Kansas City Chiefs (1963-Present)

Historical Moments:
1963: The defending AFL Champions got ready for their first season in Kansas City with one of the strongest drafts ever. Buck Buchanan, Ed Budde and Bobby Bell, became starters right away and would play a combined 526 games with the Chiefs. However, another rookie Stone Johnson would never make it to his rookie season, after sustaining a serious spinal cord injury, which would lead to his untimely death. The Chiefs would go on to retire his number 33 in his honor. The heavy hearted Chiefs started their first season in Kansas City win with a 59-7 victory over the Broncos in Denver, but managed just one win and two ties in its next nine games on their way to a disappointing 5-7-2 record.

1964: The Chiefs struggled to a 7-7 record as many of the team's best players, including E.J. Holub, Fred Arbanas and Johnny Robinson, missed several games with injuries. An average of just 18,126 fans attended each home game, prompting discussion at the AFL owners' meeting about the Chiefs future in Kansas City.

1965: The Chiefs made Kansas star Gale Sayers their first-round draft pick, but lost him in a bidding war with the Chicago Bears. However, the Chiefs were able to nab wide receiver Otis Taylor from Prairie View. Tragedy also hit the Chiefs again when RB Mack Lee Hill died on the operating table after relatively routine knee surgery late in the season. The Chiefs would go on to finish with a 7-5-2 record losing 3 games by a Field Goal or less.

1966: The Chiefs make another big improvement through the draft signing RB Mike Garrett even though he was also drafted by his hometown Los Angeles Rams. After starting the season 3-0 on the road, a crowd of 43,885, the largest ever to witness a sports event in Kansas City, turned out for the home opener against the defending AFL champion Buffalo Bills, the home opener against the defending AFL champion Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs dropped a 29-14 decision to the Bills, but, after the contest, Chiefs coach Hank Stram and Buffalo head coach Joe Collier negotiated a trade in the middle of the field. Kansas City got kicker Mike Mercer for a fifth-round pick, solidifying one of the few weaknesses on the squad. The Chiefs would go on to finish with an 11-2-1 record, winning the Western Division by 3 games to set up rematch with Bills in Buffalo in the AFL Championship Game. Using a dazzling I-formation offense and a smothering defense, the Chiefs dominated the Bills in Buffalo, 31-7, on New Year's Day to win the franchise's second AFL crown and earned a place in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game.

Super Bowl I: Lamar Hunt who was the driving force behind the formation of AFL won a major victory when the NFL and AFL agreed to play a World Championship game after the season. So it was only appropriate that his Chiefs were the AFL's reprehensive in the first of these games billed as the AFL-NFL Championship Game. Initially the game did not get much attention as everyone assumed that the Chiefs were no-match for the powerful Green Bay Packers who won the NFL Championship. The game was not even sold out as the Los Angeles Coliseum only was filled to 2/3 of capacity. The Chiefs would manage to stay close for a half only trailing 14-10 at halftime, but the Packers would turn on the after burners scoring 21 unanswered points in the 2nd half for the 35-10 victory. However, the game would be the beginning of a tradition and within a few years would become the premier sporting event in America. The game would eventually be called the "Super Bowl", a name that Lamar Hunt himself came up with after seeing his daughter playing with a Super Ball.

1967: Coming off their berth in the First Super Bowl, interest in the team skyrocketed, forcing an increase in seating capacity at Kansas City Municipal Stadium from 40,000 to 47,000. Later in the year, Jackson County voters approved a $43 million bond issue for construction of a sports complex. However, success on the field was much harder to come by as injuries hit the club hard as the Chiefs clawed their way to a 9-5 record.

1968: With QB Len Dawson leading the AFL in passing for the 4th time in his career the Chiefs finished with a 12-2 record, which was good enough to finish in a 1st pace tie with Oakland Raiders. This would force a Divisional Playoff in Oakland, where the Chiefs were blitzed 41-6, as the Raiders advanced to the AFL Championship Game in New York.

