Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in American Professional
FootballAmerican football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, and often as Gridiron or Tackle football outside North America, is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physical play. The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the...
, and the second one (after
Super Bowl IIISuper Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl" . This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
) to officially bear the name "
Super BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League, the premier association of professional American football. In most years, the Super Bowl is the most-watched American television broadcast. Many popular singers and musicians have performed during the event’s pre-game and...
". This was the final AFL-NFL World Championship Game before the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the largest 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 its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
(NFL) and the
American Football LeagueThe American Football League was a major Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when it merged with the established National Football League . The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(AFL)
mergedThe AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major American Professional Football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
into one combined league after the season.
The game was played on January 11, 1970, at
Tulane StadiumTulane Stadium was an outdoor football stadium located in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1926 to 1980. Officially known as the Third Tulane Stadium, it replaced the "Second Tulane Stadium" where the Telephone Exchange Building is now located...
in New Orleans,
LouisianaThe State of Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state divided into parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. This was the first Super Bowl played without the standard week off after the conference championship games (league championship games at the time). Strangely enough, the AFL had a week off between its divisional playoffs (the NFL played its conference championship games during the AFL's off-week) and league championship game. The AFL started its 1969 season a week earlier than the NFL, and thus had an extra week to deal with during the post-season. This would be the last Super Bowl played without the week off until
Super Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1982 regular season...
.
The AFL champion
Kansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs 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...
(11-3) defeated the NFL champion
Minnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional football team based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings compete in the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . Prior to divisional realignment in 2002, they had been a member of the Central Division, also...
(12-2), 23–7. Even though the Vikings were 13-point favorites coming into the game, the Chiefs defense dominated the game by limiting the Minnesota offense to only 67 rushing yards, forcing 3 interceptions, and recovering 2 fumbles. The victory by the AFL evened the Super Bowl series with the NFL at two games apiece.
Kansas City's
Len DawsonLeonard Ray "Len" Dawson is a former American football quarterback from Purdue University who played for three professional teams, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV and won the game's MVP award. Dawson retired from pro football in 1975 and was...
became the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to be named
Super Bowl MVPThe 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...
. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, with 1 interception. Dawson also recorded 3 rushing attempts for 11 yards.
The crowd of 80,562 was a Super Bowl record for attendance.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings, led by head coach
Bud GrantHarry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the longtime former American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
, entered the game with an NFL best 12-2 regular season record, leading the older league in total points scored (379) and fewest points allowed (133). They had scored 50 or more points in three different games. They had 12 straight victories, the longest single-season winning streak in 35 years, and became the first modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL championship. Their defense, considered the most intimidating in the NFL, was anchored by a defensive line nicknamed the "
Purple People EatersThe Purple People Eaters was the nickname of the Minnesota Vikings football team's defensive line of the late 1960s to the late 1970s, when the Vikings played in four Super Bowls. The name comes from the purple color of the Vikings' uniforms and a song by Sheb Wooley entitled "Purple People Eater"...
", consisting of defensive tackles
Gary LarsenGary Larsen was a defensive tackle in the NFL and played college football at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. He started his NFL career in 1964 with the Los Angeles Rams and then became a part of the famous Purple People Eaters for the Minnesota Vikings from 1965 through 1974...
and
Alan PageAlan Cedric Page is a jurist and former professional American football player. He graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School in 1963, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978...
, and defensive ends
Carl EllerCarl Eller was a professional American football player in the National Football League from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended the University of Minnesota...
and
Jim MarshallJames "Jim" Lawrence Marshall played college football at Ohio State University. He left school before his senior year, and played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was then drafted in the 4th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Marshall played...
. The secondary was led by defensive backs
Bobby BryantBobby Bryant was a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings during the days of the Purple People Eaters . Bryant was a fierce competitor despite his size leading to the nickname "Bones"...
(8 interceptions, 97 return yards),
Earsell MackbeeEarsell Mackbee is a former professional American football player.Mackbee graduated from Utah State University, where he starred as a cornerback. He played 5 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings...
(6 interceptions, 100 return yards), and
Paul KrausePaul James Krause is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League...
