Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote Its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
QB
"I guess the main reason is I always wanted to do it. I enjoy doing it. I enjoy the competitiveness of it. I enjoy the money we make.”
(Purdue)...6'0'', 190...Leonard Ray Dawson. . .Pittsburgh's No. 1 draft pick, 1957 . . .Led 1962 Texans, 1966, 1969 Chiefs to AFL titles. . .AFL Player of Year, 1962. . . Won four AFL passing crowns. . . MVP, Super Bowl IV. . . Selected to six AFL All-Star games, 1972 Pro Bowl. . .Pin-point passer, astute field general. . . Career passing stats: 28,711 yards, 239 touchdowns, 82.6 rating. . .Rushed for 1,293 yards, 9 TDs. . . Born June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio.
Although Len Dawson ranks among the elite forward passers of all time with an 82.56 rating compiled over 19 seasons of pro play, he is perhaps best remembered for his courageous performance in leading the Chiefs to a 23-7 upset of the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Dawson connected on 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards in the now-historic game, and his 46-yard pass completion to Otis Taylor wrapped up the surprise victory that evened the AFL-NFL portion of the Super Bowl series at two wins each. Dawson was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
A No. 1 draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, the former Purdue sharp-shooter struggled through five seasons as a seldom-used backup with the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns before finding his niche with the Dallas Texans of the American Football League in 1962. He paced the Texans, who became the Kansas City Chiefs the next year, to their first AFL championship in a double overtime victory over the Houston Oilers. He was also the chief architect of Kansas City titles in both 1966 and 1969 that led to his participation in Super Bowls I and IV.
Noted for his calm, poised approach to every situation, the 6-0, 190-pound Dawson was often lauded by his coach, Hank Stram, as "the most accurate passer in pro football." His record adds credence to that contention. Dawson, who was born June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio, won four AFL individual passing crowns in 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968.
He was selected to play in six AFL All-Star games and the 1972 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. An All-AFL selection in both 1962 and 1966, he was named the AFL Player of the Year in 1962. During his career, he completed 2,136 of 3,741 passes for 28,711 yards and 239 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,293 yards before retiring after the 1975 season.
Championship Games
1962 AFL – Dallas Texans 20, Houston Oilers 17 (OT) Dawson started at quarterback. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 88 yards and one touchdown. Dawson also had five rushes for 26 yards. 1966 AFL – Kansas City Chiefs 31, Buffalo Bills 7 Dawson started at quarterback. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Dawson also had five rushes for 26 yards.
1969 AFL – Kansas City Chiefs 17, Oakland Raiders 7 Dawson started at quarterback. He completed 7 of 17 passes for 129 yards. Dawson also had three rushes for six yards.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl I – Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10 Dawson started at quarterback. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 211 yards, one TD and one interception. He also had three rushes for 24 yards.
Super Bowl IV – Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7 Dawson started at quarterback. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards, one TD and one interception. He also had three rushes for 11 yards. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
All-League Teams
All-AFL: 1962 (AP, UPI, OL) • 1966 (AP, UPI, OL, NEA, NY)
All-AFL Second Team: 1964 (AP, UPI, OL, NEA, NY) • 1965 (NEA ) • 1968 (AP, UPI)
All-AFC Second Team: 1971 (UPI)
Pro Bowls
(7) – 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970*, 1972
* Did not play
In the NFL Record Book
(at time of his retirement following 1975 season)
• [1st] Most Fumbles, Game – 7 (vs. San Diego, Nov. 15, 1964) • [Tied for 1st] Most Seasons Leading League, Touchdown Passes – 4 (1962-63, 1965-66) • [2nd] Most Seasons Leading League, Passing – 4 (1962, 1964, 1966, 1968) • [2nd] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Career – 57.10 • [2nd] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Season – 66.43 (1975) • [Tied for 2nd] Fewest Passing Interceptions, Season – 4 (1975) • [3rd] Most Seasons – 19 • [3rd] Most Fumbles, Career – 84 • [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Passes Completed – 15 (vs. Houston, Dec. 20, 1964) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Fumbles, Season – 15 (1964) • [Tied for 3rd] Most Fumbles Recovered, Career – 32 • [Tied for 3rd] Most Own Fumbles Recovered, Career – 32
Super Bowl Records
• [1st] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Career – 63.6 • [2nd] Most Passing Completions, Career – 28 • [2nd] Most Pass Yards Gained, Career – 353
AFC/AFL Championship Records
• [1st] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Career – 58.2 • [1st] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Game – 66.7 (vs. Buffalo, 1966) • [1st] Fewest Passing Interceptions, Career (50 attempts) – 0
AFC Divisional Playoff Records
• [Tied for 1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Career – 6
Team Records
Chiefs' records held by Dawson (Records through the 1975 season, Dawson's final season with Kansas City) • [1st] Most Seasons – 14 • [1st] Most Total Yards Offense, Game – 448 (435 passing, 13 rushing – vs. Denver, Nov. 1, 1964) • [1st] Most Total Yards Offense, Season – 448 (2759 passing, 252 rushing – 1962) • [1st] Most Seasons Leading League, Passing – 4 (1962, 1964, 1966, 1968) • [1st] Most Passing Attempts, Career – 3,696 • [1st] Most Passing Attempts, Season – 379 (1961) • [1st] Most Passing Attempts, Game – 46 (vs. Buffalo ,Oct. 13, 1963) • [1st] Most Passing Completions, Career – 2,115 • [1st] Most Passing Completions, Season – 206 (1967) • [1st] Most Passing Completions, Game – 26 (vs. San Diego, Nov. 10, 1974) • [1st] Most Consecutive Passes Completed – 15 (vs. Houston, Dec. 20, 1964) • [1st] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Career – 57.10 • [1st] Most Passing Yards, Career – 28,507 • [1st] Most Passing Yards, Season – 2,879 (1964) • [1st] Most Passing Yards, Game – 435 (vs. Denver, Nov. 1, 1964) • [1st] Most Passing Touchdowns, Career – 237 • [1st] Most Passing Touchdowns, Season – 30 (1964) • [1st] Most Passing Touchdowns, Game – 6 (vs. Denver, Nov. 1, 1964) • [1st] Most Seasons Leading League, Touchdown Passes – 4 (1962-63, 1965-66) • [1st] Most Passing Interceptions, Career – 178 • [Tied for 1st] Most Passing Interceptions, Game – 5 (vs. Oakland, Nov. 23, 1969)
League/Team Statistical Titles
League Statistical Championships Passing Titles: 1962, 1964, 1968 AFC Statistical Championships Passing Titles: 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 Passing Touchdown Leader: 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966
Team Statistical Championships Passing Titles: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975
Awards and Honors
• Super Bowl IV MVP • 1969 AFL All-Star Game, Outstanding Offensive Player • 1973 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
Full Name: Leonard Ray Dawson Birthdate: June 20, 1935 Birthplace: Alliance, Ohio High School: Alliance (OH) Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 24, 1987 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 8, 1987 Presenter: Hank Stram, Dawson's head coach with Chiefs Other Members of Class of 1987: Larry Csonka, Joe Greene, John Henry Johnson, Jim Langer, Don Maynard, Gene Upshaw Pro Career: 19 seasons, 211 games Drafted: 1st round (5th overall) by Pittsburgh Steelers Uniform Number: 16, (18)