1989 Kansas City Chiefs season
Encyclopedia
The 1989
Kansas City Chiefs
season ended with a 8–7–1 record and second-place finish in the AFC West
. The season was the first with head coach
Marty Schottenheimer
and general manager
Carl Peterson
.
The Chiefs had changed coaches before, but never had the organization gone through the complete overhaul it did between the 1988 and 1989 seasons. On December 19, 1988, Lamar Hunt
hired Carl Peterson as the team's new president/general manager. Peterson wasted no time in making changes-on January 5 he fired head coach Frank Gansz
two weeks after taking over. On January 24 he hired Marty Schottenheimer, who had left his job with the Browns, as the club's seventh head coach. Schottenheimer also cleaned house and with Peterson's help made several roster changes.
The Chiefs started the season at Denver on September 10 but the Chiefs lost in the opener 34–20. The very next Sunday the Chiefs downs the Los Angeles Raiders 24–19, Schottenheimer's first win as Chiefs' head coach.
The Chiefs would start thr season 1–4. But then they started to win. On October 22, Christian Okoye
carries the ball 33 times for 170 yards as the Chiefs defeat the Dallas Cowboys
at Arrowhead Stadium
, 36–28. During the Chiefs unexpected success, rookie linebacker Derrick Thomas
made 10 sacks while Stephone Paige
led the receivers with 44 receptions.
On November 26, Kansas City cruises past the Houston Oilers, 34–0 to start a 3-game winning streak to pulled within a chance to make the playoffs. Steve DeBerg
passed for 2,529 yards in his second season with the team.
On December 17, using a bruising running game and a smothering defense, the San Diego Chargers
marched into Arrowhead Stadium and crushed the Chiefs' playoffs dreams. They bulldozen their way to 219 yards rushing, 176 by Marion Butts
, and won 20–13. The loss eliminated the Chiefs from any chance of making the playoffs.
Christian Okoye constantly found his path blocked, holes jammed. Chiefs' quarterback Steve DeBerg was ineffective because of the chilling 18-degree weather and completed just 14 of 33 passes.
The Chiefs had one final opportunity to tie the game, driving from their own 36 yard line to the San Diego 19. Deberg's next pass into the end zone was intercepted, ending the Chiefs' chances and the game.
The next week though, the Chiefs bounce back and defeat the Miami Dolphins
for the second time in the season, 27–24 and had their first winning record in the Schottenheimer-Peterson era. Christian Okoye led the NFL in rushing with 1,480 yards. Okoye were named to the Pro Bowl
along with defensive stars Derrick Thomas, Albert Lewis
and Kevin Ross. This season proved to be a prelude of good things in the future.
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
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 a 8–7–1 record and second-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 season was the first with head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
and general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
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...
.
The Chiefs had changed coaches before, but never had the organization gone through the complete overhaul it did between the 1988 and 1989 seasons. On December 19, 1988, Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
hired Carl Peterson as the team's new president/general manager. Peterson wasted no time in making changes-on January 5 he fired 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....
two weeks after taking over. On January 24 he hired Marty Schottenheimer, who had left his job with the Browns, as the club's seventh head coach. Schottenheimer also cleaned house and with Peterson's help made several roster changes.
The Chiefs started the season at Denver on September 10 but the Chiefs lost in the opener 34–20. The very next Sunday the Chiefs downs the Los Angeles Raiders 24–19, Schottenheimer's first win as Chiefs' head coach.
The Chiefs would start thr season 1–4. But then they started to win. On October 22, Christian Okoye
Christian Okoye
Christian Emeka Okoye , is a Nigerian-American former American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987 to 1992. Nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," Okoye was known for his powerful running style and ability to break tackles. Okoye's six seasons in the NFL saw a league rushing...
carries the ball 33 times for 170 yards as the Chiefs defeat the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, 36–28. During the Chiefs unexpected success, rookie linebacker Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas , nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft...
made 10 sacks while Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige , is a former professional American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to 1992 and the Minnesota Vikings in 1993. A 6'2" 185 lb. wide receiver undrafted free agent from Fresno State University, Paige played 9 years for the Chiefs and his final year...
led the receivers with 44 receptions.
