Len Dawson

"I'm one sports fan talking to another. The exciting part is that I have access to a lot more inside information. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love my job!" - Len Dawson 1935-2022

Legendary Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Kansas City broadcaster Len Dawson passed away in 2022 at the age of 87.

For decades, Len Dawson was the cornerstone of Kansas City's favorite football team, leading the Chiefs to the team's first Super Bowl in 1967 and the first Super Bowl win in 1970.

After football, he would continue an award-winning career as a sports broadcaster at KMBC 9, on the radio, and on network and cable television. He was one of the most respected sports figures in America. But it was his stardom on the field that Chiefs fans will never forget.

Len was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

"I am the seventh son of a seventh son. And all my life they said, 'Hey, that's great. That's good luck,'" Dawson said in his induction speech. "The people of Kansas City, for those of you who don't know those folks, it's some kind of town."

And even though he wasn't a native son, Kansas City loved him back.

Born and raised in Alliance, Ohio, Dawson continued his education and football career at Purdue University.

His coach at Purdue was the legendary Hank Stram, who would later become instrumental in his success as a pro. But his NFL career began with some rather unremarkable seasons in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Then along came the American Football League. The Dallas Texans would then move to Kansas City and Hank Stram was the head coach.

Dawson's football career in Dallas, and especially in Kansas City, took off. His pinpoint passes and quiet sense of command earned him the nickname "Lenny the Cool."

His success and the team's success led to a matchup in the first Super Bowl against head coach Vince Lombardi and the heavily favored Green Bay Packers.

Dawson played well, but the Packers were too much for the Chiefs in a 35 to 10 loss.

"I think the Kansas City team is a real tough football team, but it doesn't compare with the National Football League teams," Lombardi said at the time.

Dawson took issue with that.

"Ticked me off," he said, looking back. "Ticked all of us off, so we wanted another opportunity, and, fortunately, in Super Bowl 4 against the Minnesota Vikings," the team got it.

On Jan. 11, 1970, the Chiefs were back, playing another heavily favored team from the NFL - the Minnesota Vikings.

Once again, Dawson played well completing six of his first seven passes in the game.

A steady Chiefs offense and a stingy Chiefs defense put Kansas City ahead at halftime. But the Chiefs blew the game wide open in the third quarter when Dawson hit Otis Taylor on this 46-yard touchdown pass.

Dawson was named the most valuable player of the 1970 Super Bowl.

In 1966, while still playing for the Chiefs, Dawson was also named sports director at KMBC. That began an over 40-year career at Channel 9. He also hosted "Inside the NFL" on HBO, which he did for more than 20 years. He served for 34 years as the color commentator for Chiefs Radio. The television broadcast booth at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium now bears his name.

Outside of football and broadcasting, Len remained active in the community and focused much of his energy on charity work. He raised money for countless charitable organizations, especially those that helped needy children.

Len was married and had two grown children. He remained in Kansas City for the rest of his life.

Dawson stepped away from the nightly anchor desk at KMBC in 2009 but remained a part of our family right up until his death.