Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks
Encyclopedia
The National Football League
's Kansas City Chiefs
have had a total of 31 quarterback
s to start a game in their franchise's history. The team has also had numerous backup quarterbacks that have stolen the spotlight from the starters.
Under Len Dawson
, the Texans/Chiefs won three American Football League
championships and appeared in two Super Bowl
championship games. Dawson was named Most Valuable Player
following the Chiefs' victory in Super Bowl IV
. Dawson played a total of thirteen seasons with Kansas City and retired with many franchise records. Despite never having success in developing a quality quarterback of their own, the Chiefs have achieved success under many veteran quarterbacks, including Dave Krieg
, Joe Montana
, Elvis Grbac
, and Trent Green
. The Chiefs have struggled to draft and develop their own quarterback through the years, often relying on veteran leadership at the position.
Brodie Croyle
was the team's starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2008 season, but suffered an injury in the team's first game. In Croyle's absence, the Chiefs have used both Damon Huard
and Tyler Thigpen
as the starter in alternating weeks. Croyle returned to start in Week 7, and both he and Huard suffered season-ending injuries.
and Joe Montana
led the Chiefs in two successful eras and both led the team to playoff appearances in their first seasons.
The franchise's first starter was Cotton Davidson
, who started 25 games for the Texans before being traded in 1962. Team owner Lamar Hunt
traded Davidson to the Oakland Raiders
for the first-overall selection in the 1963 AFL Draft
. The franchise used that pick to select future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan
.
In Davidson's absence, free agent quarterback Len Dawson
signed with the team on July 2, 1962 after spending a five-year career in the NFL with Pittsburgh
and Cleveland
. In Dallas, Dawson was rejoined with head coach Hank Stram
who served as an assistant coach with Purdue
, where Dawson played college football. In his first season with the Texans, Dawson led the team to a double-overtime victory over the Houston Oilers
in the AFL Championship Game
. The victory brought the team's first league championship.
Len Dawson was the franchise's most successful quarterback, playing in 182 regular season games (158 starts) for the Texans/Chiefs, and holds many franchise records. He was nicknamed "Lenny the Cool" for his calm composure on the field. Dawson completed 2,115 of 3,696 passes for 28,507 yards with 237 touchdowns and 92 interceptions, good for a 92.8 rating. He ranks first in team history in pass attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns. He led the Chiefs to 94 regular season wins and three AFL titles. Dawson led the Chiefs to an appearance in the first AFL–NFL Championship Game
(later known as "Super Bowl I") against the Green Bay Packers
. He was named MVP
of Super Bowl IV
when he directed Kansas City to a 23–7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings
. Dawson was named to six AFL All-Star teams and one Pro Bowl
squad, in addition to being named the AFL Player of the Year in 1962. Dawson was also named the NFL Man of the Year in 1973
. Dawson threw a franchise record six touchdown passes against the Denver Broncos
on November 1, 1964 in a 49–39 victory. In 1966, while still playing for the Chiefs, Dawson became the sports director and anchor for KMBC-TV
, a local Kansas City ABC
affiliate. As of 2009, Dawson is still KMBC's sports director. He would practice and play for the Chiefs during the day and later help anchor news broadcasts at night. After retiring from the NFL in 1975, Dawson began hosting Inside the NFL
on HBO and worked network broadcasts for NBC
. He joined the Chiefs' radio broadcast team in 1984 and provides color commentary to game broadcasts.
Bill Kenney
was the team's starting quarterback in various times between 1980 and 1988 and compiled a 46–51 record. Kenney played behind a porous offensive line and holds the franchise record for most times sacked
(195). Kenney's All-Pro wide receiver teammate Carlos Carson
said, "I don't care who you are, it's tough to throw a pass when you're lying on your back." Kenney was selected to the 1984 Pro Bowl
. After retiring from professional football, Kenney became a State Senator
for the Missouri Senate
.
The Chiefs made a mistake in drafting quarterback Todd Blackledge
in the 1983 NFL Draft
believing that Blackledge was a better choice than Jim Kelly
and Dan Marino
. Blackledge never started a full season for Kansas City while Kelly and Marino played Hall of Fame careers. Blackledge started 24 total games in Kansas City, but inconsistent play led to him sharing time with Bill Kenney
from 1984–1987.
In the 1987 season, the Chiefs used five starting quarterbacks for the only time in franchise history. Doug Hudson was the last quarterback drafted by the team to start a game until Brodie Croyle
started in 2007. In Hudson's only game, he was sacked
in the endzone for a safety by the Denver Broncos
' Jim Ryan. The sack and fumble is the only recorded statistic for his career.
In 1988, the Chiefs traded two draft selections and safety Mark Robinson
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in exchange for veteran quarterback Steve DeBerg
. DeBerg spent four seasons with the Chiefs, leading the team to 2 postseason appearances (in 1990
, he did so despite playing with a broken finger). DeBerg compiled 11,873 passing yards, 67 touchdowns and 50 interceptions with the Chiefs with a 81.8 passer rating
. DeBerg's best year was 1990 with a 101.2 quarterback rating, passing for 3,444 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
On April 21, 1993, Kansas City acquired quarterback Joe Montana
, safety David Whitmore
, and a third-round draft pick in the 1993 NFL Draft
(Will Shields
) by sending their first-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers
. Montana had already agreed on a three-year, $10 million contract before getting traded. Montana would lead the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game
for the first and to date only time in franchise history. He was also selected to the 1994 Pro Bowl
. In 1994, Montana led the Chiefs into Mile High Stadium
to face John Elway
and the Denver Broncos
on Monday Night Football
. Elway performed some of his late-game magic but it was Montana who stole the show in a game later known as the "Monday Night Shootout." The two teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 21, and a Chiefs field goal put the team on top 24–21. After a turnover by the Broncos, Kansas City appeared ready to run out the clock behind running back
Marcus Allen
. Allen fumbled, leaving the Broncos with possession of the ball, and Elway led the Broncos to a touchdown to give Denver a 28–24 lead. However with 1:29 remaining, Montana led the Chiefs 75 yards down the field to score the last minute go ahead touchdown, and the Chiefs snapped an 11-game losing streak to Denver with a 31–28 victory.
