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Dawson was the Player of the Year in the AFL in 1962 and spent
60 years as part of the Kansas City Chiefs' family, including
guiding the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory. He also
played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
"With wife Linda at his side, it is with much sadness that we
inform you of the passing of our beloved Len Dawson," Dawson's
family said in a statement issued by Channel 9 (KMBC-TV) in
Kansas City. "He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and
friend. Len was always grateful and many times overwhelmed by
the countless bonds he made during his football and broadcast
careers. He loved Kansas City and no matter where his travels
took him, he could not wait to return home.
"
He had been in hospice care since Aug. 12.
On the field, Dawson was known as "Lenny the Cool" and started
in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl IV as part of his 14-year run as
the team's No. 1 quarterback.
In 19 seasons as a pro, Dawson passed for 28,711 yards with 239
TD passes. He had nine touchdown runs and 1,293 rushing yards in
his career.
Dawson led the NFL in completion percentage eight times and in
touchdown passes four times. He still holds the franchise career
records for pass attempts (3,696), completions (2,115), passing
yards (28,507) and touchdowns (237) for the Chiefs.
"My family and I are heartbroken. Len Dawson is synonymous with
the Kansas City Chiefs. Len embraced and came to embody Kansas
City and the people that call it home. You would be hard-pressed
to find a player who had a bigger impact in shaping the
organization as we know it today than Len Dawson did," Chiefs
chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said.
"I admired Len my entire life -- first as a Hall of Fame player
on the field, and later as he transitioned into a successful
broadcasting career. Throughout his remarkable career, Len made
it a priority to give back to the community that he loved. The
franchise has lost a true legend. Our thoughts and prayers go
out to Linda and his family."
Dawson became a broadcaster with the Chiefs and had national
roles with NBC and HBO's "Inside the NFL" behind the microphone.
In January 1970, Dawson led the Chiefs to a 23-7 win over the
favored Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV and was the game's
MVP, capping the victory with a 46-yard touchdown pass.
The Chiefs lost Super Bowl I to the Green Bay Packers, 35-10.
Dawson was born into a large family in Alliance, Ohio, and had
10 siblings. He attended Purdue University and debuted as the
Boilermakers starter in 1954, playing for a coaching staff that
included assistant coach Hank Stram.
He was the fifth overall pick in 1957 to the Steelers, who
selected Dawson one spot ahead of Syracuse running back Jim
Brown. After toiling as a backup with the Steelers and Browns,
Dawson requested his release. In June 1962, the Browns let him
go.
He'd reunite with Stram, then the AFL Dallas Texans' coach,
thanks to their strong ties at Purdue.
Dawson not only won the starting job and proved Stram's hunch
that he could succeed in pro football was accurate, the Texans
won the AFL title in 1962 and Dawson was named Player of the
Year. In 1963, the franchise moved to Kansas City with Dawson as
a centerpiece.
Dawson was named the 1973 NFL Man of the Year and retired on May
1, 1976. He was enshrined into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1979
and into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 1987.
--Field Level Media
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