1969: Ten years after Lamar Hunt helped create the AFL the league which no one thought would last, was playing its final season. However, the league, which no one took seriously when it was first formed, was not folding instead it was becoming part of the NFL following the 1969 season. Three years after a merger to form a common draft and the Super Bowl III AFL finally had the legitimacy it sought for years when the New York Jets stunned the Baltimore Colts, This set the stage for the NFL to take over the AFL, keeping the league intact, while adding 3 NFL teams so both the newly billed AFC, and NFC would have 13 teams apiece. Although the move ended the AFL as a separate league it would only make pro-football stronger, and would prove to be a victory for Lamar Hunt and the misfit AFL owners, who would now be on equal footing with the NFL owners, and teams. The Chiefs opened the final AFL season with impressive wins over San Diego and Boston, but lost QB Len Dawson with a knee injury. The next week, backup Jacky Lee went down with a broken ankle, leaving the team's most crucial position in the hands of two-year pro Mike Livingston. In his first game Livingston struggled in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. However Livingston would bounce back and the Chiefs would win their next 7 before losing at home to their nemeses the Oakland Raiders. As the season was winding down Len Dawson returned, but after the Chiefs lost to the Raiders again the Chiefs were forced to settle for 2nd place with an 11-3 record. However, the AFL in its final year gave a playoff spot to their division runner-ups so they could get an extra round of playoffs. In the 1st Round of the Playoffs the Chiefs were matched up with the defending Super Bowl Champion Jets in New York. The Chiefs defense would dominate all game shutting down Joe Namath, and holding the Jets to 6 points as the Chiefs advanced to the AFL Championship 13-6. However, if the Chiefs were going to get back to the Super Bowl they would have to beat their Nemeses in Oakland. As if it were pre-ordained the Chiefs defense would be up to the task again, in the game that would be the final game in AFL history, holding the Raiders to just 7 points, to win the final AFL Championship and advance to their 2nd Super Bowl. The Chiefs would become the only AFL franchise to win 3 Championships counting their years in Dallas.

Super Bowl IV: When the Chiefs participated in Super Bowl I the game was seen as an exhibition more than a championship, as no one gave them a chance to beat the powerful Green Bay Packers. However, after the Jets beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III the game was viewed as a legitimate championship, as the AFL proved it was on equal footing with the NFL. With a full merger coming this game would be the last AFL-NFL Super Bowl, and the Chiefs used the game as a crusade for the American Football League, and wore patches on their jerseys saying "AFL-10," which referred to the league's 10-year existence. This time the Chiefs opponents were the Minnesota Vikings, and their fierce defense; once again nobody gave the Chiefs a chance to win as they were listed as 12-point underdogs for the game played in New Orleans. However, the motivated Chiefs would take a 16-0 lead into halftime thanks to a Mike Garrett TD, and 3 Jan Stenerude FGs. The Chiefs would seal them game in the 3rd Quarter on a dynamic 46-yard touchdown pass from Super Bowl MVP Len Dawson to Otis Taylor. The Chiefs would go on to win the game 23-7which evened the AFL's record in Super Bowls to 2-2, and once and for all proved the league was for real, and was worthy of the coming merger.

1970: Despite injuries to key players and the trade of Mike Garrett to the Chargers, the Chiefs finished the year with a 7-5-2 record, but did not qualify for the playoffs.

1971: With Otis Taylor leading the NFL in receiving yards and Ed Podolak becoming the team's top rusher. The Chiefs once again became one of the top teams in the AFC. Also helping to lead the Chiefs was the linebacking trio of Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell and Jim Lynch was the league's best. In the season's next-to-last game with the Oakland Raiders, a late field goal by Stenerude gave the Chiefs a 16-14 victory and a Western Division title. The team finished with a 10-3-1 mark, one-and-a-half games ahead of Oakland. In the 1st Round of the playoffs the Chiefs hosted the Miami Dolphins in the final game at Kansas City Municipal Stadium on Christmas Day. Chiefs RB Ed Podolack would have a career game accounting for 350 All-Purpose Yards, but the Chiefs were unable to win the game as PK Jan Stenerude missed on several opportunities. The Dolphins and Chiefs would battle late into the 2nd OT, as the game became the longest in NFL history. The Dolphins would go on to win the game 27-24 on a Garo Yupremian FG to advance to the AFC Championship.