(5 interceptions, 82 return yards, 1 touchdown).
On offense, quarterback
Joe KappJoseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC...
was known for his superb leadership and his running ability, both throwing on the run and running for extra yards. And when Kapp did take off and run, instead of sliding when he was about to be tackled like most quarterbacks, he lowered his shoulder and went right at the tackler. This style of play earned him the nickname "Indestructible". In the NFL Championship Game against the
Cleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are an American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They play in the AFC North division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . The original Cleveland Browns began play in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, he collided with linebacker
Jim HoustonJames Edward "Jim" Houston is a former American football linebacker who played thirteen seasons in the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006....
while running for a first down, and Houston had to be helped off the field after the play ended. Also, Kapp was known for being an extremely unselfish leader: when he was voted the Vikings' Most Valuable Player, he turned the award down and said that every player on the team was equally valuable.
Running back
Dave OsbornDave Osborn is a former professional American football player who played running back for twelve seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers....
was the team's top rusher with 643 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 236 yards and another touchdown. In the passing game,
Pro BowlIn 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...
wide receiver
Gene WashingtonEugene Washington is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos...
averaged 21.1 yards per catch by recording 821 yards and 9 touchdowns of off just 39 receptions. Wide receiver
John HendersonJohn William Henderson is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings . He started in Super Bowl IV for the Vikings and was the games leading receiver with 7 catches for 111...
caught 34 passes for 553 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Vikings offensive line was anchored by Pro Bowlers
Grady AldermanGrady Alderman was an offensive lineman who played sixteen seasons in the NFL. He played most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and he played in three Super Bowls and was selected to six Pro Bowls....
and
Mick TingelhoffHenry Michael "Mick" Tingelhoff was a football center for the Minnesota Vikings from 1962-1978.-College career:Tingelhoff attended the University of Nebraska. He earned three letters during his football career there, but did not become a starter until his senior season in 1961...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
Meanwhile, it seemed that the Chiefs, led by head coach
Hank StramHenry Louis "Hank" Stram , was an American college and Professional Football coach. He is best known for his fifteen-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...
, and especially quarterback
Len DawsonLeonard Ray "Len" Dawson is a former American football quarterback from Purdue University who played for three professional teams, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV and won the game's MVP award. Dawson retired from pro football in 1975 and was...
, were
jinxA jinx, in popular superstition and folklore, is:* A sort of curse placed on a person that makes them prey to large numbers of minor misfortunes and other forms of bad luck;...
ed throughout the year. In the second game of the regular season, Dawson suffered a knee injury that kept him from playing the next six games. The Chiefs managed to finish in second place behind the
Oakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team in the NFL based in the city of Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the AFL's Western Division, but only after suffering a tough 10-6 loss to Oakland in the final game of the regular season. After that game, many sports writers and fans heavily criticized the team and Dawson for the poor play calling (Dawson called between 80 and 90 percent of the plays during the season).
The Chiefs still managed to clinch a playoff spot. Wanting to set itself up more like the NFL right before the merger, the AFL expanded the playoffs for the 1969 season, by having the second place teams from each division face the first place teams from the other division (Western Champion vs. Eastern Runner-Up, and vice versa). As a result of the new playoff format, many critics thought the Chiefs entered the playoffs through a "back-door" as the runner up in the Western division. But Dawson silenced the critics and led Kansas City to a strong finish in the playoffs, defeating the Jets 13-6 in the Divisional Playoffs and eliminating the Raiders 17-7 in the AFL Championship Game, thus essentially making the Chiefs the first
wild cardThe term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
team to play in the Super Bowl. (Dawson says he thinks both the Jets and the Raiders could have beaten the Vikings.)
Still, many people felt that Dawson's level of play in the AFL was not comparable to the NFL. Dawson himself had spent 4 seasons in the NFL as a backup before going to the AFL and becoming one of its top quarterbacks. "The AFL saved my career," said Dawson. In his 8 AFL seasons, he had thrown more touchdown passes (182) than any other professional football quarterback during that time. But because many still viewed the AFL as being inferior to the NFL, his records were not considered significant. Dawson's first chance to prove himself against an NFL team ended in failure, with his Chiefs losing 35-10 in
Super Bowl IThe 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 ...