On November 26, Kansas City cruises past the Houston Oilers, 34–0 to start a 3-game winning streak to pulled within a chance to make the playoffs. 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...
passed for 2,529 yards in his second season with the team.
On December 17, using a bruising running game and a smothering defense, the 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...
marched into Arrowhead Stadium and crushed the Chiefs' playoffs dreams. They bulldozen their way to 219 yards rushing, 176 by Marion Butts
Marion Butts
Marion Stevenson Butts, Jr. is a retired professional American football running back who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, the New England Patriots and the Houston Oilers from 1989 to 1995....
, and won 20–13. The loss eliminated the Chiefs from any chance of making the playoffs.
Christian Okoye constantly found his path blocked, holes jammed. Chiefs' quarterback Steve DeBerg was ineffective because of the chilling 18-degree weather and completed just 14 of 33 passes.
The Chiefs had one final opportunity to tie the game, driving from their own 36 yard line to the San Diego 19. Deberg's next pass into the end zone was intercepted, ending the Chiefs' chances and the game.
The next week though, the Chiefs bounce back and defeat the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for the second time in the season, 27–24 and had their first winning record in the Schottenheimer-Peterson era. Christian Okoye led the NFL in rushing with 1,480 yards. Okoye were named to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
along with defensive stars Derrick Thomas, Albert Lewis
Albert Lewis (American football)
Albert Ray Lewis is a former American football player who played in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders...
and Kevin Ross. This season proved to be a prelude of good things in the future.
Staff
| 1989 Kansas City Chiefs staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10, 1989 | 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 34–20 | |
| 2 | September 17, 1989 | 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... |
W 24–19 | |
| 3 | September 24, 1989 | 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 21–6 | |
| 4 | October 1, 1989 | 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... |
L 21–6 | |
| 5 | October 8, 1989 | 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... |
W 20–16 | |
| 6 | October 15, 1989 | 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 20–14 | |
| 7 | October 22, 1989 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 36–28 | |
| 8 | October 29, 1989 | 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 23–17 | |
| 9 | November 5, 1989 | 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 20–10 | |
| 10 | November 12, 1989 | 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 16–13 | |
| 11 | November 19, 1989 | at 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... |
T 10–10 | |
| 12 | November 26, 1989 | 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... |
W 34–0 | |
| 13 | December 3, 1989 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 26–21 | |
| 14 | December 10, 1989 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
W 21–3 | |
| 15 | December 17, 1989 | 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 20–13 | |
| 16 | December 24, 1989 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–24 | |
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:... |
||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos 1989 Denver Broncos season -Regular season:One of Denver's new major additions was rookie running back Bobby Humphrey, who rushed for 1,151 yards, caught 22 passes for 156 yards, and scored 8 touchdowns. Humphrey gave the Broncos a powerful running attack that they lacked in their previous Super Bowl seasons. The defense had... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 362 | 226 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 318 | 286 |
| Los Angeles Raiders 1989 Los Angeles Raiders season The 1989 Los Angeles Raiders season was the club’s 30th season in the NFL. Art Shell replaced Mike Shanahan, and in the process became the first black head coach in the NFL since Fritz Pollard coached the Akron Pros in 1921. The club finished with an 8–8 record.-Regular season:The Raiders stated... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 315 | 297 |
| Seattle Seahawks 1989 Seattle Seahawks season The 1989 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 14th season with the National Football League.-1989 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 241 | 327 |
| San Diego Chargers 1989 San Diego Chargers season The 1989 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 1988. It was Dan Henning's first season as the teams head coach.-Regular season:... |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 266 | 290 |