1972: The Chiefs had allot to be proud of heading into the 1972 season, as owner and founder Lamar Hunt became the first AFL figure to gain entry into the NFL Hall of Fame. The Chiefs also could be proud of their new home Arrowhead Stadium, which was the most state-of-the-art stadium in the NFL, and with it's luxury boxes was years ahead of its time. On September 17th the Chiefs hosted the Miami Dolphins in the first game at the new stadium. However, the result was no different than the final game at Municipal Stadium as the Dolphins emerged with a 20-10 victory, on their way to an undefeated season. The Chiefs would go on to finish with an 8-6 record, missing out on the playoffs.

1973: The defense remained solid, but the offense struggled as QB Len Dawson was hurt for much of the season. However, Mike Livingston led the club into first place in late November, but a pair of losses and a tie, gave the team its second straight second-place finish with a 7-5-2 record.

1974: The Chiefs age was beginning to show. Several of the club's key players were entering the twilight of their careers, and it resulted in the team's first losing season in 11 years, with a record of 5-9. Shortly after the season Hank Stram, the only would resign; Stram's record in his 15 years at the helm was an impressive 124-76-10.

1975: The Chiefs would stumble out of the gate, losing their first 3 games in Paul Wiggin's first season as Head Coach. The Chiefs would show flashes of their past greatness winning 4 of their next 5. However, injuries would cripple the team, leading to a second straight 5-9 finish. After the season Len Dawson, the top passer in Chiefs history, announced his retirement aft 14 memorable seasons with the franchise.

1976: The Chiefs continue to struggle posting their 3rd consecutive season with a record of 5-9, while finishing in 4th place in the AFC West.

1977: The Chiefs suffered their worst season ever, winning only twice. Tom Bettis replaced Paul Wiggin at mid-season as the team's head coach, but was able to win just one game in seven tries, as the Chiefs posted a dreadful 2-12 record.

1978: Marv Levy, the former head coach of the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes, was named head coach. His first four draft picks were defensive players, including standout DE Art Still of Kentucky and LB Gary Spani of Kansas State. Meanwhile, on offense he Chiefs had the second-most productive ground game in the league and a record 5 different runners had 100-yard games, including Tony Reed, the team's first 1000-yard back in 11 years. However, the ended the season with a 4-12 record.

1979: After a 1-3 start QB Mike Livingston is replaced by rookie Steve Fuller, who helps improve the Chiefs with a 7-9 record.

1980: In a then-controversial move, the Chiefs released Stenerude, the club's all-time leading scorer, in favor of journeyman Nick Lowery, who had been cut 11 times by 8 different teams. After a 0-4 start the Chiefs defense comes age with DE Art Still, LB Garry Spani, and S Gary Barbaro and CB Gary Green playing major roles to lead the Chiefs to an 8-8 record.

1981: The Chiefs get off to a fast start, and are at 6-2 at the midpoint of the season, which included 2 wins over the defending Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders. However 5 losses in their next 7 games doomed their playoff chances. However, a win in their final game over the Minnesota Vikings improved the Chiefs record to 9-7, earning them their first winning season since 1973.

1982: The Chiefs stake a major step back in a season interrupted by a 2-month players strike, and finish with a disappointing 3-6 record, which led to the dismissal of Head Coach Marv Levy.

1983: Tragedy strikes the Chiefs when Joe Delaney, the team's young star RB, drowned trying to save the lives of 3 children in Monroe, Louisiana. New Head Coach John Mackovic had trouble replacing Delaney, and the club's running game suffered as the Chiefs struggled to finish 6-10.