, reinforcing the notion that his success was only due to playing in the "inferior league".
Offensively, the Chiefs employed innovative formations and strategies designed by Stram to disrupt the timing and positioning of the defense. Besides Dawson, the Chiefs main offensive weapon was running back
Mike GarrettMichael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans....
(1965
Heisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , named after the former college football coach John Heisman, is awarded annually by the Heisman Trophy Trust to the most outstanding player in collegiate football...
winner), who rushed for 732 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also recorded 43 receptions for 432 yards and another 2 touchdowns. Running back
Robert HolmesRobert Holmes is a former American football running back who played collegiately at Southern University and professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in the National Football League for the Chiefs, the Houston Oilers, and the San Diego Chargers...
had 612 rushing yards, 266 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns. Multi-talented running back
Ed PodolakEdward Joseph Podolak is a former professional American football player. He played quarterback and halfback at the University of Iowa before being selected by the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 1969 Common Draft.During a nine-year career from 1969 to 1977,...
was also a major asset to the team, gaining 1,715 all purpose yards and leading the NFL with a 13.5 yards per punt return average. In the passing game, wide receiver
Otis TaylorOtis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...
caught 41 passes for 696 yards and 7 touchdowns. The offensive line was anchored by
AFL All-Stars-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
Ed BuddeEdward Leon Budde , a product of Denby High School in Detroit, Michigan and later Michigan State University, was the number one draft pick of the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963....
and
Jim TyrerJames Efflo Tyrer was an American football offensive tackle in the American Football League for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
. According to Len Dawson, placekicker Jan Stenerud and punter Jerrel Wilson were the best kickers in football.
The Chiefs defense led the AFL in fewest points allowed (177). Like the Vikings, the Chiefs also had an outstanding defensive line, which was led by defensive tackles
Buck BuchananJunious "Buck" Buchanan was an American who played collegiate and Professional Football as a defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League .-High school years:Buchanan attended A. H...
and
Curley CulpCurley Culp is a former professional American football player. A versatile offensive and defensive lineman, he played college football at Arizona State University, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968 and 1969, and for the National Football...
, and defensive ends Jerry Mays and Aaron Brown. The Chiefs also had AFL All-Star linebacker
Willie LanierWillie Edward Lanier is a former American football middle-linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from...
, who recorded 4 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery during the season. The Kansas City secondary was led by defensive backs
Emmitt ThomasEmmitt Earl Thomas is the assistant head coach and secondary coach of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons. He is a former college and professional football player who played for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs from 1966 to 1969, and then for the Chiefs in the NFL...
(9 interceptions for 146 return yards and a touchdown), and Johnny Robinson (8 interceptions for 158 return yards).
Super Bowl pregame news and notes
Many sports writers and fans fully expected that the Vikings would easily defeat the Chiefs. Although the AFL's
New York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the Northeastern New Jersey part of the tri-state New York metropolitan area. They are members of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays its home games in East...
won
Super Bowl IIISuper Bowl III was the third AFL-NFL Championship Game in professional American football, but the first to officially bear the name "Super Bowl" . This game is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history...
at the end of the previous season, many were convinced that it was a fluke. They continued to believe that all of the NFL teams were far and away superior to all of the AFL teams.
Super Bowl IV provided another chance to show that Dawson belonged at the same level with all of the great NFL quarterbacks. But five days before the Super Bowl, news leaked that his name had been linked to a
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
federal gambling investigation. Although Dawson was eventually cleared of any charges, the controversy added to the pressure he was already under while preparing for the game, causing him to lose sleep and concentration. "It was, beyond a doubt, the toughest week of my life," said Dawson.
The night before the game, Ed Sabol of NFL Films met with Stram and convinced Stram to wear a hidden microphone during the game so his comments could be recorded for the NFL Films Super Bowl IV film. They agreed the microphone would be kept secret. This would be the first time that a head coach had worn a microphone during a Super Bowl.
