List of Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterbacks
The 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 (NFL). Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League. In 1963, the team moved to Kansas City, Missouri and were renamed the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs have had 56 different quarterbacks attempt a pass, 39 different starting quarterbacks, and 19 different quarterbacks start at least 10 games. Eleven different quarterbacks have been named to either the AFL All-Star team or Pro Bowl for a total of 25 selections. Five of those quarterbacks have been name All-Star or Pro Bowl multiple times. Eleven of the Chiefs starting quarterbacks have led the Chiefs to the playoffs, however, only five have won a playoff game.[1] Patrick Mahomes has been the Chiefs' starting quarterback since 2018. Mahomes has been the full-time starting quarterback since the beginning of the 2018 season, when he broke multiple single season team records and became the first Chiefs player to win MVP. Cotton Davidson was the team's first starting quarterback. He played all 14 games for the Texans in their inaugural 1960 season.[2] Davidson played with the franchise from 1960 to 1962,[3] and was traded in 1963 to the Oakland Raiders.[4] Len Dawson signed with the Chiefs (then known as the Texans) on July 2, 1962 and played for the franchise for 14 seasons.[4][5] With Dawson as the team's starter, the Texans/Chiefs won three American Football League championships and appeared in two Super Bowl championship games.[5] Dawson was named Most Valuable Player after the Chiefs' victory in Super Bowl IV and retired in 1975 with several franchise records.[5][6] Three quarterbacks currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame have started at least one game for Kansas City: Dawson, Joe Montana, and Warren Moon. The most quarterbacks started in one season was five in 1987, however, this was primarily due to the player strike that led to teams using replacement players. The Chiefs have had the same quarterback start every game in a season 15 times. Trent Green started the most consecutive games with 81. Mahomes and Dawson are the only quarterbacks to lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, I and IV for Dawson and LIV, LV, LVII, and LVIII for Mahomes, with the Chiefs winning IV, LIV, LVII, and LVIII.
Starting quarterbacks by season
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Patrick_Mahomes_%2851615475056%29.jpg/220px-Patrick_Mahomes_%2851615475056%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Alex_Smith_2014_Pro_Bowl.jpg/220px-Alex_Smith_2014_Pro_Bowl.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Trent_Green_Chiefs.jpg/220px-Trent_Green_Chiefs.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Chiefs_players_in_huddle.jpg/220px-Chiefs_players_in_huddle.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Kansas_City_Chiefs_at_Denver_Broncos_1985-12-14_%28ticket%29_%28crop%29.jpg/220px-Kansas_City_Chiefs_at_Denver_Broncos_1985-12-14_%28ticket%29_%28crop%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Cotton_Davidson_1960.jpg/220px-Cotton_Davidson_1960.jpg)
Regular-season
[edit]The number of games started in the season by each player is listed in small parentheses. Statistics do not include postseason starts.
- 14 game seasons
Season | Quarterback(s) | Reference(s) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas Texans 1960–1962 | ||||||
1960 | Cotton Davidson (12) / Hunter Enis (2) | [3][8][9] | ||||
1961 | Cotton Davidson (12) / Randy Duncan (2) | [10][11] | ||||
1962 | Len Dawson (14) | [12][13] | ||||
Kansas City Chiefs 1963–present | ||||||
1963 | Len Dawson (13) / Eddie Wilson (1) | [14][15] | ||||
1964 | Len Dawson (14) | [16] | ||||
1965 | Len Dawson (12) / Pete Beathard (2) | [17][18] | ||||
1966 | Len Dawson (14) | [19] | ||||
1967 | Len Dawson (14) | [20] | ||||
1968 | Len Dawson (13) / Jacky Lee (1) | [21][22] | ||||
1969 | Len Dawson (7) / Jacky Lee (1) / Mike Livingston (6) | [23][24] | ||||
1970 | Len Dawson (12) / Mike Livingston (2) | [25] | ||||
1971 | Len Dawson (13) / Mike Livingston (1) | [26] | ||||
1972 | Len Dawson (12) / Mike Livingston (2) | [27] | ||||
1973 | Mike Livingston (8) / Len Dawson (6) | [28] | ||||
1974 | Len Dawson (8) / Mike Livingston (6) | [29] | ||||
1975 | Mike Livingston (7) / Len Dawson (5) / Tony Adams (2) | [30][31] | ||||
1976 | Mike Livingston (14) | [32] | ||||
1977 | Mike Livingston (11) / Tony Adams (3) | [33][34] |
- 16 game seasons
- 17 game seasons
Season | Quarterback(s) | Reference(s) |
---|---|---|
2021 | Patrick Mahomes (17) | [99] |
2022 | Patrick Mahomes (17) | [100] |
2023 | Patrick Mahomes (16) / Blaine Gabbert (1) | [101] |
Post-season records
[edit]Quarterback | Record |
---|---|
Patrick Mahomes | 15–3 |
Len Dawson | 5–3 |
Joe Montana | 2–2 |
Steve DeBerg | 1–2 |
Alex Smith | 1–4 |
Todd Blackledge | 0–1 |
Dave Krieg | 0–1 |
Steve Bono | 0–1 |
Elvis Grbac | 0–1 |
Matt Cassel | 0–1 |
Trent Green | 0–2 |
All-Star/Pro Bowl quarterbacks
[edit]Quarterback | No. of selections |
---|---|
Len Dawson | 7× |
Patrick Mahomes | 6× |
Alex Smith | 3× |
Cotton Davidson | 2× |
Trent Green | 2× |
Steve Bono | 1× |
Matt Cassel | 1× |
Elvis Grbac | 1× |
Bill Kenney | 1× |
Mike Livingston | 1× |
Joe Montana | 1× |
Most games as starting quarterback
[edit]Only the top 10 are listed below.