1984: Rookie NT Bill Maas has an immediate impact winning defensive rookie of the Year, as the Chiefs are able to improve their shaky defense. However Inconsistency marred the season as the team finished with an 8-8 record.

1985: The Chiefs got off to a flying start winning three of their first four games. One of the wins, a 28-7 drubbing of the Seattle Seahawks on September 29th, saw FS Deron Cherry tie an NFL record with 4 interceptions. However, the Chiefs would lose their next 7 games on their way to a disappointing 6-10 season.

1986: The pieces started coming together for the Chiefs, who got off to a 7-3 start, but 3 straight losses in November, would put the Chiefs playoff chances in jeopardy. However, the Chiefs would recover with 37-10 win over the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead, which was followed by the Chiefs first win ever win over the Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which put the Chiefs in position to reach the playoffs. On December 21st the Chiefs were able to notch a 24-19 victory in Pittsburgh over the Steelers, to earn the club an AFC Wild Card berth, which was the club's 1st playoff appearance in 15 years. However the Chiefs would end up falling 35-15 to the Jets at the Meadowlands in the AFC Wild Card Game. After the season Head Coach John Mackovic would depart to take over the coaching reigns at the University of Texas.

1987: The Chiefs who split their first 2 games never recover for the player's strike as the Chiefs replacements went 0-3. After the regulars returned the Chiefs continued to struggle losing their next 4 games to stand at 1-8. The Chiefs would go on to finish with a very disappointing 4-11 record.

1988: After another poor 4-11-1 season, the Chiefs would have a major shake up at the top as Carl Peterson took over as the club's President/General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. One of his first moves would be to replace Coach Fran Ganaz, who struggled miserably in his 2 season at the helm. Eventually Peterson would hire Marty Schottenheimer, who had led the Browns to 2 straight Conference Title Appearances away from Cleveland.

1989: With the 4th overall pick in the draft the Chiefs select Butkus award winning LB Derrick Thomas out of Alabama. Thomas would make an immediate impact earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. However, the Chiefs would get off to a slow start winning just 3 of their first 8 games. However, the Chiefs would finish strong led by RB Christian Okoye set a club record and became the first Chief to lead the NFL in rushing with 1,480 yards as the team finished with an 8-7-1 record.

1990: Playing the game in honor of his father who was killed in Vietnam, Derrick Thomas has the game of his life sacking Seattle Seahawks QB Dave Krieg 7 times, setting a new single game record, on his way to a league leading 20 sacks. However, the effort would be in vain as Krieg beat the Chiefs 17-16 with a last-second TD pass. However, the loss would only serve as a lesson for the Chiefs who up to that point had only played mediocre 5-4 football. The Chiefs would go on to win 6 of their final 7 games to finish with an 11-5 record, and a playoff spot. In the wild card game the Chiefs were matched up with the Dolphins in Miami. The Chiefs would hold a 4th Quarter lead, but would fall as QB Dan Marino led the Dolphins down the field for a late TD to advance to the next round.

1991: The Chiefs enjoyed another strong 10-6 regular season. A pair of prime-time Monday night affairs highlighted the home portion of the schedule. On October 7, the Chiefs toppled the defending AFC Champion Buffalo Bills, 33-6, in the club's first home Monday night game in eight years. Three weeks later, the Chiefs tallied a thrilling come-from-behind 24-21 win over the Los Angeles Raiders in front of a national audience. The season was good enough to earn the Chiefs a Wild Card spot and a home playoff game for the 1st time in Arrowhead Stadium. In the Wild Card game against the Raiders, the Chiefs would play dominant defense forcing 6 turnovers in a 10-6 win that was the team's first post season win since Super Bowl IV. A week later the Chiefs visited Buffalo for an AFC Divisional Playoff match up. The Bills dynamic offense would prove to be too much for the Chiefs in a 37-14 setback that propelled Buffalo, led by former Chiefs head Coach Marv Levy toward a 2nd straight Super Bowl.