After the departure of Elvis Grbac in 2001, the Chiefs acquired Trent Green in a trade with the St. Louis Rams. In his first season, Green struggled and was called "a big disappointment."[36] Phil Kloster famously nicknamed him "Tr-INT" after he had a particularly rough outing versus Denver in which he threw 4 interceptions to Deltha O'Neal. This was later picked up from Chiefs fan page Chiefsplanet by Jason Whitlock who printed the moniker in the Kansas City Star and took the nickname to fame.[36][37][38] The press and Chiefs fans were occasionally critical of Green throughout his five years on the team.[38][39][40][41]
| date=2007-01-03 | accessdate=2008-07-19 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070126051815/http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/01/03/dawes_whats_up_with_coverage_of_kcs_qb__part_ii/ |archivedate = January 26, 2007}} By his third season, Green led the Chiefs to a 13–3 record in 2003 and was called the "mastermind of the Chiefs' high-powered offense." Even after leading the franchise to its first postseason appearance in six seasons, Chiefs fans had still not figured out whether they loved him or hated him. In 2004, Green threw for 4,591 yards and a league-high 556 passing attempts. Green was selected to two Pro Bowl
games in 2003 and 2005. Green's 81-game start streak for the Chiefs from 2001–2006 is a franchise record at the position. His 88 career starts for the Chiefs is second behind Dawson. Green is the Chiefs' career leader in passer rating
(87.3), average gain per attempt (7.7), 300-yard passing games (24), completion percentage (61.94), and completions of 20 or more yards (274). He is the only quarterback in Chiefs history to throw a "perfect game" registering a 158.3 passer rating
against Detroit
on December 14, 2003.
In the past few decades, the Chiefs have relied on veteran quarterbacks to lead their team. The Chiefs never drafted their own quarterback to develop until Brodie Croyle
was chosen in the 2006 NFL Draft
and claimed the starting position in 2007
.
In the years prior to drafting Croyle (1960–2005), the Chiefs had drafted 30 quarterbacks and each led the team to victory just 57 times, or 15%. When head coach Herman Edwards
was hired in 2006
, he stated that he was looking towards implementing a "youth movement" into his game plan, and he began his roster moves at the quarterback position. Croyle was the team's starting quarterback heading into the 2008 season, however, he suffered an injury and Damon Huard
played in Croyle's absence. Huard started the Chiefs' game in Week 2, but he himself suffered an injury and Tyler Thigpen
substituted for the remainder of the game. Thigpen started for the Chiefs in Huard and Croyle's absence against the Falcons. Croyle returned in Week 7 to start against the Tennessee Titans
but suffered a season-ending knee injury. Following the injuries to Croyle and Huard, Thigpen became the de facto
starting quarterback.
After a poor first career start for Thigpen against Atlanta, a game in which he threw three interceptions, the Chiefs implemented the spread offense. With the absence of RB Larry Johnson, the central part of the Chiefs' offense in years past, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey
adjusted the offense to mimic the spread formation run by Thigpen at Coastal Carolina
. It was considered by many in the NFL as a gamble, since there have been doubts over the spread offense's longterm success at the professional level. It was also a new direction for head coach Herman Edwards
, who has long had a reputation for favoring more conservative, run-oriented offenses. After it was implemented, Edwards began seeing his team gain confidence with every game it played in that wide-open system, as the Chiefs began to become competitive once again on offense.
The switch to the spread offense paid off for Thigpen and his abilities. Prior to the Chiefs implementing the spread offense, Thigpen had been playing erratically with the Chiefs, and he suddenly became poised and effective running the new offense. In Thigpen's second career start, he passed for 280 yards with a 69.4% completion rate, with two touchdowns and no interceptions against the New York Jets
, nearly leading the Chiefs to win over the heavily-favored Jets. Thigpen's passer rating climbed from 44.3 to 76.9 in the five games following his initial start at Atlanta. The Chiefs scored more than 10 points just twice in their first six games, but scored more offensive points than that in every game since, and twice topped 25 points.
Thigpen won his first game as the Chiefs' starter on November 30 against the Oakland Raiders, leading Kansas City to a 20–13 victory. Thigpen finished 15-for-22 for 162 yards and ran for 48 more. The offensive gameplan finally paid off and resulted in a victory which ended a 7-game losing streak for the Chiefs. Thigpen ended the season starting nine games for Chiefs with a 1–8 record. Six of the losses were within 7-point or less margins. He registered 21 total touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 2,994 all-purpose yards.
On February 28, 2009, the Chiefs acquired QB Matt Cassel
and LB Mike Vrabel
from the New England Patriots
for the #34 overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
. Cassel will compete with Thigpen for the starting quarterback position. For a franchise that has struggled to find a franchise quarterback since Len Dawson's retirement in 1975, Matt Cassel may be the answer. The Chiefs kept with tradition by trading for a backup instead of drafting the more talented Mark Sanchez
.
In a 2008 game between the Patriots and Chiefs, Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard
injured Patriots quarterback Tom Brady
, effectively ending his season. This resulted in Cassel, who was the second-string quarterback for New England at the time, to become the Patriots' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Cassel led the Patriots to an 11–5 season and became a free agent at the end of the season, and the Chiefs acquired him in a trade, effectively making Cassel and Pollard teammates. In an interview, Cassel said he would thank Pollard for the opportunity but also stated that he never wishes to see anyone get hurt while playing.
