At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, in the early to mid-1970s, Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson, wearing number 16, drops back to pass versus the Raiders. Sports Focus/Getty Images remove caption

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At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, in the early to mid-1970s, Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson, wearing number 16, drops back to pass versus the Raiders.

Sports Focus/Getty Images MO. KANSAS CITY Len Dawson, a quarterback in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and well-known sportscaster on radio and television, has passed away. He was 87.

In 1970, he coached the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory and won MVP honors as well. Along with serving as a broadcaster for more than 50 years, “Lenny the Cool” helped Chiefs supporters through their highs and lows.

Early this month, Dawson started hospice care. In the Chiefs’ a statement release, “The Kansas City Chiefs are synonymous with Len Dawson. Len accepted and eventually came to represent Kansas City and the locals. It would be difficult to identify a player who had a greater influence on the organization’s development than Len Dawson did “Clark Hunt, the Chiefs’ chairman, remarked.

In 1935, Dawson was born in Alliance, Ohio. Inducted following an 19-year football career fifty-two years later, he stood at the Hall of Fame in adjacent Canton. After Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford, he was the third individual to be inducted into the Hall of Fame both as a player and a broadcaster.

On October 30, 2017, Len Dawson, a former quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, watches from the sidelines as his team, the Denver Broncos, play. hide caption – Colin E. Braley/AP

switch to caption Image by Colin E. Braley/AP On October 30, 2017, Len Dawson, a former quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, watches from the sidelines as his team, the Denver Broncos, play.

AP Photo/Colin E. Braley In 2017, when the announcing booth at Arrowhead Stadium was officially dedicated to him, Dawson chuckled and added, “I was into working.” Because they didn’t have much themselves, my parents instilled in me the value of working hard for what you desire.

From 1984 until 2017, Dawson provided color commentary for Chiefs radio broadcasts on the Chiefs radio network. Mitch Holthus, who worked with him on radio play-by-play for 24 of those years, was a longtime fan.

In reference to Lenny Dawson’s jersey No. 16, Holthus commented, “I made sure my mom created a shoddy, stitched jersey with 1 and 6 on it because I wanted to be Lenny Dawson.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Dawson in the first round of the 1957 draft out of Purdue, but he never saw much action with them or during his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns in 1960 and 1961.

Lamar Hunt established the American Football League in the meanwhile, in 1960.

“There are a lot of sons of wealthy people, Paul Brown (the owner and coach of the Browns) remarked. This is their pastime,”” Dawson remembered. “It will only last a year or two. It won’t take long, I promise.”

Before the 1962 season began, Dawson joined with the Dallas Texans of the infant American Football League, where he reconnected with Hank Stram, one of his Purdue assistant coaches. That year, the Texans won the AFL title and then relocated to Kansas City.

On January 11, 1970, in Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, during Super Bowl IV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings, Len Dawson made a pass to a teammate. Sports Focus/Getty Images remove caption

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On January 11, 1970, in Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, during Super Bowl IV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Minnesota Vikings, Len Dawson made a pass to a teammate.

Sports Focus/Getty Images Dawson’s throw of 30 touchdown passes in 1964 held the Chiefs record until Patrick Mahomes broke it with 50 in 2018. Mahomes claimed he spoke to Dawson about it when he was set to surpass Dawson’s record.

In 2018, Mahomes remarked, “When you throw 30 touchdowns in today’s league where there is a lot more passing, you’re still having a tremendous season.” “I mean, he won a Super Bowl here, so for him to be that advanced. One of the all-time great quarterbacks was him.”

The Chiefs, who had Dawson at quarterback, fell to the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV , but won the Super Bowl I. The MVP was Dawson.

He remembered, “We were the underdog in that game. “We were predicted to lose by a few touchdowns. Fortunately, we didn’t think that.”

On December 1, 1970, a local television station in Kansas City, Missouri, broadcast a sportscast featuring Len Dawson, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. hide caption – William P. Straeter/AP

switch to caption Image by William P. Straeter/AP On December 1, 1970, a local television station in Kansas City, Missouri, broadcast a sportscast featuring Len Dawson, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.

Author: William P. Straeter When he was 40 years old and in his final season, Dawson. He was sacked seven times in a late-season game while playing behind an offensive line that was severely injured. By that point, Dawson claimed, he realized his playing days were finished.

It influenced my choice, he declared. “That’s it, I said. I don’t have to put up with this beating any longer.”

In 1966, Chiefs president Jack Steadman initiated conversations with KMBC-TV and radio management about including Dawson in the broadcasts without Dawson’s knowledge.

Dawson stated, “I had no idea he was doing that; in the end, it launched my broadcasting career.
He continued to play a significant role in Kansas City and rose to fame thanks to the landmark HBO program “Inside the NFL.”

Before the Class of 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on August 2, 2008 in Canton, Ohio, Kansas City Chiefs player Len Dawson welcomes spectators. Images by Al Messerschmidt for Getty remove caption

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Before the Class of 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on August 2, 2008 in Canton, Ohio, Kansas City Chiefs player Len Dawson welcomes spectators.

Images by Al Messerschmidt for Getty