R.I.P. Len Dawson

Len Dawson, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback who led his team to Super Bowls I and IV, passed away at age 87, according to a statement from his family.

Dawson played college football at Purdue, and was drafted in the 1st round of the 1957 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He saw limited playing time from ’57-’59 before being traded to the Cleveland Browns. He played sparingly for the Browns as well in 1960 and ’61 before being released.

Dawson signed with the American Football League’s Dallas Texans in 1962, and revitalized his career. He was the AFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 1962 season, passing for 29 touchdowns and leading the Texans to an 11-3 record. The Texans beat the Houston Oilers in double overtime to win the AFL championship.

The Texans relocated to Kansas City in 1963, becoming the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1966, the Chiefs won the AFL championship again, beating the Buffalo Bills 31-7. The Chiefs then played the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I, losing 35-10.

Three years later, the Chiefs returned to the Super Bowl and beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7. Dawson completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown in the victory in the final pre merger Super Bowl.

Dawson retired from playing after the 1975 season, and became a radio and TV broadcaster of Chiefs games and on NBC. He also was a sportscaster on a local TV station for decades. He retired form broadcasting in 2017. Dawson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1987 and as a broadcaster in 2012.