Notable backup quarterbacks have also led the Chiefs to success after substituting for their starting quarterback, including Mike Livingston
, Rich Gannon
, and Damon Huard
. When Len Dawson
was injured during the Chiefs’ 1969 season, second-year quarterback Mike Livingston
won all six of his starts in Dawson's absence. Dawson returned late in the season to lead the Chiefs on way to Super Bowl IV
. Livingston, surrounded by a much weaker cast when he got another chance to start, never enjoyed much success again. Tom Flores
was also on the Chiefs' 1969 team that won Super Bowl IV
, but never played in a game for the Chiefs. He went on to coach the Oakland Raiders
to two Super Bowl
victories in the 1980s. Warren Moon
was on the Chiefs' roster for the 1999 and 2000 seasons under Elvis Grbac and started one game in Grbac's absence. Moon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 2006. Ron Jaworski
finished his career as a Chief in 1989, and started three games.
when Elvis Grbac
started the first nine games and suffered an injury, leading to Rich Gannon
's substitution for the next six games. Grbac would return in the team's season finale. Gannon won five consecutive starts down the stretch to help the Chiefs earn home-field advantage with a 13–3 record. Grbac wasn't much of a leader, in fact he once made the comment "I can't catch the ball and throw it, too." although he was a talented thrower. Gannon was an aggressive leader who demanded the most of his players. Grbac was selected by coach Marty Schottenheimer
to start the team's playoff game against the Denver Broncos
, a game which the Chiefs would lose 14–10. Chiefs fans were deeply divided over whether Gannon or Grbac should lead the team, and Gannon backers were none too happy when he was let go and signed with the Raiders in 1999.
After joining the Raiders, Gannon knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention in the 1999 season when the Raiders defeated the Chiefs by a score of 41–38 in overtime. Grbac was released by the Chiefs after the 2001 season
and signed with the then-defending Super Bowl champion
Baltimore Ravens
. Grbac only lasted one season in Baltimore and retired in the offseason. In 2002, Gannon would be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player
and led the Raiders to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII
.
Trent Green had proven himself incredibly durable in his tenure with the Chiefs, and had started every game for the Chiefs since they acquired him in a 2001 trade. Green suffered a severe head injury in the 2006 season opener, when he was hit outside the pocket by Cincinnati Bengals
defensive end Robert Geathers
. The injury would sideline him for the next eight games. He considered retirement but said neurosurgeons and neurophysiologists told him he faced no increased risk of Alzheimer's disease
or dementia
if he resumed playing with the team. Damon Huard
took over in Green's absence while Green recovered, and coach Herman Edwards
stated that Green would reclaim the position when he got healthy. The situation with Huard was compared to the Gannon–Grbac controversy from seven years earlier. Until he replaced Green in week one, Huard had thrown one pass in a game since 2000 and started in six games. Huard played in ten games throwing 11 touchdown passes and only one interception for a quarterback rating of 98.0 with the Chiefs. The Chiefs went 5–3 in games with Huard starting, but when Trent Green
reclaimed his starting job, he managed a 4–4 record and threw 7 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. When Green returned, the opinions of Chiefs fans were divided. Half wanted Damon Huard while others remained loyal to Green. Edwards eventually chose Green to start the team's playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts
. Edwards had said that if Green struggled, he wouldn’t hesitate to substitute Huard into the game:
The Chiefs' offense stumbled in the 23–8 loss, and Green threw for 107 yards on 14-of-24 passing with two interceptions. Kansas City's initial first down came with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter, and managed 126 total yards on offense.
In late January, Chiefs general manager
Carl Peterson
told Green that he would have to restructure his contract to remain with the team and to brace for a lesser role on offense. Green was also granted permission to explore options of a trade. The February 2007 contract agreement with Huard, who would have been an unrestricted free agent, was the first public indication that Green’s job was in danger. The first team to have contacted the Chiefs' front office about acquiring Green was the Miami Dolphins
, but Miami disagreements prolonged trade talks. The Dolphins initially offered a seventh round draft pick to the Chiefs, but the Chiefs declined, instead seeking a second round pick in exchange for Green. The Detroit Lions
and Cleveland Browns
were also interested in Green, whom were both looking for a veteran quarterback. Green had told the Chiefs that Miami was his preference for a trade, being that he previously worked under both head coach Cam Cameron
and longtime quarterbacks coach Terry Shea
. On draft day, the Chiefs and Dolphins could not reach a trade agreement. Green voiced his frustration, and criticism was drawn to the Chiefs' apparent neglect to trade Green.
Green stated that he was being treated unfairly on and off the field and that the 2007 quarterback competition was "substantially weighted" towards Croyle. Green voiced his reluctance to be a backup to Croyle and Huard. Head coach
Herman Edwards
voiced his own displeasure with Green's outspoken comments and simply said that he was "trying to create competition." The changes had become apparent to Green, whom learned of the dismissal of quarterbacks coach Terry Shea
from Brodie Croyle
. He had also pointed out numerous occasions where Edwards had expressed the intention to start a younger quarterback to go along with the others in the AFC West
. Green's agent had also said that the Dolphins were willing to be "flexible" in the trade negotiations, but the Chiefs organization were reportedly ignoring their calls in late May.
On June 5, the Chiefs agreed to trade Green to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional fifth round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
. The pick could have been upgraded to a fourth-round selection if Green reached certain predetermined playing time and performance levels. A season-ending concussion sent Green to the disabled list, securing a fifth-round choice for the Chiefs.
On August 25, Damon Huard
was named the Chiefs' starting quarterback for the season opener against the Houston Texans
. However, following an unproductive first half of the season Brodie Croyle
was named the starter on November 12. Huard was injured in a game the previous day against the Denver Broncos, and Croyle filled in for the remainder of the game. Croyle started his first NFL regular season game against the Indianapolis Colts
at the RCA Dome
on November 18, 2007, but the Chiefs lost the game 13–10. The Chiefs finished the season losing 9 consecutive games (a club record) and ended with a 4–12 record, their worst in 30 years. Croyle started six of the last seven games for the Chiefs, losing all six.
In 2008, Croyle started the Chiefs' opening game against the New England Patriots
, but suffered a shoulder injury. Damon Huard played for the remainder of the game and started the team's Week 2 matchup against the Oakland Raiders
. Huard was injured in the game and replaced by Tyler Thigpen
. Thigpen was the third Chiefs starting quarterback in the 2008 season. The Chiefs prepared Croyle throughout their bye week in order to return in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans
. Croyle suffered a season-ending knee injury in the game, and when Huard substituted, he suffered a thumb injury leading to Thigpen finishing the game at quarterback. After the game, it was confirmed that both Croyle and Huard were placed on injured reserve, and Thigpen was announced as the starter against the Jets in Week 8. The Chiefs signed both Ingle Martin
and Quinn Gray
to replace both Croyle and Huard on the depth chart. Thigpen started the remaining ten games of the season, but the Chiefs finished with a franchise-worst 2–14 record and continued to lack stability at the QB position under head coach Herman Edwards.