1992: The Chiefs battled through an injury-riddled season, during which a playoff berth never seemed certain. On the regular season's final Sunday, the Chiefs faced the Broncos in a game that would send the winner into the playoffs. The Chiefs defense tallied three touchdowns, while QB Dave Krieg tossed a pair of scoring passes as the Chiefs buried Denver 42-20. However, the Chiefs would make a quick exit form the playoffs losing 17-0 to the Chargers in San Diego. Following the season FS Dale Carter was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

1993: The Chiefs spent the off-season retooling their offense. On April 20, the Chiefs traded for QB Joe Montana, who directed the San Francisco 49ers to 4 Super Bowl victories. The Chiefs swapped their 1st Round in the '93 draft to the 49ers in exchange for Montana, safety David Whitmore and San Francisco's third-round pick in 1994. Kansas City wasn't done loading up the offense. On June 9 the club signed unrestricted free agent RB Marcus Allen. The additions paid off as the Chiefs went 11-5, and won their first AFC West title since 1971. Kansas City fans got its first true taste of "Montana Magic"; as the Hall of Fame QB engineered a brilliant comeback in a Wild Card Round win over the Steelers. The Chiefs trailed Pittsburgh, 24-17, as the two-minute warning sounded. On fourth-and-goal from the seven, Montana fired a game-tying TD pass to WR Tim Barnett, forcing overtime, where PK Nick Lowery booted a 32-yard field goal as Arrowhead Stadium erupted. The Chiefs would advance to play the Oilers in a Divisional Playoff match up in Houston. The heavily favored Oilers opened up a 13-7, fourth-quarter lead, but once again, Montana had a comeback in mind. First, he hit wide WR J.J. Birden for an 11-yard TD, and then he found WR Willie Davis open in the end zone from 18 yards out. RB Marcus Allen would nail the game shut with a 21-yard TD dash as the Chiefs advanced to the AFC Championship Game with a 28-20 decision. However the Chiefs magic run would end in Buffalo as the Bills won their 4thh straight Lamar Hunt Trophy to advance to the Super Bowl.

1994: On October 17th a Monday Nigh audience found itself enraptured by a duel of QB greats Joe Montana, and John Elway of the Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver Elway would lead the Broncos down the field late in the 4th Quarter to take a 28-24 lead, but Montana would answer with a great drive of his own leading the Chiefs throwing a game winning TD pass with 7 seconds remaining. However, the Chiefs struggled through out much of the season, and sat at 8-6 heading into the final game of the season in Los Angeles against the Raiders. In the do-or-die game RB Marcus Allen burning his former team with 133 yards rushing en route to a 19-9 win the would secure the 6th and final playoff spot. However the Chiefs would make a quick exit from the playoffs in what would prove to be Joe Montana's NFL swan song. The Chiefs would fall 27-17 to the Dolphins in Miami, as the Montana Magic ran out.

1995: The Chiefs jump out of the gates quickly getting off to a 10-1 start, on their way to a 13-3 season, which earned them Home Field Advantage through out the playoffs. On the way to 13-3 the Chief led the NFL in rushing, scoring defense and turnover ratio, the 3 hallmarks of a solid football team. The Chiefs were a favorite to go to the Super Bowl as the playoffs began. In a divisional playoff math up with Indianapolis Cots most thought the Chiefs would walk all over the over Colts who play their home games in a dome, but were now playing in an 11 icebox at Arrowhead. However, the Chiefs would blow several scoring opportunities as PK Lynn Elliot missed 5 FG attempts in a stunning 10-7 loss that sent the Colts to the AFC Championship.

1996: The Chiefs finish with a 9-7 record and en a 6 year streak of making the playoffs. During the season, RB Marcus Allen set three NFL records: most career rushing touchdowns, most game played by a running back and most pass receptions by a running back.