Television and entertainment
Super Bowl IV was broadcast in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
with
play-by-play announcerSports commentary, in broadcasting, is a term that means the reporting of a sporting event with a voiceover describing the details of the game in progress. In North America, in a lot of sports, the sports commentator is assisted by a color commentator, and sometimes a sideline reporter...
Jack BuckJohn Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
and
color commentatorA color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The term is of North American origin. The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy and injury reports...
s
Frank GiffordFrancis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller...
and
Pat SummerallGeorge Allen "Pat" Summerall is a former American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS, FOX, and ESPN....
. While the game was sold out at Tulane Stadium, unconditional
blackoutIn broadcasting, a blackout is when certain programming, usually sports, cannot be televised in a certain media market.The purpose is theoretically to generate more money by obliging certain actions from fans, either by making them buy tickets or watch other games on TV...
rules in both leagues prohibited the live telecast from being shown in the New Orleans area.
TrumpetThe trumpet is a musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BC...
ers
Al HirtAlois Maxwell Hirt was an American trumpeter and bandleader.-Biography:Hirt was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of a police officer, and was known as "Al" or "Jumbo." At the age of six, he was given his first trumpet, which had been purchased at a local pawnshop...
and
Doc SeverinsenCarl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen is an American pop and jazz trumpeter. He is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
"faced off" during the pregame show in a "Battle of the Horns". A planned hot-air balloon race fizzled when the balloon marked NFL and carrying a "Viking" lifted off prematurely, failed to gain altitude, and crashed into the stands in the end zone. Hirt later performed the national anthem, while actress and singer
Carol ChanningCarol Elaine Channing is an American singer and actress. She is the recipient of three Tony Awards , a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination...
was featured during the halftime show that paid tribute to
Mardi GrasThe terms "Mardi Gras" and "Mardi Gras season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, ending on the day before Ash Wednesday...
in New Orleans.
The
NFL FilmsNFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
Super Bowl IV film is one of the best-known and most popular of the NFL Films Super Bowl films due to the constant chatter and wisecracking of Hank Stram.
Game summary
Chiefs head coach
Hank StramHenry Louis "Hank" Stram , was an American college and Professional Football coach. He is best known for his fifteen-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 was also the team's offensive coordinator, devised an effective game plan against the Vikings. He knew the Vikings' secondary was able to play very far off receivers because defensive ends
Carl EllerCarl Eller was a professional American football player in the National Football League from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended the University of Minnesota...
and
Jim MarshallJames "Jim" Lawrence Marshall played college football at Ohio State University. He left school before his senior year, and played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was then drafted in the 4th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Marshall played...
knocked down short passes or pressured the quarterback. Stram decided to double-team Marshall and Eller; most of Dawson's completions would be short passes, and neither Marshall nor Eller knocked down any passes. Stram also concluded that the Vikings' aggressiveness on defense also made them susceptible to trap plays (at one point stating that the Chiefs offensive formations left Viking safety Karl Kassulke running like it was a "
Chinese fire drillA Chinese Fire Drill is a pejorative expression usually referring to a prank, or perhaps an expression of high spirits, that was popular in the United States during the 1960s. It is performed when a car is stopped at a traffic light, at which point all of the car's occupants get out, run around the...
");
Mike GarrettMichael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans....
's rushing touchdown would come on a trap play. The Chiefs routinely played a 3-4 defense, common in the AFL but rare in the NFL. The Vikings' inside running game depended on center
Mick TingelhoffHenry Michael "Mick" Tingelhoff was a football center for the Minnesota Vikings from 1962-1978.-College career:Tingelhoff attended the University of Nebraska. He earned three letters during his football career there, but did not become a starter until his senior season in 1961...
blocking linebackers. Stram put 285 pound
Buck BuchananJunious "Buck" Buchanan was an American who played collegiate and Professional Football as a defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League .-High school years:Buchanan attended A. H...
or 295 pound
Curley CulpCurley Culp is a former professional American football player. A versatile offensive and defensive lineman, he played college football at Arizona State University, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968 and 1969, and for the National Football...
in front of Tingelhoff, who weighed only 235 pounds. It was a mismatch that disrupted the Vikings' running game. Wrote Dawson, "It was obvious that their offense had never seen a defense like ours." The Vikings would rush for only two first downs.
