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SuperBowlConcierge.com > Super Bowls > SB 4 Champion Kansas City Chiefs |
Super Bowl History |
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But Dawson silenced the critics and led Kansas City to a strong finish in the playoffs,
defeating the Jets in the Divisional Playoffs and eliminating the Raiders
in the AFL Championship Game, thus essentially making the Chiefs the first wild
card team to play in the Super Bowl. (Dawson says he thinks both the Jets and
the Raiders could have beaten the Vikings.) Still, many people felt that Dawson's level of play in the AFL was not comparable to the NFL. Dawson himself had spent 4 seasons in the NFL as a backup before going to the AFL and becoming one of its top quarterbacks. "The AFL saved my career," said Dawson. In his 8 AFL seasons, he had thrown more touchdown passes (182) than any other professional football quarterback during that time. |
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SB 4 Champion Kansas City Chiefs |
Meanwhile, it seemed that the Chiefs, led by head coach Hank Stram, and especially
quarterback Len Dawson, were jinxed throughout the year. In the second game of
the regular season, Dawson suffered a knee injury that kept him from playing
the next six games. The Chiefs managed to finish in second place behind the Oakland
Raiders in the AFL's Western Division, but only after suffering a tough 10-6
loss to Oakland in the final game of the regular season. After that game, many
sports writers and fans heavily criticized the team and Dawson for the poor
play calling (Dawson called between 80 and 90 percent of the plays during the season). The Chiefs still managed to clinch a playoff spot. Wanting to set itself up more like the NFL right before the merger, the AFL expanded the playoffs for the 1969 season, by having the second place teams from each division face the first place teams from the other division (Western Champion vs. Eastern Runner-Up, and vice versa). As a result of the new playoff format, many critics thought the Chiefs entered the playoffs through a "back-door" as the runner up in the Western division. |
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But because many still viewed the AFL as being inferior to the NFL, his records were
not considered significant. Dawson's first chance to prove himself against
an NFL team ended in failure, with his Chiefs losing 35-10 in Super Bowl I, reinforcing
the notion that his success was only due to playing in the "inferior league". Offensively, the Chiefs employed innovative formations and strategies designed by Stram to disrupt the timing and positioning of the defense. |
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The AFL squared the Super Bowl at two games apiece with the NFL, building a 16-0
halftime lead behind Len Dawson's superb quarterbacking and a powerful defense. Dawson, the fourth consecutive quarterback to be chosen the Super Bowl's top player, called an almost flawless game, completing 12 of 17 passes and hitting Otis Taylor on a 46-yard play for the final Chiefs touchdown. The Kansas City defense limited Minnesota's strong rushing game to 67 yards and had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The crowd of 80,562 set a Super Bowl record, as did the gross receipts of $3,817,872.69. |
GAME RECAP |
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Vikings 0
0 7 0
7 Chiefs 3 13 7 0 23 |
BOX SCORE |
1 2 3
4 Total |
Date January 11, 1970 Stadium Tulane Stadium City New Orleans, Louisiana MVP Len Dawson, Quarterback Favorite Vikings by 12½ National anthem Al Hirt Coin toss Game referee Referee John McDonough Halftime show "Mardi Gras" with Carol Channing Attendance 80,562 TV in the United States Network CBS Announcers Jack Buck, Frank Gifford and Pat Summerall Nielsen Ratings 39.4 Market share 69 Cost of 30-second commercial US$78,000 |
Super Bowl 4 Information |
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Super Bowl Champs |
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Future Super Bowl Locations |
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Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Ariz. Feb. 3, 2008 Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1, 2009 Super Bowl XLIV, South Florida TBA, 2010 Super Bowl XLV, North Texas TBA, 2011 |
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Besides Dawson, the Chiefs main offensive weapon was running back Mike Garrett (1965
Heisman Trophy winner), who rushed for 732 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also recorded 43 receptions for 432 yards and another 2 touchdowns. Running back Robert Holmes had 612 rushing yards, 266 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns. In the passing game, wide receiver Otis Taylor caught 41 passes for 696 yards and 7 touchdowns. The offensive line was anchored by AFL All-Stars Ed Budde and Jim Tyrer. According to Len Dawson, placekicker Jan Stenerud and punter Jerrel Wilson were the best kickers in football. The Chiefs defense led the AFL in fewest points allowed (177). Like the Vikings, the Chiefs also had an outstanding defensive line, which was led by defensive tackles Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp, and defensive end Jerry Mays. The Chiefs also had AFL All-Star linebacker and future hall of famer Willie Lanier, who recorded 4 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery during the season. The Kansas City secondary was led by defensive backs Emmitt Thomas (9 interceptions for 146 return yards and a touchdown), and Johnny Robinson (8 interceptions for 158 return yards). |