1997: The club engineered several dramatic finishes, the first of which came on September 8th at Oakland when QB Elvis Grbac collaborated with WR Andre Rison on an improbable 32-yard TD pass with seconds remaining to provide the Chiefs with a 28-27 win over the Raiders. After posting a 6-2 record during the season's first half, Kansas City's good fortune finally appeared to run out on November 3rd against the Steelers, when Grbac suffered a broken clavicle. However, back-up QB Rich Gannon would com on to preserve a win in that contest and lead the team to a 5-1 mark in their next six 6 outings. However the most memorable moment of the season came when PK Pete Stoyanovich provided one of the year's most memorable moments, connecting on a line-drive 54-yard FG to give Kansas City a 24-22 win over Denver on November 16th. The win was a key for the 13-3 Chiefs as it gave AFC West title over the Broncos. The Chiefs season would end on an up note as Grbac returned to the starting line-up for the regular season finale against the New Orleans Saints leading the Chiefs to a perfect 8-0 record at Arrowhead Stadium. In the Divisional Playoffs the Chiefs would be forced to play the Broncos again. Despite holding an edge in total yardage, the Chiefs could not convert on several key scoring opportunities, and would fall 14-10 to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Broncos.

1998: The Chiefs once again get off to a fast start winning 4 of their first 5 games. However, a 6-game losing streak would doom the Chiefs to their first losing record in 10 years, as the Chiefs suffered through 7-9 season. Following the season Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer would resign leaving long time assistant Gunther Cunningham behind to take over the coaching reigns.

1999: Despite playing inconstant football the Chiefs entered the final game of the season with a 9-6 record only needing a win over the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead to qualify for the playoffs. The Chiefs would hold a late 38-35 lead before the Raiders tied it, and won in OT with a pair or Joe Nedney FGs. The Chiefs season would end in heartbreak at 9-7, but the upcoming off-season would be unbearable. Shortly after the season ended LB Derrick Thomas was injured on an icy Kansas City Highway. Thomas who was not wearing his seatbelt was paralyzed form the waist down. However, the news would go from bad to worst a month later when the injury resulted in a blood clot that would kill the star Linebacker.

2000: The heavyhearted Chiefs would struggle all season struggling to finish 7-9. Following the season Coach Gunther Cunningham was dismissed, and QB Elvis Grbac was allowed to walk away as the Chiefs set up to rebuild under new Head Coach Dick Vermeil.

2001: Under new coach Dick Vermeil, the Chiefs went through a year of transition, and sat at 3-9 through their first 12 games. The Chiefs would win their next 3 before finishing with a 6-10 record. However the Chiefs found a star in RB Priest Holmes who captured the NFL's rushing title.

2002: Priest Holmes continued to establish himself as one of the top Running Backs in the NFL scoring a league high 24 Touchdowns while 2,287 all-purpose yards on offense, on the way to winning the NFL offensive player of the year despite missing the last 2 games to a hip injury. Balancing Holmes would be QB Trent Green who had a solid season with 3690 passing yards and a 2-1 TD to interception ratio. However the Chiefs defense would struggle allowing 431 points on the season as the Chiefs posted a mediocre 8-8 record.

2003: The Chiefs came flying out of the gates winning their first 4 games easily as they entered an early season showdown with the Denver Broncos who were also 4-0 at Arrowhead Stadium. The game would be decided by Dante Hall who had his 4th straight game with a kick return Touchdown setting a new NFL record as the Chiefs improved to 5-0 with a 24-23 win. Trailing the Green Bay Packers on the road 31-14 the following week the Chiefs rallied with 20 points in the 4th Quarter as Trent Green passed for 400 yards. In overtime Green would find Eddie Kennison on a 51-yard game winning TD pass as the Chiefs improved to 6-0 with a dramatic 40-34 win. The Chiefs continued to roll winning their next 3 games before finally losing to the Cincinnati Bengals 24-19 in Week 11. Following their loss to the Bengals the Chiefs began to look shaky although they continued to win beating the lowly San Diego Charges and Oakland Raiders in their next 2 games to lock up the AFC West Title. However down the stretch the Chiefs would falter splitting their final 4 games to finish with a 13-3 record which would lose them home field advantage through out the playoffs. Despite the late season struggle Priest Holmes was able to set a new single season record with 28 Touchdowns. After a first round bye the Chiefs faced the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Chiefs found themselves behind the 8-ball early as the Colts scored 14 first quarter points on 2 long TD drives. However the Chiefs would answer back scoring 10 points on their first 2 drives. However the Colts would answer back with another TD on their 3rd possession of the first half while the Chiefs 3rd possession resulted in a missed Morten Andersen Field Goal. With the Colts leading 21-10 the Chiefs needed a score to start the second half, but when Priest Holmes' fumble led to a Colts Field Goal and a 14 point deficit. The Chiefs would answer back, only to have the Colts score again. Needing a jump start Dante Hall delivered one with a 92-yard kick return for a TD to cut the deficit to 7 points. However the Colts would answer back with another TD. The Chiefs needing to score quickly were able to strike back, but it took 7 minutes and they would never see the ball again as the Colts advanced to the AFC Championship with a 38-31 win, as the Colts never punted in the game.