The Vikings began the game by taking the opening kickoff and marching from their own 20-yard line to the Kansas City 39-yard line, but were forced to punt. The Chiefs then drove 42 yards in 8 plays to score on kicker
Jan StenerudJan Stenerud is a Norwegian former Professional Football player for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs , and the NFL's Chiefs , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings...
's Super Bowl record 48-yard field goal. (According to Dawson, the Vikings were shocked that the Chiefs would attempt a 48-yard field goal. "Stenerud was a major factor," he said.) Minnesota then managed to reach midfield on their next drive, but were forced to punt again.
On the first play of their ensuing drive, Chiefs quarterback
Len DawsonLeonard Ray "Len" Dawson is a former American football quarterback from Purdue University who played for three professional teams, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV and won the game's MVP award. Dawson retired from pro football in 1975 and was...
threw a 20-yard completion to wide receiver
Frank PittsFrank Pitts is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for ten seasons for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs from 1965 through 1969, and then the NFL Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.Hank Stram told the play to Chiefs quarterback Len...
, followed by a 9-yard pass to wide receiver
Otis TaylorOtis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...
. Four plays later, on the first play of the second quarter, a pass interference penalty on Vikings defensive back
Ed SharockmanEdward Charles "Ed" Sharockman is a former professional American football defensive back.Sharockman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where he starred as a cornerback. He played 11 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings . He started in Super Bowl IV....
nullified Dawson's third down incompletion and gave Kansas City a first down at the Minnesota 31-yard line. However on third down and 4 at the 25-yard line, Vikings cornerback Earsell Mackbee broke up a deep pass intended for Taylor. Stenerud then kicked another field goal to increase the Chiefs lead to 6-0.
On the second play of their next drive, Vikings wide receiver
John HendersonJohn William Henderson is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings . He started in Super Bowl IV for the Vikings and was the games leading receiver with 7 catches for 111...
fumbled the ball after catching a 16-yard reception, and Chiefs defensive back Johnny Robinson recovered the ball at the Minnesota 46-yard line. But the Vikings made key defensive plays. First defensive tackle
Alan PageAlan Cedric Page is a jurist and former professional American football player. He graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School in 1963, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978...
tackled running back
Mike GarrettMichael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans....
for a 1-yard loss, and then safety
Paul KrausePaul James Krause is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League...
intercepted Dawson's pass at the 7-yard line on the next play.
However, the Vikings also could not take advantage of the turnover. Quarterback
Joe KappJoseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC...
's two incompletions and a delay of game penalty forced Minnesota to punt from their own 5-yard line. The Chiefs then took over at the Viking 44-yard line after punter
Bob LeeRobert Melville Lee is a former professional American football player. Nicknamed "General" Bob Lee during a brief period of success with the Atlanta Falcons, Lee was selected in the 17th round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1968 NFL Draft...
's kick only went 39 yards. A 19-yard run by Pitts on an end around play then set up another field goal by Stenerud to increase the Chiefs' lead to 9-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, Vikings returner
Charlie WestCharlie West is a former safety who played for three National Football League teams. He played in Super Bowl IV as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He also still holds the UTEP career record of 19 interceptions, including a school record four in one game. Today, he presently lives near New York...
fumbled the ball, and Kansas City's
Remi PrudhommeJoseph Remi Prudhomme was an American football offensive lineman at Louisiana State University, where he was a All-American in 1964. He joined the American Football League's Buffalo Bills in 1965 and played for them in 1966 and 1967, and later returned to the Bills of the NFL in the 1972 season...
recovered it at Minnesota 19-yard line. ("That was a key, key play," said Dawson.) Defensive tackle
Jim MarshallJames "Jim" Lawrence Marshall played college football at Ohio State University. He left school before his senior year, and played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was then drafted in the 4th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Marshall played...
sacked Dawson for an 8-yard loss by on the first play of the drive, but then a 13-yard run by running back
Wendell HayesWendell Hayes is a former Professional Football running back. Wendell played college football at Humboldt State University...
and a 10-yard reception by Taylor gave the Chiefs a first down at the 4-yard line. Two plays later, running back
Mike GarrettMichael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans....