.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's 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...
have had a total of 31 quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s to start a game in their franchise's history. The team has also had numerous backup quarterbacks that have stolen the spotlight from the starters.
Under Len Dawson
Len Dawson
Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
, the Texans/Chiefs won three American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
championships and appeared in two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
championship games. Dawson was named Most Valuable Player
Super Bowl MVP
The Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, or Super Bowl MVP, is an award presented annually to the most valuable player of the Super Bowl, the National Football League's championship game. The winner is chosen by a fan vote during the game and by a panel of 16 American football writers and...
following the Chiefs' victory in Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
. Dawson played a total of thirteen seasons with Kansas City and retired with many franchise records. Despite never having success in developing a quality quarterback of their own, the Chiefs have achieved success under many veteran quarterbacks, including Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
, Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
, Elvis Grbac
Elvis Grbac
Elvis M. Grbac is a retired American football quarterback who played in the NFL. During his career he was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens...
, and Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
. The Chiefs have struggled to draft and develop their own quarterback through the years, often relying on veteran leadership at the position.
Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
was the team's starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2008 season, but suffered an injury in the team's first game. In Croyle's absence, the Chiefs have used both Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
and Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
as the starter in alternating weeks. Croyle returned to start in Week 7, and both he and Huard suffered season-ending injuries.
Starting quarterbacks
The Chiefs have had many notable and established quarterbacks on their squad at different times. Hall of Famers Len DawsonLen Dawson
Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
and Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
led the Chiefs in two successful eras and both led the team to playoff appearances in their first seasons.
The franchise's first starter was Cotton Davidson
Cotton Davidson
Francis Marion Davidson , known by his nickname "Cotton" Davidson, was an American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback...
, who started 25 games for the Texans before being traded in 1962. Team owner 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...
traded Davidson to the Oakland 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...
for the first-overall selection in the 1963 AFL Draft
American Football League Draft
The American Football League stocked its teams in two ways:# Signing free agents ....
. The franchise used that pick to select future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan
Buck Buchanan
Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American collegiate and professional Football defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League ....
.
In Davidson's absence, free agent quarterback Len Dawson
Len Dawson
Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
signed with the team on July 2, 1962 after spending a five-year career in the NFL with 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...
and Cleveland
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...
. In Dallas, Dawson was rejoined with head coach Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
who served as an assistant coach with Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, where Dawson played college football. In his first season with the Texans, Dawson led the team to a double-overtime victory over the 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...
in the AFL Championship Game
American Football League playoffs
From 1960 to 1968, the American Football League determined its champion via a single playoff game between the winners of its two divisions ....
. The victory brought the team's first league championship.
Len Dawson was the franchise's most successful quarterback, playing in 182 regular season games (158 starts) for the Texans/Chiefs, and holds many franchise records. He was nicknamed "Lenny the Cool" for his calm composure on the field. Dawson completed 2,115 of 3,696 passes for 28,507 yards with 237 touchdowns and 92 interceptions, good for a 92.8 rating. He ranks first in team history in pass attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns. He led the Chiefs to 94 regular season wins and three AFL titles. Dawson led the Chiefs to an appearance in the first AFL–NFL Championship Game
Super Bowl I
The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
(later known as "Super Bowl I") against the 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...
. He was named MVP
Super Bowl MVP
The Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, or Super Bowl MVP, is an award presented annually to the most valuable player of the Super Bowl, the National Football League's championship game. The winner is chosen by a fan vote during the game and by a panel of 16 American football writers and...
of Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
when he directed Kansas City to a 23–7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. Dawson was named to six AFL All-Star teams and one 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...
squad, in addition to being named the AFL Player of the Year in 1962. Dawson was also named the NFL Man of the Year in 1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
. Dawson threw a franchise record six touchdown passes against the 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...
on November 1, 1964 in a 49–39 victory. In 1966, while still playing for the Chiefs, Dawson became the sports director and anchor for KMBC-TV
KMBC-TV
KMBC-TV virtual channel 9 is a television station affiliated with the ABC television network, located in Kansas City, Missouri. KMBC-TV is owned by Hearst Television and its studios are located on Winchester Ave. near Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri. The station's high guyed mast broadcast...
, a local Kansas City ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate. As of 2009, Dawson is still KMBC's sports director. He would practice and play for the Chiefs during the day and later help anchor news broadcasts at night. After retiring from the NFL in 1975, Dawson began hosting Inside the NFL
Inside the NFL
Inside the NFL is a weekly cable television sports show that focuses on the National Football League. It originally aired on HBO from 1977 through 2008...
on HBO and worked network broadcasts for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. He joined the Chiefs' radio broadcast team in 1984 and provides color commentary to game broadcasts.
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...
was the team's starting quarterback in various times between 1980 and 1988 and compiled a 46–51 record. Kenney played behind a porous offensive line and holds the franchise record for most times sacked
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
(195). Kenney's All-Pro wide receiver teammate Carlos Carson
Carlos Carson
Carlos Andre Carson was a former professional American football player drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 184-lb. wide receiver from Louisiana State University, Carson played in 10 NFL seasons from 1980 to 1989...
said, "I don't care who you are, it's tough to throw a pass when you're lying on your back." Kenney was selected to the 1984 Pro Bowl
1984 Pro Bowl
The 1984 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 29, 1984 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was NFC 45, AFC 3. Joe Theismann of the Washington Redskins was the game's MVP. The referee was Jerry Seeman....
. After retiring from professional football, Kenney became a State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
for the Missouri Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
.
