Len Dawson: The Chiefs Original Phenomenon – As we sit upon the dawn of a season that looks to be one for the ages due to the phenomenal play of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the football genius of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, let’s reminisce about a similar duo that dominates Chiefs lore.
We must remember why and how this team is the team it is. The character, the toughness, the tenacity. It all started with a small-town Ohio quarterback, a tough Chicago born football genius born of Polish immigrants who saw beyond the color of skin, and a team of misfits who went to Miami in 1970 and showed the Minnesota Vikings what’s up.
While Hank Stram was happy with his current quarterback, Cotton Davidson, he took on Dawson as a “project.” Let go by both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, the 27-year-old was a project.
But what a project he was!
Under Stram, Dawson led the NFL in touchdown passes four times in his career with Kansas City, although his franchise record-setting total of 30 was not one of those years. We know, of course, that Mahomes shattered that record last year with his 50 touchdowns.
Dawson also led the NFL in completion percentage for 7 years in the 1960s.
During his years with the Chiefs, Dawson was probably the most successful project ever to play in the NFL. Among his many accomplishments:
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- Super Bowl champion (IV)
- Super Bowl MVP (IV)
- Pro Bowl (1971)
- NFL Man of the Year (1973)
- 3× AFL champion (1962, 1966, 1969)
- 6× AFL All-Star (1962, 1964, 1966–1969)
- 2× First-team All-AFL (1962, 1966)
- 2× Second-team All-AFL (1964, 1968)
- AFL Most Valuable Player (1962)
- 4× AFL passing touchdowns leader (1962, 1963, 1966, 1967)
- 6× AFL passer rating leader (1962, 1964–1968)
- American Football League All-Time Team
- Chiefs Hall of Fame
- Kansas City Chiefs No. 16 retired
Mahomes has already surpassed or tied over 15 of the Chiefs franchise passing records after just one season. Even still, Dawson is holding his own:
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- Most pass attempts, career: Len Dawson, 3,696
- Most pass completions, career: Len Dawson, 2,115
- Highest completion percentage, game (min. 15 attempts): Len Dawson, 89.5 (1967)
- Most passing yards, career: Len Dawson, 28,50
- Highest yards per attempt, season (min. 200 attempts): Len Dawson, 9.42 (1968)
- Highest yards per attempt, game (min. 15 attempts): Len Dawson, 18.5 (1963)
- Most passing touchdowns, career: Len Dawson, 237
- Most passing touchdowns, game: Len Dawson, 6 (1964); Patrick Mahomes, 6 (2018 (twice))
- Most passes intercepted, career: Len Dawson, 178
- Highest passer rating, game (min. 10 attempts): Len Dawson, 158.3 (1963); Trent Green, 158.3 (2003); Alex Smith, 158.3 (2013)
- Most games, 1+ passing TD’s, career: Len Dawson, 116
- Most games, 2+ passing TD’s, career: Len Dawson, 7
- Most games, 3+ passing TD’s, career: Len Dawson, 38
- Most games, 4+ passing TD’s, career: Len Dawson, 9
- Most games, 5+ passing TD’s, career: Len Dawson, 3
Mahomes, respectful as always, sat down with Dawson last season. and realizes the legacy of the Chiefs OQ (original quarterback).
"He was so far ahead of his time." – Patrick Mahomes sat down with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Chiefs legend, Len Dawson. 🏈
Under the Helmet, presented by @SportsRadio810 pic.twitter.com/2HogtcIazP
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 17, 2018
I got to talk to Len [Dawson]. He was so far advanced in his time for that record to stand this long. I mean, you throw 30 touchdowns in today’s league where there is a lot more passing and you’re still having a great season. For him to be that advanced, and he won a Super Bowl here… he’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever play. It really is an honor to even be mentioned [with] his name and the single-season record like that.
Dawson, eloquent as always, was no less in his enshrinement speech.
“The people of Kansas City, for those of you who don’t know this place, is some kind of town. The people of Kansas City are tremendous; they have been tremendous to me and my family and to the Kansas City Chiefs. I am very proud, very proud to be here. This has been the greatest week of my life. Thank you very much.”
The records will fall, of that, there is no doubt. It is inevitable. What will not be written, however, is how special, how important, and how amazing it is that a rag-tag franchise from an even raggier league arose from the ashes of a failed football team from Dallas, kicked out by the NFL-backed Dallas Cowboys, to reinvent itself in the city of fountains. This they did through the football-minded Coach Hank Stram, a rather ferocious defense, and mostly on the arm of a very special quarterback who was the seventh son of the seventh son that made football fans of millions.
Dawson is the original. Though his records may fall, Lenny Dawson never will. At least not in the hearts and minds of Chiefs fans.
He set the standard for Chiefs quarterbacks. Our Mr. Mahomes is filling those shoes humbly, faithfully, and with the full support of the man who set the standard, Mr. Lenny “Cool” Dawson.
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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