's 5-yard touchdown run on a trap play gave Kansas City a 16-0 lead.
West returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards to the 32-yard line. Then on the first play of the drive, Kapp completed a 27-yard pass to Henderson to advance the ball to the Kansas City 41-yard line. However, on the next 3 plays, Kapp threw 2 incompletions and was sacked by defensive tackle
Buck BuchananJunious "Buck" Buchanan was an American who played collegiate and Professional Football as a defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League .-High school years:Buchanan attended A. H...
for an 8-yard loss. Then on fourth down, kicker
Fred CoxFrederick William Cox is a former National Football League kicker for the Minnesota Vikings throughout his career . He is also the inventor of the nerf football. However the creators of the nerf materials are Robert Witt and colleagues. Fred was raised in Monongahela, PA, where his family owned a...
's 56-yard field goal attempt fell short of the goal posts.
In the third quarter, the Vikings managed to build some momentum. After forcing the Chiefs to punt on the opening possession of the second half, Minnesota drove 69 yards in 10 plays to score on fullback
Dave OsbornDave Osborn is a former professional American football player who played running back for twelve seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers....
's 4-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead, 16-7. However, Kansas City responded on their next possession with a 6-play, 82-yard drive to score on Dawson's 46-yard touchdown completion to Taylor three minutes later. Taylor caught the ball at the Minnesota 41-yard line, broke
Earsell MackbeeEarsell Mackbee is a former professional American football player.Mackbee graduated from Utah State University, where he starred as a cornerback. He played 5 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings...
's tackle, raced down the sideline, broke safety
Karl KassulkeKarl Otto Kassulke was a former professional American football player.Kassulke graduated from Drake University, where he starred as a safety. He played 10 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings...
's tackle, and scored.
The Chiefs would then go on to shut out the Vikings in the fourth quarter, forcing three interceptions on three Minnesota possessions, to clinch the 23-7 victory. The defeat was total for the Vikings, as even their "Indestructible" quarterback Joe Kapp had to be helped off the field in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Chiefs defensive lineman Aaron Brown. Kapp was replaced by
Gary CuozzoGary Samuel Cuozzo was a former professional American football player. An undrafted quarterback from the University of Virginia, Cuozzo played in 10 NFL seasons from 1963-1972. He began his NFL career on the Baltimore Colts as a backup to Johnny Unitas...
. Fittingly, the Vikings' final play was an interception Cuozzo threw to Thomas.
Garrett was the top rusher of the game, recording 11 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 25 yards and returned a kickoff for 18 yards. Taylor was the Chiefs' leading receiver with 6 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Kapp finished the game with 16 of 25 completions for 183 yards, with 2 interceptions. Henderson was the top receiver of the game with 7 catches for 111 yards. The Chiefs defense had completely shut down Minnesota's rushing attack. In the NFL championship game, Osborn had rushed for 108 yards while Kapp rushed for 57. But in the Super Bowl, they rushed for a combined total of 24 yards.
Referring to the Vikings' three interceptions, three fumbles, and six penalties, Vikings safety Karl Kassulke said, "We made more mental mistakes in one game than we did in one season."