The Chiefs made a mistake in drafting quarterback Todd Blackledge
Todd Blackledge
Todd Alan Blackledge was an American football quarterback in both the NCAA and National Football League. In college, he led the Penn State Nittany Lions to a national championship; and, as a pro, he played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
in the 1983 NFL Draft
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
believing that Blackledge was a better choice than Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
and Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
. Blackledge never started a full season for Kansas City while Kelly and Marino played Hall of Fame careers. Blackledge started 24 total games in Kansas City, but inconsistent play led to him sharing time with 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...
from 1984–1987.
In the 1987 season, the Chiefs used five starting quarterbacks for the only time in franchise history. Doug Hudson was the last quarterback drafted by the team to start a game until Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
started in 2007. In Hudson's only game, he was sacked
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
in the endzone for a safety by the 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...
' Jim Ryan. The sack and fumble is the only recorded statistic for his career.
In 1988, the Chiefs traded two draft selections and safety Mark Robinson
Mark Robinson (American football)
Mark Robinson is a former professional American football player. He was a 1982 Consensus All-American safety at Penn State University. He played 9 seasons as a safety in the National Football League....
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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...
in exchange for 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...
. DeBerg spent four seasons with the Chiefs, leading the team to 2 postseason appearances (in 1990
1990 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with an 11–5 record and Wild Card spot in the 1991 playoffs. In Marty Schottenheimer's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, the lost to the Miami Dolphins 16–17 in the Wild Card round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record...
, he did so despite playing with a broken finger). DeBerg compiled 11,873 passing yards, 67 touchdowns and 50 interceptions with the Chiefs with a 81.8 passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
. DeBerg's best year was 1990 with a 101.2 quarterback rating, passing for 3,444 yards, 23 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
, safety David Whitmore
David Whitmore
David Lawrence Whitmore is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the New York Giants, the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Stephen F. Austin State University and was drafted in the fourth round...
, and a third-round draft pick in the 1993 NFL Draft
1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
(Will Shields
Will Shields
Will Herthie Shields is a former American football offensive guard. He attended the University of Nebraska and played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his 14 seasons in the NFL, Shields never missed a game...
) by sending their first-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Montana had already agreed on a three-year, $10 million contract before getting traded. Montana would lead the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game
AFC Championship Game
The American Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the American...
for the first and to date only time in franchise history. He was also selected to the 1994 Pro Bowl
1994 Pro Bowl
The 1994 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 6, 1994 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was NFC 17, AFC 3. Andre Rison of the Atlanta Falcons was the game's MVP...
. In 1994, Montana led the Chiefs into Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
to face John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
and the 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...
on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
. Elway performed some of his late-game magic but it was Montana who stole the show in a game later known as the "Monday Night Shootout." The two teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 21, and a Chiefs field goal put the team on top 24–21. After a turnover by the Broncos, Kansas City appeared ready to run out the clock behind running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
. Allen fumbled, leaving the Broncos with possession of the ball, and Elway led the Broncos to a touchdown to give Denver a 28–24 lead. However with 1:29 remaining, Montana led the Chiefs 75 yards down the field to score the last minute go ahead touchdown, and the Chiefs snapped an 11-game losing streak to Denver with a 31–28 victory.
| date=2007-01-03 | accessdate=2008-07-19 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070126051815/http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/01/03/dawes_whats_up_with_coverage_of_kcs_qb__part_ii/ |archivedate = January 26, 2007}} By his third season, Green led the Chiefs to a 13–3 record in 2003 and was called the "mastermind of the Chiefs' high-powered offense." Even after leading the franchise to its first postseason appearance in six seasons, Chiefs fans had still not figured out whether they loved him or hated him. In 2004, Green threw for 4,591 yards and a league-high 556 passing attempts. Green was selected to two 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...
games in 2003 and 2005. Green's 81-game start streak for the Chiefs from 2001–2006 is a franchise record at the position. His 88 career starts for the Chiefs is second behind Dawson. Green is the Chiefs' career leader in passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
(87.3), average gain per attempt (7.7), 300-yard passing games (24), completion percentage (61.94), and completions of 20 or more yards (274). He is the only quarterback in Chiefs history to throw a "perfect game" registering a 158.3 passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
against Detroit
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...
on December 14, 2003.
In the past few decades, the Chiefs have relied on veteran quarterbacks to lead their team. The Chiefs never drafted their own quarterback to develop until Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
was chosen in the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
and claimed the starting position in 2007
2007 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2007 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 9-7 record in 2006 and attempting to secure the franchise's first back-to-back playoff berth since 1995. The season ended with a nine game losing streak, the team's first since 1987 and a 4-12 record...
.
In the years prior to drafting Croyle (1960–2005), the Chiefs had drafted 30 quarterbacks and each led the team to victory just 57 times, or 15%. When head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
was hired in 2006
2006 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2006 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 10–6 record in 2005 under new head coach Herman Edwards.The team battled many obstacles during the 2006 season, including the loss of starting quarterback Trent Green in the first game, the readjustment of a...
, he stated that he was looking towards implementing a "youth movement" into his game plan, and he began his roster moves at the quarterback position. Croyle was the team's starting quarterback heading into the 2008 season, however, he suffered an injury and Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
played in Croyle's absence. Huard started the Chiefs' game in Week 2, but he himself suffered an injury and Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
substituted for the remainder of the game. Thigpen started for the Chiefs in Huard and Croyle's absence against the Falcons. Croyle returned in Week 7 to start against the Tennessee Titans
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...
but suffered a season-ending knee injury. Following the injuries to Croyle and Huard, Thigpen became the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
starting quarterback.
After a poor first career start for Thigpen against Atlanta, a game in which he threw three interceptions, the Chiefs implemented the spread offense. With the absence of RB Larry Johnson, the central part of the Chiefs' offense in years past, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
adjusted the offense to mimic the spread formation run by Thigpen at Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
. It was considered by many in the NFL as a gamble, since there have been doubts over the spread offense's longterm success at the professional level. It was also a new direction for head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
, who has long had a reputation for favoring more conservative, run-oriented offenses. After it was implemented, Edwards began seeing his team gain confidence with every game it played in that wide-open system, as the Chiefs began to become competitive once again on offense.