2004: There would be no repeat of the Chiefs 9-0 start as they stumbled out of the gate dropping their first 3 games as the Chiefs defense continued to be their Achilles' Heel. After splitting their next 2 games the Chiefs erupted for 101 points in the next 2 games beating the Atlanta Flacons and Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium. However, it would be an abrasion as the Chiefs lost their next 4 games falling to 3-8 and out of the playoff picture. With the playoffs out of reach the Chiefs shut down Priest Holmes who was hampered all season with an ailing knee. With Holmes sitting out the Chiefs turned to backup Larry Johnson who would score 11 Touchdowns while the Chiefs climbed back towards respectability with 4 straight wins. However, with a chance to finish .500 the Chiefs would lose to the division champion San Diego Chargers in their final game as they finished in 3rd with a 7-9 record.

2005: As rumors circulated all season that Dick Vermiel would retire following the season the Chiefs began the season in style by crushing the New York Jets 27-7. Following a Week 2 win on the road against the Oakland Raiders, the Chiefs faced an early test and failed losing to the Denver Broncos 30-10 as the Broncos took control of the AFC West for the rest of the season. A week later the Chiefs got off to a fast start against the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead, leading 17-0. Then after Trent Green had a pass intercepted and returned for Touchdown, the Chiefs quickly recovered as Dante Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to give the Chiefs a 24-6 lead. The Eagles would cut the lead to 24-13 at halftime, then battled back to tie in the 3rd Quarter. The Eagles would continue to befuddle the Chiefs taking a 27-24 lead, then on the ensuing kickoff Hall was in the middle of another key play this time fumbling on the 25 yard line setting the Eagles up for a short TD drive, as the Chiefs lost a heartbreaker 37-31. Following the bye week the Chiefs bounced back with two straight wins, before losing another key Western Division road game to the San Diego Chargers. Making matters worse the Chiefs lost Priest Holmes for the season to a spinal injury that put his career in doubt. Out of the loss of Holmes came the blossoming of a new star as Larry Johnson now the focus of the Chiefs offense was suddenly untouchable rushing for 100 plus yards in each of the final nine games of the season including two performances over 200 yards as he tallied nearly 2,000 all purpose yards with 21 Touchdowns. Following a bad loss to the Buffalo Bills on the road the Chiefs would win three straight including their rematch with the Broncos at Arrowhead to sit at 8-4. However, December road trips into the NFC East ended up being the Chiefs undoing as they lost a heartbreaker to the Cowboys, who won 31-28 with a Drew Bledsoe to Dan Campbell 1-yard TD pass with 22 seconds remaining. A week later the Chiefs could not stop Tiki Barber who outshined a solid 167-yard game from Larry Johnson with 220 yards and two Touchdowns in a 27-17 win for the New York Giants. The Chiefs would close the season with back to back wins, but their 10-6 record would not be good enough for the playoffs in the bruising AFC, as Dick Vermiel would retire with great fanfare around the league. Eventually the Chiefs would work out a deal with the Jets to get Coach Herm Edwards who was Vermiel's chosen successor.

