.
QB Len Dawson throws while scrambling against the NY Jets at Shea Stadium.
Len Dawson on headphones at Kansas City home game against New Orleans Saints 1972.
Len Dawson drops back to pass against NY Jets 1969.
Len Dawson (16) poses for an action photograph.
Len Dawson and Head Coach Hank Stram pose for a photograph.
Kansas City head coach Hank Stram and quarterback Len Dawson (16) discuss strategy during a time out in Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.
Len Dawson (16) calls signals and was the MVP of Super Bowl IV; game against Minnesota Vikings
Len Dawson (16) stands for interviews with his son Len Jr. in the locker room after winning Super Bowl IV as the MVP
WR Otis Taylor diagrams a route in the dirt in the bench area for Len Dawson during '69 season.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) directs the huddle during a game in 1970.
Len Dawson (16) poses for an action photograph.
Len Dawson takes a call from President Nixon after winning and being named MVP of Super Bowl IV while Chief's owner Lamar Hunt looks on.
Hank Stram, Len Dawson and other Chiefs pose with the Super Bowl trophy during the parade for winning Super Bowl IV.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) throws the football during a game in 1970.
Vikings and Chiefs captains meet for coin flip prior to the Super Bowl IV game of the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Minnesota Vikings played on January 11, 1970.
Chiefs' QB Len Dawson talks to his line in the Super Bowl IV game of the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Minnesota Vikings played on January 11, 1970.
Len Dawson (16) with Lamar Hunt accepting the NFL Man of the Year trophy
Kansas City Chiefs in the historic choir huddle during Super Bowl IV.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) talks to head coach Hank Stram on the sidelines of Municipal Stadium in Kansas City during a game in 1971.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson talks to head coach Hank Stram on the sidelines during a game in 1971.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) drops back for a pass during a game in 1971.
A teammate helps Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) adjust his shoulder pads during a game in 1971.
A closeup sideline portrait of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) during a game in 1971 at Municipal Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) orchestrates the huddle during a game in 1971.
Len Dawson talks on a headset during the game at San Diego September 19, 1971.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Hank Stram talks to quarterback Len Dawson (16) on the sidelines during a 1972 game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) drops back for a pass during a 1972 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Hank Stram talks to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) on the sidelines during a 1972 game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) calls a play at the line of scrimmage during a 1973 game.
Hank Stram points to Len Dawson on the sidelines during a game as they talk.
Fans of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson hold up a "16" home-made sign in the stands during the 1975 season.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) scrambles and avoids a sack during a 1975 game against the Baltimore Colts.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) drops back for a pass during a 1975 game.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) throws the football downfield during a 1975 game against the Baltimore Colts.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) scrambles to avoid an oncoming Baltimore Colts' defenseman.
Kansas City Chiefs fans post signs thanking Len Dawson during the 1978 NFL football season.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson gives a speech during his 1987 NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson waves to the crowd during his 1987 NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Kansas City Chiefs hall of fame quarterback Len Dawson waves to the crowd in 1987 while wearing his Hall of Fame jacket.
The Kansas City Chiefs broadcast team waves from the press box during a 1988 home game.
The 101 KCFX broadcast team poses for a group photo in the press box at Arrowhead Stadium in 1991.
Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson and Mitch Holthus pose for a group photo honoring Mitch as the most prolific play by play announcer in Chiefs history during the Sept. 21 2003 away game against the Houston Texans.
Hank Stram and Len Dawson pose with Stram's Hall of Fame bust in 2003.
Hank Stram and Len Dawson shake hands at Stram's 2013 Hall of Fame induction.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson (16) holding his bust at the NFL Hall of Fame.
Len Dawson (16) rolls out to pass.
Len Dawson (16) huddling with offense during a game.
Len Dawson (16) prepares to receive the snap.
Troy Aikman and Len Dawson pose for a group photo during the 2009 Hall of Fame Weekend in Canton, Ohio.
Len Dawson and Mitch Holthus shake hands on the field before a 2008 home game.
Len Dawson (16) interviews a player after a game for 101 The Fox.
Len Dawson in the broadcast booth in 2012.
Len Dawson in the broadcast booth in 2012.
Len Dawson in the broadcast booth in 2012.
John Dorsey poses with members of the military and Chiefs hall of famers in front of a B-2 bomber at Whiteman Air Force base.
Len Dawson gets ready to bang the big drum before the Dec. 14, 2014 home game against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs won 31-13.
Len Dawson hits the big drum before the Dec. 14, 2014 home game against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs won 31-13.
Len Dawson hits the big drum before the Dec. 14, 2014 home game against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs won 31-13.
Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson meets with the Len Dawson Scholarship recipient, Monday, June 22, 2015.
Len Dawson Scholarship Recipient
The Kansas City Chiefs won 14-13 over the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, August 21, 2015
Len Dawson Scholarship Winner Kansas City Chiefs vs Cincinnati Bengals preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium on August 10, 2019
He was named to six AFL All-Star teams and one Pro Bowl squad, and also earned AFL Player of the Year honors for the 1962 season. Dawson started 158 regular season games for Kansas City, the most of any quarterback in franchise history. He led the AFL in passing four different seasons (1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968), pacing the AFL in completion percentage eight times, including a string of six-straight seasons from 1964-69.
Dawson was recognized as the 1973 NFL Man of the Year, one of five Chiefs players to ever earn the honor. He retired from professional football on May 1, 1976. He was enshrined into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1979 and was immortalized at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1987. He was also enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.
Dawson enjoyed an equally legendary broadcasting career that began during his playing days. In 1966 he served as a sports anchor with KMBC Radio and as sports director for KMBC-TV while serving as the club's signal caller. Following his retirement from professional football after the 1975 season, Dawson joined NBC and served as a color analyst on NFL games until 1982. He then joined the Chiefs Radio Network as a color commentator in 1984, serving on the team's radio crew for 35 years. While working NFL games for NBC, Dawson embarked on what would become a 24-year run that spanned four decades (1977-2001) as the host of HBO's popular "Inside the NFL," cable television's longest-running series and the first NFL-related program to air on cable.
For his contributions to broadcasting, Dawson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the recipient of the Hall's Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2012. He became just the third individual in professional football history to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as both a player and a broadcaster, joining Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford.
In 2014, Dawson was honored with the Lamar Hunt Award for Professional Football at the 44th Annual NFL 101 Awards, recognizing his contributions both on and off the field that helped shape the National Football League into the preeminent professional sports league in America. In 2017, the club renamed the television broadcast booth inside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium the Len Dawson Broadcast Booth in honor of Dawson's accomplishments both on the field and as a broadcaster.
Dawson began his professional career as a first-round draft pick of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957. He went on to land with Cleveland in 1960 but was cut by the Browns prior to the 1962 season, at which point he was signed by the Dallas Texans as a free agent on July 2, 1962. In total he spent 19 years as a quarterback in the NFL/AFL.
The Alliance, Ohio, native attended Purdue University where he was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Boilermakers (1954-56) and ended his career as the university's leader in career passing yards and touchdown passes.
