Kansas City Chiefs

Here are the 1968 Chiefs, "between Super Bowls". Having lost Super Bowl I, they would go on to win Super Bowl IV following the 1969 season.
I only had Hayes, McClinton, and Bell in 1968. All others were found at card shows a few years ago.


#171 Len Dawson - Dawson was drafted by the Steelers in 1957. After 3 seasons with the Steelers and 2 with the Browns, he joined the Dallas Texans (who would later become the Chiefs) in 1963 and immediately became the starting QB, a job he would hold until his retirement following the 1975 season. Dawson led the AFL in passing in 1962, 1964, and 1966. Len was one of 2 QBs let go by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1950s (the other was Johnny Unitas!)


#40 Wendell Hayes - This card is so off-center that you can see part of the Raiders' Clem Daniels' card. As a rookie in 1965, Hayes was the Denver Broncos leading rusher. He's wearing a Broncos jersey here (the numbers have a blue outline).


#67 Curtis McClinton - This 227-pound fullback was the AFL rookie of the year in 1962. He scored the only Chiefs' TD in Super Bowl I.


#145 - E. J. Holub - Holub played linebacker for the Chiefs from 1961-67, then switched to center for 1968-70. The back of this card forms part of the Len Dawson puzzle.


#15 Jim Tyrer - Tyrer was a rookie in 1961, and was an AFL all-star selection every season. What is with that logo? Maybe it's an outline of Kansas City.


#119 Jerry Mays - Like Tyrer, Mays was also a rookie in 1961. He is a 5-time AFL all-star selection, and is the Chiefs' defensive captain.


#197 Buck Buchanan - Buchanan was arguably the best AFL defensive tackle. He was the first overall pick in the 1963 AFL draft, and played his entire career (1963-1975) with the Chiefs. An 8-time Pro-Bowler, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.


#93 Bobby Bell - Bell played his entire career with the Chiefs. In 1963 and 1964 he was a defensive end. From 1965 until his retirement after 1974, he was their left linebacker. He played in every Pro Bowl from 1964 to 1972.


Also check out the 1971 Chiefs.


Since the cards on my 1967 football blog were only made for NFL teams, I'm going to offset that by posting all the AFL teams on this 1968 blog, before any other NFL teams.

Next: Oakland Raiders
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