2006: With new Coach Herm Edwards, the Chiefs started the season with bad news, as Priest Holmes career remained in jeopardy following neck surgery that caused him to miss the entire season. However, with Larry Johnson, the Chiefs had a more then antiquate replacement. In Week 1 the Chiefs got more bad injury news as Trent Green suffered a serious concussion in a 23-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. With back up Damon Huard, the Chiefs would fall to 0-2 losing a heartbreaker to the Denver Broncos on the road in overtime 9-6. Huard and the Chiefs played much better the following week, winning their first game of the year at Arrowhead 41-0 over the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile Larry Johnson in place of Holmes continued to establish himself as one of the top Running Backs in the league with 1789 yards rushing with 19 touchdowns. Huard also played well in Green's absence posting a solid 98.0 QB Raiting 11 touchdowns against 1 interception, as the Chiefs held 5-4 record when Trent Green returned to lead the Chiefs to a 17-13 comeback win over the Oakland Raiders. A few days later the Chiefs hosted the Broncos in a primetime Thanksgiving Special, as Larry Johnson rushed for 157 yards, as Lawrence Tynes kicked four field goals in a 19-10 win, which catapulted the Chiefs into the playoff picture. However, that picture nearly faded as the Chiefs dropped their next three games, with Trent Green struggling to regain his form. On December 13th the Chiefs lost something more, when their patriarch Lamar Hunt passed away at the age of 74 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Hunt, who helped found the AFL, owned the Chiefs since 1960, when they began play as the Dallas Texans, eventually moving to Kansas City in 1963. For his contribution the AFC Championship Trophy was named after him. With their playoff hopes fading the Chiefs beat up on the lowly Raiders to end their losing streak, and enter the final week of the season with a chance to still make the playoffs. Needing a win and a Broncos loss to the 49ers to get in the Chiefs did their part, as Larry Johnson scored three touchdowns in a 35-30 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. They then had to sit a watch the 49ers battle the Broncos in Denver. At first things did not start off well as the Broncos jumped out to a 13-0 lead. However, the 49ers would battle back and win the game in overtime 23-20, sending the 9-7 Chiefs into the playoffs. In the Wild Card round the Chiefs started with a showdown against the Indianapolis Colts, giving Coach Herm Edward a chance to face his mentor Tony Dungy. For most of the first half the Chiefs shut down the Colts high powered offense intercepting Peyton Manning three times. With a chance to take the lead the Chiefs had the ball on the Colts 9 following an interception by Jarrad Page. However, the Chiefs offense faltered, as Lawrence Tynes missed a 23-yard FG attempt. The Colts given the reprieve would go on to win the game 23-8, holding Larry Johnson to just 32 rushing yards. Following the season the Chiefs would trade Trent Green, focusing on the future at QB with Brodie Croyle, with Damon Huard being named the new starter.

2007: With the departure of Trent Green, the Chiefs became a team in transition as they got off to a poor start dropping their first two games to the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears, while scoring a total of 13 points. In Week 3 the Chiefs would get their first win on the road as they scored 13 unanswered points after falling behind the Minnesota Vikings 10-0. A week later in San Diego the Chiefs rallied again finishing the game with 24 unanswered points in the second half as the Chiefs stunned the Chargers 30-16. After a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders to climb above .500. However a week later RB Larry Johnson suffered a season ending foot injury in a 33-22 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The injury to Johnson came just as Priest Holmes was ready to play after missing nearly two years with a neck injury. However, the return would be short-lived as Holmes was forced to retire after reinjuring his neck. At the same time the Chiefs began to work on the future as Brodie Croyle took over at Quarterback from Damon Huard. Croyle did not play well as the Chiefs offense struggled badly. The Chiefs would not win another game, as they dropped their final nine games to finish the season with a disappointing 4-12 record. The only bright spot during the season's final two months was Tony Gonzalez who broke Shannon Sharpe's career record for touchdowns by a Tight End at 63.