Scoring summary
| Quarter |
Time |
Team |
Drive |
Scoring Information |
Score |
| Length |
Plays |
Time |
MIN |
KC |
| 1 |
6:52 |
KC |
42 |
8 |
4:06 |
FG: Jan Stenerud 48 yards |
0 |
3 |
| 2 |
13:20 |
KC |
55 |
8 |
4:48 |
FG: Jan Stenerud 32 yards |
0 |
6 |
| 2 |
7:52 |
KC |
27 |
4 |
2:13 |
FG: Jan Stenerud 25 yards |
0 |
9 |
| 2 |
5:34 |
KC |
19 |
6 |
1:47 |
TD: Mike Garrett 5 yard run (Jan Stenerud kick) |
0 |
16 |
| 3 |
4:32 |
MIN |
69 |
10 |
4:34 |
TD: Dave Osborn 4 yard run (Fred Cox kick) |
7 |
16 |
| 3 |
1:22 |
KC |
82 |
6 |
3:10 |
TD: Otis Taylor 46 yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick) |
7 |
23 |
Final statistics
Source:
The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football, (1973), p.144, Macmillan Publishing Co. New York, NY, LCCN 73-3862
Statistical comparison
|
Minnesota Vikings |
Kansas City Chiefs |
| First downs |
13 |
18 |
| First downs rushing |
2 |
8 |
| First downs passing |
10 |
7 |
| First downs penalty |
1 |
3 |
| Net yards rushing |
67 |
151 |
| Passes attempted |
28 |
17 |
| Passes completed |
17 |
12 |
| Interceptions-yards |
1-0 |
3-24 |
| Net yards passing |
172 |
122 |
| Total yards |
239 |
273 |
| Punts-average |
3-37.0 |
4-48.5 |
| Fumbles-lost |
3-2 |
0-0 |
| Penalties-yards |
6-67 |
4-47 |
Starting lineups
Source:
| Kansas City | Position | OFFENSE
|
|---|
| Frank Pitts Frank Pitts is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for ten seasons for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs from 1965 through 1969, and then the NFL Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders.Hank Stram told the play to Chiefs quarterback Len...
|
WR |
Gene Washington Eugene Washington is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos...
|
| Jim Tyrer James Efflo Tyrer was an American football offensive tackle in the American Football League for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs...
|
LT |
Grady Alderman Grady Alderman was an offensive lineman who played sixteen seasons in the NFL. He played most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and he played in three Super Bowls and was selected to six Pro Bowls....
|
| Ed Budde Edward Leon Budde , a product of Denby High School in Detroit, Michigan and later Michigan State University, was the number one draft pick of the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963....
|
LG |
Jim Vellone James Vellone was a guard in the National Football League.-Pro career:Vellone played for the Minnesota Vikings. He was a part of Super Bowl IV, and was a guard for the Minnesota Vikings....
|
| E. J. Holub Emil Joe Holub is a former American football center and linebacker in the American Football League and the National Football League . Collegiately, he played for Texas Tech.-College:...
|
C |
Mick Tingelhoff Henry Michael "Mick" Tingelhoff was a football center for the Minnesota Vikings from 1962-1978.-College career:Tingelhoff attended the University of Nebraska. He earned three letters during his football career there, but did not become a starter until his senior season in 1961...
|
| Mo Moorman Maurice "Mo" Moorman was an American college and professional football player. He played collegiately for Texas A&M, and went to the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs as a first-round draft choice in 1968...
|
RG |
Milt Sunde Milton John Sunde was a guard in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings. Sunde attended the University of Minnesota....
|
| Dave Hill |
RT |
Ron Yary Anthony Ronald "Ron" Yary is a former professional American football offensive tackle, playing primarily for the Minnesota Vikings and also for the Los Angeles Rams. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001...
|
| Fred Arbanas Frederick Vincent Arbanas is an American former college and professional football player. Drafted out of Michigan State by the American Football League's Dallas Texans in 1961, he missed the 1961 season with injuries...
|
TE |
John Beasley John Walter Beasley is a former professional American football player. A 6'3", . tight end from the University of California at Berkeley, Beasley was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1967 NFL Draft....
|
| Otis Taylor Otis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...
|
WR |
John Henderson John William Henderson is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings . He started in Super Bowl IV for the Vikings and was the games leading receiver with 7 catches for 111...
|
| Len Dawson Leonard Ray "Len" Dawson is a former American football quarterback from Purdue University who played for three professional teams, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl IV and won the game's MVP award. Dawson retired from pro football in 1975 and was...
|
QB |
Joe Kapp Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC...
|
| Mike Garrett Michael Lockett Garrett is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans....
|
RB |
Dave Osborn Dave Osborn is a former professional American football player who played running back for twelve seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers....
|
| Robert Holmes Robert Holmes is a former American football running back who played collegiately at Southern University and professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, and in the National Football League for the Chiefs, the Houston Oilers, and the San Diego Chargers...
|
RB |
Bill Brown |
| DEFENSE |
| Jerry Mays |
LE |
Carl Eller Carl Eller was a professional American football player in the National Football League from 1964 through 1979. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended the University of Minnesota...
