1988 Kansas City Chiefs season
Encyclopedia
The 1988
Kansas City Chiefs
season ended with an 4–11–1 record, and last place finish in the AFC West
.
The spring was marked by several notable trades as the club jockeyed to improve on its 4–11 finish in 1987
. Todd Blackledge was traded to Pittsburgh
on March 29 and 12-year veteran quarterback Steve DeBerg
was acquired from Tampa Bay
on March 31. The Chiefs moved up one spot in the first round of the draft to select defensive end Neil Smith
with the second overall pick. Bill Kenney
opened the team’s initial two games at quarterback, but was replaced by DeBerg for the second half against Seattle
. DeBerg guided the team to a 20–13 win against Denver
in his initial start as a member of the Chiefs. However, six losses and a tie followed as Kenney and DeBerg jostled for the QB job.
As the season drew to a close, it became apparent the winds of change were blowing across the organization. President Jack Steadman
resigned on December 8, while general manager Jim Schaaf
was relieved of his duties the same day. Steadman was later named Chairman of the Board. On the field, the Chiefs finished the year at 4–11–1 as questions swirled regarding head coach Frank Gansz
’s future and who would fill the club’s leadership void. One day after the season’s conclusion, former Philadelphia Eagles
and United States Football League
executive Carl Peterson
was named the club’s President/General Manager and Chief Operating Officer on December 19.
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
season ended with an 4–11–1 record, and last place finish in the AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...
.
The spring was marked by several notable trades as the club jockeyed to improve on its 4–11 finish in 1987
1987 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1987 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with an 4–11 record, and last place finish in the AFC West.One of the most tumultuous weeks in franchise history took place following the club’s playoff loss against the Jets in the playoffs...
. Todd Blackledge was traded to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
on March 29 and 12-year veteran quarterback Steve DeBerg
Steve DeBerg
Steven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...
was acquired from Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
on March 31. The Chiefs moved up one spot in the first round of the draft to select defensive end Neil Smith
Neil Smith (football player)
Neil Smith is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988 to 1996, the Denver Broncos from 1997 to 1999, and the San Diego Chargers in 2000...
with the second overall pick. Bill Kenney
Bill Kenney
William Patrick Kenney is a retired quarterback who spent 9 years in the National Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1980 to 1988 and a former politician who spent 8 years as a Missouri State Senator...
opened the team’s initial two games at quarterback, but was replaced by DeBerg for the second half against Seattle
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. DeBerg guided the team to a 20–13 win against Denver
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in his initial start as a member of the Chiefs. However, six losses and a tie followed as Kenney and DeBerg jostled for the QB job.
As the season drew to a close, it became apparent the winds of change were blowing across the organization. President Jack Steadman
Jack Steadman
Jack W. Steadman is the former chairman, vice president, president and general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League....
resigned on December 8, while general manager Jim Schaaf
Jim Schaaf
Jim Schaaf is a former American football executive in the National Football League . He served as general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1976 to 1988. Alongside his son, Schaaf now owns and operates Jim Schaaf & Associates , a sports insurance firm.From 1961 to 1966 Schaaf worked with the...
was relieved of his duties the same day. Steadman was later named Chairman of the Board. On the field, the Chiefs finished the year at 4–11–1 as questions swirled regarding head coach Frank Gansz
Frank Gansz
Frank Gansz was an American football coach whose career spanned nearly 40 years. He died in Dallas on April 27, 2009, from complications following knee replacement surgery....
’s future and who would fill the club’s leadership void. One day after the season’s conclusion, former Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
executive Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
was named the club’s President/General Manager and Chief Operating Officer on December 19.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4, 1988 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 6–3 | |
| 2 | September 11, 1988 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 31–10 | |
| 3 | September 18, 1988 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–13 | |
| 4 | September 25, 1988 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24–23 | |
| 5 | October 2, 1988 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
T 17–17 | |
| 6 | October 9, 1988 | at Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 7–6 | |
| 7 | October 16, 1988 | Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 27–17 | |
| 8 | October 23, 1988 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 7–6 | |
| 9 | October 30, 1988 | at Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17–10 | |
| 10 | November 6, 1988 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17–11 | |
| 11 | November 13, 1988 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 31–28 | |
| 12 | November 20, 1988 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 27–24 | |
| 13 | November 27, 1988 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 16–10 | |
| 14 | December 4, 1988 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 38–34 | |
| 15 | December 11, 1988 | at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 28–12 | |
| 16 | December 18, 1988 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24–13 | |
Standings
| AFC West AFC West The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:... |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Seattle Seahawks 1988 Seattle Seahawks season The 1988 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 13th season with the National Football League.-1988 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-Playoffs:-External links:* *... |
9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 339 | 329 | W-2 |
| Denver Broncos 1988 Denver Broncos season -Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 327 | 352 | W-1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders 1988 Los Angeles Raiders season The 1988 Los Angeles Raiders season was the club’s 29th season in the NFL. Mike Shanahan was hired as head coach, and the club finished with a 7–9 record. The club drafted Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, making Brown the third person on the Raiders roster to have won the Heisman Trophy... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 325 | 369 | L-2 |
| San Diego Chargers 1988 San Diego Chargers season The 1988 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–7 record in 1987. It was Al Saunders's final season as the team's head coach.-Schedule:-Standings:-See also:*1988 NFL season... |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 231 | 332 | W-2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | 254 | 320 | L-2 |