Rank | Name | Seasons | GS | GP | W | L | T | Pct |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Len Dawson | 1962–75 | 158 | 183 | 94 | 56 | 8 | .620 |
2 | Patrick Mahomes | 2017–present | 96 | 96 | 74 | 22 | 0 | .771 |
3 | Trent Green | 2001–06 | 88 | 88 | 48 | 40 | 0 | .545 |
4 | Bill Kenney | 1980–88 | 77 | 106 | 34 | 43 | 0 | .442 |
5 | Alex Smith | 2013–17 | 76 | 76 | 50 | 26 | 0 | .658 |
6 | Mike Livingston | 1968–79 | 75 | 90 | 30 | 43 | 1 | .412 |
7 | Steve DeBerg | 1988-91 | 52 | 57 | 31 | 20 | 1 | .606 |
8 | Elvis Grbac | 1997–2000 | 47 | 49 | 26 | 21 | 0 | .553 |
Matt Cassel | 2009–12 | 48 | 19 | 28 | 0 | .404 | ||
10 | Steve Fuller | 1979–82 | 31 | 52 | 13 | 18 | 0 | .419 |
Steve Bono | 1994–96 | 37 | 21 | 10 | 0 | .677 |
As of week 15 of the 2023 season
Team career passing leaders
[edit]Below are the top five quarterbacks in each category throughout their tenure with the Chiefs. Stats are complete through week 17 of the 2023 NFL Season.
- Yards[102]
Name | Yards |
---|---|
Len Dawson | 28,507 |
Patrick Mahomes | 28,424 |
Trent Green | 21,459 |
Alex Smith | 17,608 |
Bill Kenney | 17,277 |
- Touchdowns[103]
Name | TDs |
---|---|
Len Dawson | 237 |
Patrick Mahomes | 219 |
Trent Green | 118 |
Bill Kenney | 105 |
Alex Smith | 102 |
- Quarterback rating (minimum 500 attempts) [104]
Name | Rating |
---|---|
Patrick Mahomes | 103.5 |
Alex Smith | 94.8 |
Trent Green | 87.3 |
Joe Montana | 85.0 |
Damon Huard | 83.3 |
Notes
[edit]a : Strikes by the National Football League Players Association in the 1982 and 1987 seasons resulted in shortened seasons (9 and 15-game schedules, respectively).[105]
b : Replacement quarterbacks Matt Stevens, Frank Seurer, and Doug Hudson started for the Chiefs alongside Kenney and Blackledge following the NFL Players Association strike in 1987. For the only time in team history, five different quarterbacks started in 1987 following the player's strike.[30][47][106]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- Herb, Patrick, Kuhbander, Brad, Looney, Josh, and Moris, Pete, eds. 2008 Kansas City Chiefs Media Guide, Kansas City Chiefs Football Club, Inc., 2008
- Specific
- ^ "Chiefs All-time Quarterbacks". ProFootballReference.com.
- ^ Herb, Kuhbander, Looney, and Moris. p. 400
- ^ a b "Cotton Davidson". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ a b "This Week in Chiefs History". Kansas City Chiefs. July 6, 2007. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ a b c Herb, Kuhbander, Looney, and Moris. p. 417
- ^ "This Week in Chiefs History". Kansas City Chiefs official website. August 10, 2007. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Chiefs QB Thigpen to start vs. Falcons". Associated Press. September 17, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
- ^ "1960 Dallas Texans season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Hunter Enis". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1961 Dallas Texans season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Randy Duncan". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1962 Dallas Texans season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Len Dawson". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1963 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Ed Wilson". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1964 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1965 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Pete Beathard". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1966 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1967 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 25, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1968 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Jacky Lee". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1969 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Mike Livingston". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1970 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1971 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 24, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1972 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1973 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1974 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gretz, Bob (September 12, 2003). "Thinking about quarterbacks". Kansas City Chiefs. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1975 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1976 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1977 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Tony Adams". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1978 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1979 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Steve Fuller (American football)". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1980 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Bill Kenney". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1981 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1982 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1983 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1984 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Todd Blackledge". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1985 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1986 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ a b "1987 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Matt Stevens". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "Frank Seurer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "Doug Hudson". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1988 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Steve DeBerg". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1989 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Ron Jaworski". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Steve Pelluer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1990 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1991 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Mark Vlasic". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1992 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Dave Krieg". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1993 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Joe Montana". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1994 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Steve Bono". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1995 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1996 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Rich Gannon". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1997 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Elvis Grbac". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "1998 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "1999 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2000 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Warren Moon". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2001 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Trent Green". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2002 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on June 24, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2003 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2004 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2005 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2006 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 14, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Damon Huard". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "2007 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
- ^ "Brodie Croyle". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ "Chiefs QB Croyle out for this week". National Football League. Associated Press. September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
- ^ "Chiefs QB Croyle sprains right knee, done for the season". ESPN. Associated Press. October 19, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2008.
- ^ "Tyler Thigpen". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
- ^ "2009 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
- ^ "2010 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- ^ "2011 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
- ^ "2012 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
- ^ "2013 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ "2014 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "2015 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "2016 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "2017 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ "2018 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ "2019 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
- ^ "2022 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- ^ "2023 Kansas City Chiefs season". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ "Career passing yards by Chiefs Quarterbacks". ProFootballReference.com.
- ^ "Career Pasing Touchdowns by Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks". ProFootballReference.com.
- ^ "Career QB Rating leaders (minimum 500 attempts) by Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks". ProFootballReference.com.
- ^ "NFL History by Decade, 1981–1990". NFL.com. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
- ^ "Kansas City Chiefs History–1980's". Kansas City Chiefs. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved July 19, 2008.