|
| Curley Culp Curley Culp is a former professional American football player. A versatile offensive and defensive lineman, he played college football at Arizona State University, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968 and 1969, and for the National Football...
|
LDT |
Gary Larsen Gary Larsen was a defensive tackle in the NFL and played college football at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. He started his NFL career in 1964 with the Los Angeles Rams and then became a part of the famous Purple People Eaters for the Minnesota Vikings from 1965 through 1974...
|
| Buck Buchanan Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American who played collegiate and Professional Football as a defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League .-High school years:Buchanan attended A. H...
|
RDT |
Alan PageAlan Cedric Page is a jurist and former professional American football player. He graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School in 1963, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967, and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978...
|
| Aaron Brown |
RE |
Jim Marshall James "Jim" Lawrence Marshall played college football at Ohio State University. He left school before his senior year, and played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was then drafted in the 4th round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Marshall played...
|
| Bobby Bell Robert "Bobby" Lee Bell, Jr is a former professional American football linebacker/defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a winner in Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.- High school career :He excelled in several sports...
|
LOLB |
Roy WinstonRoy Charles Winston is a former professional American football player.Roy Winston graduated from Louisiana State University, where he starred as an offensive guard...
|
| Willie Lanier Willie Edward Lanier is a former American football middle-linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from...
|
MLB |
Lonnie Warwick Lonnie Warwick in Raleigh, West Virginia) is a former professional American football player. He played 10 seasons in the National Football League, with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons. He started in Super Bowl IV....
|
| Jim Lynch James Robert Lynch is a former American football linebacker who spent his entire eleven-year professional career with the American Football League and National Football League Kansas City Chiefs.-Early years:...
|
ROLB |
Wally Hilgenberg Walter Hilgenberg is a former professional American football player.Hilgenberg was born in Marshalltown in 1942. His family moved to Wilton where he grew up and graduated from Wilton High School....
|
| Jim Marsalis James "Jim" Marsalis was a college and professional American football player. A star at Tennessee State, he played nine professional seasons as a cornerback from 1969-1977...
|
LCB |
Earsell Mackbee Earsell Mackbee is a former professional American football player.Mackbee graduated from Utah State University, where he starred as a cornerback. He played 5 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings...
|
| Emmitt Thomas Emmitt Earl Thomas is the assistant head coach and secondary coach of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons. He is a former college and professional football player who played for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs from 1966 to 1969, and then for the Chiefs in the NFL...
|
RCB |
Ed Sharockman Edward Charles "Ed" Sharockman is a former professional American football defensive back.Sharockman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where he starred as a cornerback. He played 11 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings . He started in Super Bowl IV....
|
| Jim Kearney James Lee Kearney is a former American football safety who played twelve seasons in the National Football League and the American Football League from 1965-1976. He started in Super Bowl IV for the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1972 he tied an NFL record by returning four interceptions for touchdowns...
|
SS |
Karl Kassulke Karl Otto Kassulke was a former professional American football player.Kassulke graduated from Drake University, where he starred as a safety. He played 10 seasons in the National Football League, all with the Minnesota Vikings...
|
| Johnny Robinson |
FS |
Paul Krause Paul James Krause is a former professional American football defensive back in the National Football League...
|
OfficialsIn American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
- Referee: John McDonough (AFL)
- Umpire: Lou Palazzi
Louis Joseph Palazzi was an American football player who later officiated from 1952 through 1981 as an umpire in the National Football League...
(NFL)
- Head Linesman: Harry Kessel (AFL)
- Line Judge: Bill Schleibaum (NFL)
- Field Judge: Charlie Musser (AFL)
- Back Judge: Tom Kelleher (NFL)
Note: A seven-official system was not used until 1978
Game time and weather conditions
- 3:30 p.m. EST/2:30 p.m. CST
The Central Time Zone is in the Americas and observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time and five hours during daylight saving time...
, heavy overcast, wet field, tornado watchA tornado watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms that are capable of producing tornadoes. A tornado watch therefore implies that it is also a severe thunderstorm watch...
issued for area