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...
, nearly leading the Chiefs to win over the heavily-favored Jets. Thigpen's passer rating climbed from 44.3 to 76.9 in the five games following his initial start at Atlanta. The Chiefs scored more than 10 points just twice in their first six games, but scored more offensive points than that in every game since, and twice topped 25 points.
Thigpen won his first game as the Chiefs' starter on November 30 against the Oakland Raiders, leading Kansas City to a 20–13 victory. Thigpen finished 15-for-22 for 162 yards and ran for 48 more. The offensive gameplan finally paid off and resulted in a victory which ended a 7-game losing streak for the Chiefs. Thigpen ended the season starting nine games for Chiefs with a 1–8 record. Six of the losses were within 7-point or less margins. He registered 21 total touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 2,994 all-purpose yards.
On February 28, 2009, the Chiefs acquired QB Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
and LB Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
from the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
for the #34 overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. Cassel will compete with Thigpen for the starting quarterback position. For a franchise that has struggled to find a franchise quarterback since Len Dawson's retirement in 1975, Matt Cassel may be the answer. The Chiefs kept with tradition by trading for a backup instead of drafting the more talented Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez
Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
.
In a 2008 game between the Patriots and Chiefs, Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard
Bernard Pollard
Bernard Karmell Pollard is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
injured Patriots quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
, effectively ending his season. This resulted in Cassel, who was the second-string quarterback for New England at the time, to become the Patriots' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Cassel led the Patriots to an 11–5 season and became a free agent at the end of the season, and the Chiefs acquired him in a trade, effectively making Cassel and Pollard teammates. In an interview, Cassel said he would thank Pollard for the opportunity but also stated that he never wishes to see anyone get hurt while playing.
Backup quarterbacks
Mike Livingston
Mike Livingston is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback. He played professionally for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1968-1969, and for the NFL Chiefs from 1970 to 1979...
, Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
, and Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
. When Len Dawson
Len Dawson
Leonard Ray "Len" "Lenny" Dawson is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who attended Purdue University and went on to play for three professional teams, most notably the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
was injured during the Chiefs’ 1969 season, second-year quarterback Mike Livingston
Mike Livingston
Mike Livingston is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback. He played professionally for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1968-1969, and for the NFL Chiefs from 1970 to 1979...
won all six of his starts in Dawson's absence. Dawson returned late in the season to lead the Chiefs on way to Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
. Livingston, surrounded by a much weaker cast when he got another chance to start, never enjoyed much success again. Tom Flores
Tom Flores
Thomas R. "Tom" Flores is a retired American football quarterback and coach. Flores and Mike Ditka are the only two people in the National Football League history to win a Super Bowl as a player, as an assistant coach, and as a head coach...
was also on the Chiefs' 1969 team that won Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
, but never played in a game for the Chiefs. He went on to coach the Oakland 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...
to two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
victories in the 1980s. Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
was on the Chiefs' roster for the 1999 and 2000 seasons under Elvis Grbac and started one game in Grbac's absence. Moon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 2006. Ron Jaworski
Ron Jaworski
Ronald Vincent "Ron" Jaworski is a former American football quarterback and currently an NFL analyst on ESPN. He is also CEO of Ron Jaworski Golf Management, Inc., based out of Blackwood, New Jersey, and manages golf courses in southern New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania, and West Virginia...
finished his career as a Chief in 1989, and started three games.
Gannon and Grbac
A quarterback controversy began in the 1997 season1997 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1997 Kansas City Chiefs were an above-average football team without any major flaws. The 1997 Chiefs are widely considered a major disappointment. The Chiefs finished with a 13–3 record and AFC West division champions...
when Elvis Grbac
Elvis Grbac
Elvis M. Grbac is a retired American football quarterback who played in the NFL. During his career he was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens...
started the first nine games and suffered an injury, leading to Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
's substitution for the next six games. Grbac would return in the team's season finale. Gannon won five consecutive starts down the stretch to help the Chiefs earn home-field advantage with a 13–3 record. Grbac wasn't much of a leader, in fact he once made the comment "I can't catch the ball and throw it, too." although he was a talented thrower. Gannon was an aggressive leader who demanded the most of his players. Grbac was selected by coach 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...
to start the team's playoff game against the 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...
, a game which the Chiefs would lose 14–10. Chiefs fans were deeply divided over whether Gannon or Grbac should lead the team, and Gannon backers were none too happy when he was let go and signed with the Raiders in 1999.
After joining the Raiders, Gannon knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention in the 1999 season when the Raiders defeated the Chiefs by a score of 41–38 in overtime. Grbac was released by the Chiefs after the 2001 season
2001 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2001 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the arrival of the franchise's ninth head coach, Dick Vermeil and ended with a 6–10 record and fourth place in the AFC West....
and signed with the then-defending Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. Grbac only lasted one season in Baltimore and retired in the offseason. In 2002, Gannon would be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player
NFL Most Valuable Player Award
The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award. The AP NFL MVP...
and led the Raiders to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
.
Quarterback instability under Herman Edwards (2006–2008)
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...
defensive end Robert Geathers
Robert Geathers
Robert Geathers is an American football player who currently plays defensive end and linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. Geathers played at Choppee High School and later at Carvers Bay High School. As a senior, he recorded 100 tackles and nine sacks on defense and played quarterback on offense...
. The injury would sideline him for the next eight games. He considered retirement but said neurosurgeons and neurophysiologists told him he faced no increased risk of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
or dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
if he resumed playing with the team. Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
took over in Green's absence while Green recovered, and coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
stated that Green would reclaim the position when he got healthy. The situation with Huard was compared to the Gannon–Grbac controversy from seven years earlier. Until he replaced Green in week one, Huard had thrown one pass in a game since 2000 and started in six games. Huard played in ten games throwing 11 touchdown passes and only one interception for a quarterback rating of 98.0 with the Chiefs. The Chiefs went 5–3 in games with Huard starting, but when Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
reclaimed his starting job, he managed a 4–4 record and threw 7 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. When Green returned, the opinions of Chiefs fans were divided. Half wanted Damon Huard while others remained loyal to Green. Edwards eventually chose Green to start the team's playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. Edwards had said that if Green struggled, he wouldn’t hesitate to substitute Huard into the game:
The Chiefs' offense stumbled in the 23–8 loss, and Green threw for 107 yards on 14-of-24 passing with two interceptions. Kansas City's initial first down came with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter, and managed 126 total yards on offense.
In late January, Chiefs 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...
told Green that he would have to restructure his contract to remain with the team and to brace for a lesser role on offense. Green was also granted permission to explore options of a trade. The February 2007 contract agreement with Huard, who would have been an unrestricted free agent, was the first public indication that Green’s job was in danger. The first team to have contacted the Chiefs' front office about acquiring Green was 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...
, but Miami disagreements prolonged trade talks. The Dolphins initially offered a seventh round draft pick to the Chiefs, but the Chiefs declined, instead seeking a second round pick in exchange for Green. The 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...
and 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...
were also interested in Green, whom were both looking for a veteran quarterback. Green had told the Chiefs that Miami was his preference for a trade, being that he previously worked under both head coach Cam Cameron
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
and longtime quarterbacks coach Terry Shea
Terry Shea
Terry Shea is a former college and NFL football coach. Currently, Shea does quarterback consulting work for future NFL draft prospects. Most recently he worked with Sam Bradford , Matthew Stafford and Josh Freeman . From 1964 to 1967, he was one of the quarterbacks on the University of Oregon's...
. On draft day, the Chiefs and Dolphins could not reach a trade agreement. Green voiced his frustration, and criticism was drawn to the Chiefs' apparent neglect to trade Green.
Green stated that he was being treated unfairly on and off the field and that the 2007 quarterback competition was "substantially weighted" towards Croyle. Green voiced his reluctance to be a backup to Croyle and Huard. 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...
Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
voiced his own displeasure with Green's outspoken comments and simply said that he was "trying to create competition." The changes had become apparent to Green, whom learned of the dismissal of quarterbacks coach Terry Shea
Terry Shea
Terry Shea is a former college and NFL football coach. Currently, Shea does quarterback consulting work for future NFL draft prospects. Most recently he worked with Sam Bradford , Matthew Stafford and Josh Freeman . From 1964 to 1967, he was one of the quarterbacks on the University of Oregon's...
from Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
. He had also pointed out numerous occasions where Edwards had expressed the intention to start a younger quarterback to go along with the others 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:...
. Green's agent had also said that the Dolphins were willing to be "flexible" in the trade negotiations, but the Chiefs organization were reportedly ignoring their calls in late May.
On June 5, the Chiefs agreed to trade Green to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional fifth round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. The pick could have been upgraded to a fourth-round selection if Green reached certain predetermined playing time and performance levels. A season-ending concussion sent Green to the disabled list, securing a fifth-round choice for the Chiefs.
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
was named the Chiefs' starting quarterback for the season opener against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, following an unproductive first half of the season Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
was named the starter on November 12. Huard was injured in a game the previous day against the Denver Broncos, and Croyle filled in for the remainder of the game. Croyle started his first NFL regular season game against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
at the RCA Dome
RCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
on November 18, 2007, but the Chiefs lost the game 13–10. The Chiefs finished the season losing 9 consecutive games (a club record) and ended with a 4–12 record, their worst in 30 years. Croyle started six of the last seven games for the Chiefs, losing all six.
In 2008, Croyle started the Chiefs' opening game against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, but suffered a shoulder injury. Damon Huard played for the remainder of the game and started the team's Week 2 matchup against the Oakland 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...
. Huard was injured in the game and replaced by Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
. Thigpen was the third Chiefs starting quarterback in the 2008 season. The Chiefs prepared Croyle throughout their bye week in order to return in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans
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...
. Croyle suffered a season-ending knee injury in the game, and when Huard substituted, he suffered a thumb injury leading to Thigpen finishing the game at quarterback. After the game, it was confirmed that both Croyle and Huard were placed on injured reserve, and Thigpen was announced as the starter against the Jets in Week 8. The Chiefs signed both Ingle Martin
Ingle Martin
Harry Ingle Martin, IV is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for three seasons during the early 2000s...
and Quinn Gray
Quinn Gray
Quinn F. Gray, Sr. is a former American football quarterback who played for four seasons in the National Football League and one season each in the United Football League and NFL Europe. He played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005–2007, the Kansas City...
to replace both Croyle and Huard on the depth chart. Thigpen started the remaining ten games of the season, but the Chiefs finished with a franchise-worst 2–14 record and continued to lack stability at the QB position under head coach Herman Edwards.
Complete statistics
This is a complete list of career statistics from all quarterbacks that have played in a game for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs. The list is in chronological order and all statistics are correct as of the end of the 2008 NFL season2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
.
| Quarterback | | Games | | Passing | | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Comp | Att | Yards | Lng | TDs | Int | Att | Yds | Lng | Avg | TD | Fm | ||
| Davidson | 29 | 25 | 330 | 709 | 4,919 | 74 | 32 | 39 | 35 | 159 | 40 | 4.5 | 2 | 20 | |
| Enis | 1 | 1 | 30 | 54 | 357 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 11 | 2.6 | 3 | 0 | |
| Duncan | 14 | 2 | 25 | 67 | 361 | 47 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 19 | 8.4 | 0 | 3 | |
| Dawson | 182 | 158 | 2,115 | 3,696 | 28,507 | 92 | 237 | 178 | 283 | 1,253 | 43 | 4.4 | 9 | 81 | |
| Beathard | 52 | 2 | 110 | 254 | 1,649 | 77 | 8 | 13 | 55 | 680 | 52 | 6.3 | 6 | 9 | |
| Lee | 14 | 2 | 43 | 84 | 597 | 61 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Livingston | 91 | 75 | 912 | 1,751 | 11,295 | 93 | 56 | 83 | 156 | 682 | 51 | 4.4 | 7 | 39 | |
| Adams | 50 | 7 | 163 | 319 | 2,126 | 63 | 9 | 22 | 27 | 124 | 21 | 4.6 | 0 | 6 | |
| Fuller | 52 | 31 | 465 | 817 | 5,333 | 77 | 22 | 32 | 139 | 712 | 49 | 5.1 | 5 | 29 | |
| Kenney | 106 | 77 | 1,330 | 2,430 | 17,277 | 84 | 105 | 86 | 123 | 191 | 21 | 1.6 | 5 | 43 | |
| Blackledge | 40 | 24 | 364 | 742 | 4,510 | 70 | 26 | 32 | 64 | 280 | 26 | 4.4 | 1 | 19 | |
| Stevens | 3 | 2 | 32 | 57 | 315 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seurer | 9 | 2 | 26 | 55 | 340 | 33 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 33 | 11 | 3.7 | 0 | 2 | |
| Hudson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| DeBerg | 57 | 52 | 934 | 1,616 | 11,873 | 90 | 67 | 50 | 74 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 20 | |
| Jaworksi | 6 | 3 | 36 | 61 | 385 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1.3 | 0 | 2 | |
| Pelluer | 18 | 3 | 28 | 52 | 315 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 149 | 27 | 6.8 | 2 | 2 | |
| Vlasic | 6 | 1 | 28 | 44 | 316 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Krieg | 28 | 21 | 335 | 602 | 4,353 | 77 | 22 | 15 | 58 | 98 | 20 | 1.7 | 2 | 16 | |
| Montana | 25 | 25 | 480 | 791 | 5,427 | 57 | 29 | 16 | 43 | 81 | 17 | 1.9 | 0 | 8 | |
| Bono | 37 | 31 | 594 | 1,075 | 6,489 | 69 | 37 | 27 | 58 | 139 | 76 | 2.4 | 5 | 15 | |
| Gannon | 27 | 19 | 365 | 630 | 3,997 | 80 | 23 | 11 | 97 | 385 | 21 | 3.9 | 6 | 15 | |
| Grbac | 49 | 47 | 897 | 1,548 | 10,643 | 86 | 66 | 47 | 86 | 315 | 22 | 3.7 | 2 | 16 | |
| Moon | 3 | 1 | 16 | 37 | 228 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Green | 88 | 88 | 1,720 | 2,777 | 21,459 | 99 | 118 | 85 | 171 | 692 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 41 | |
| Huard | 26 | 21 | 404 | 657 | 4,612 | 78 | 24 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 1.0 | 0 | 17 | |
| Croyle | 11 | 8 | 150 | 260 | 1,401 | 35 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 1.5 | 0 | 4 | |
| Thigpen | 14 | 11 | 232 | 426 | 2,649 | 75 | 18 | 13 | 62 | 386 | 32 | 6.2 | 3 | 6 | |
Franchise records
The following is a list of franchise records accomplished by Texans/Chiefs quarterbacks from 1960–2008.Career
- Games started, total: Len Dawson, 158 (1962–1975).
- Games played, total: Len Dawson, 182 (1962–1975).
- Games started, consecutive: Trent Green, 81 (2001–2006).
- Passing yards: Len Dawson, 28,507 (1962–1975).
- Touchdown passes: Len Dawson, 237 (1962–1975).
- Most passes had intercepted: Len Dawson, 178 (1962–1975).
- Highest passer rating: Trent Green, 87.3 (2001–2006).
- Passing attempts: Len Dawson, 3,696 (1962–1975).
- Passing completions: Len Dawson, 2,115 (1962–1975).
- Passing completion percentage: Trent Green, 61.94 (2001–2006).
- Most 300-yard passing games: Trent Green, 24 (2001–2006).
- Regular season wins: Len Dawson, 94 (1962–1975).
- Times sacked (compiled since 1972): Bill Kenney, 195 (1980–1988).
- Longest pass completion: Trent Green to Marc Boerigter, 99 (December 12, 2002 vs. San Diego Chargers).
Season
- Touchdown passes: Len Dawson, 30 (1964).
- Touchdown passes, rookie: Steve Fuller, 6 (1979).
- Yards gained:, Trent Green, 4,591 (2004).
- Yards gained, rookie: Steve Fuller, 1,484 (1979).
- Passes had intercepted: Trent Green, 24 (2001).
- Passes had intercepted, rookie: Steve Fuller, 14 (1979).
- Fumbles: Steve Fuller, 16 (1980).
- Times sacked (compiled since 1972): Steve Fuller, 49 (1980).
- Passing attempts: Bill Kenney, 603 (1983).
- Passing completions: Trent Green, 369 (2004).
- Most 300-yard passing games: Trent Green, 8 (2003).
- Most passing attempts, rookie: Steve Fuller, 270 (1979).
- Most passing completions, rookie: Steve Fuller, 146 (1979).
Game
- First quarterback to throw and catch a touchdown pass: Tyler Thigpen (November 2, 2008 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
- Youngest quarterback to start: Steve Fuller, 22 (September 16, 1979 vs. Houston Oilers).
- Oldest quarterback to start: Warren Moon, 44 (November 26, 2000 vs. San Diego Chargers).
- Touchdown passes: Len Dawson, 6 (November 1, 1964 vs. Denver Broncos).
- Highest passer rating: Trent Green, 158.3 (December 12, 2002 vs. Detroit Lions).
- Passes attempted: Two players tied–Joe Montana; Steve Bono, 55 (October 9, 1994 vs. San Diego Chargers; December 12, 1994 vs. Miami Dolphins).
- Passes attempted, no interceptions: Trent Green, 47 (December 7, 2003 vs. Denver Broncos).
- Passes completed: Elvis Grbac, 39 (November 5, 2000 vs. Oakland Raiders).
- Passes completed, consecutive: Len Dawson, 16 (September 9, 1967 vs. Houston Oilers).
- Yards gained: Elvis Grbac, 504 (November 5, 2000 vs. Oakland Raiders).
- Times sacked: Steve Fuller, 10 (November 2, 1980 vs. Baltimore Colts).
- Most passes had intercepted: Todd Blackledge, 6 (October 20, 1985 vs. Los Angeles Rams).