The 1971 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise 's second season in the National Football League (NFL), ninth as the Kansas City Chiefs , and twelfth overall. They improved from a 7–5–2 campaign in 1970 to record a 10–3–1 mark and win the AFC West division championship, the Chiefs' first division title since 1966 and last until 1993 . The Chiefs tied with the Miami Dolphins for the best record in the AFC and were tied for the third-best record overall in the NFL, trailing only the 11–3 marks of the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings .[ 1]
The Chiefs' playoff loss to Miami remains the longest game in NFL history at 82 minutes and forty seconds. Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian made a 37-yard field goal with seven minutes and twenty seconds left in the second overtime to win the game.[ 2]
1971 marked the end of an era, as the last remaining original Texan/Chief, longtime player Johnny Robinson , retired after all 10 seasons in the AFL, 2 seasons in the NFL, and 12 seasons with the Texans/Chiefs.
Most of the pieces of the team which won Super Bowl IV two years earlier were still in place. Left defensive end Jerry Mays retired after the 1970 season, with Marvin Upshaw taking his spot, but the other ten defensive starters were the same as they were two years prior. Middle linebacker Willie Lanier was a unanimous All-Pro selection following the season, and would likely have been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year had not Viking defensive tackle Alan Page become the second defensive player to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Outside linebacker Bobby Bell , defensive tackles Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp , and cornerback Emmitt Thomas joined Lanier on the AFC Pro Bowl squad following the season. Bell, Buchanan, Culp, Lanier, and Thomas are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame .
On offense, Robert Holmes was traded to the San Diego Chargers midway through the season, leaving Wendell Hayes to assume the fullback duties next to third-year pro Ed Podolak , who had become the starting halfback when Mike Garrett was traded to San Diego in 1970. Morris Stroud , the tallest player in NFL history at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), and Willie Frazier , acquired from San Diego, alternated at tight end for the retired Fred Arbanas , but the rest of the offensive line, save for center Jack Rudnay , remained the same from the Super Bowl winning team. Rudnay assumed the starting center spot in 1970 over veteran E. J. Holub . At wide receiver , rookie Elmo Wright , the Chiefs' first-round pick in the 1971 NFL draft from the University of Houston , assumed the slot opposite all-pro Otis Taylor , as Frank Pitts had moved on to the Cleveland Browns . Taylor earned selection to the Pro Bowl, along with guard Ed Budde , quarterback Len Dawson , and tackle Jim Tyrer .
Kansas City's special teams remained among the league's elite units, thanks to the combination of kicker Jan Stenerud and punter Jerrel Wilson , both of whom were named to the Pro Bowl. Podolak and Warren McVea handled the bulk of the return duties .
The season was the last for the Chiefs in Municipal Stadium ; owner Lamar Hunt and general manager Jack Steadman were overseeing the construction of Arrowhead Stadium , located at the junction of Interstates 70 and 435 in Jackson County , at the eastern edge of the Kansas City city limits. Arrowhead, along with Royals Stadium , being constructed for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball , comprised the Truman Sports Complex , bucking the trend of multi-purpose stadiums in vogue at the time.
The season ended as the Miami Dolphins won the longest game in National Football League history on Christmas Day , defeating the Chiefs 27–24 in double-overtime on a 37-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian in the last football game in Municipal Stadium,[ 2] safety Johnny Robinson ,[ 3] 1960 Dallas Texans . Head coach Hank Stram often called the 1971 Chiefs the franchise's best-ever squad, and the home playoff loss haunted Stram for the rest of his life, even after his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003; Stram died in 2005 at age 82. Others in the Hall of Fame from this squad are owner Hunt, quarterback Dawson, and kicker Stenerud.
The loss to Miami began a nosedive in the Chiefs' fortunes. Kansas City backslid to 8–6 and 7–5–2 in 1972 and 1973 , before falling to 5–9 and a tie for last in the AFC West in 1974 , leading to Stram's firing following the season. Kansas City did not reach the playoffs again until 1986 , did not host (or win) another playoff game until 1991 , and did not win the AFC West division title again until 1993 .
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 19
at San Diego Chargers
L 14–21
0–1
San Diego Stadium
54,061
Recap
2
September 26
at Houston Oilers
W 20–16
1–1
Houston Astrodome
46,498
Recap
3
October 3
at Denver Broncos
W 16–3
2–1
Mile High Stadium
51,200
Recap
4
October 10
San Diego Chargers W 31–10
3–1
Municipal Stadium
50,514
Recap
5
Pittsburgh Steelers
W 38–16
4–1
Municipal Stadium
49,533
Recap
6
October 24
Washington Redskins
W 27–20
5–1
Municipal Stadium
51,989
Recap
7
October 31
at Oakland Raiders
T 20–20
5–1–1
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
54,715
Recap
8
November 7
at New York Jets
L 10–13
5–2–1
Shea Stadium
62,812
Recap
9
November 14
Cleveland Browns
W 13–7
6–2–1
Municipal Stadium
50,388
Recap
10
November 21
Denver Broncos W 28–10
7–2–1
Municipal Stadium
49,945
Recap
11
November 25
at Detroit Lions
L 21–32
7–3–1
Tiger Stadium
54,418
Recap
12
at San Francisco 49ers
W 26–17
8–3–1
Candlestick Park
45,306
Recap
13
December 12
Oakland Raiders W 16–14
9–3–1
Municipal Stadium
51,215
Recap
14
December 19
Buffalo Bills
W 22–9
10–3–1
Municipal Stadium
48,121
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at San Diego Chargers
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SD – Jerry LeVias 37-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick). Tied 14–14.
SD – Mike Garrett 26-yard run (Dennis Partee kick). Chargers 21–14.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 11/22, 152 yards, 2 INT
SD – John Hadl – 17/37, 260 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 17 rushes, 65 yards
SD – Mike Garrett – 15 rushes, 59 yards, TD Top receivers
Week 2: at Houston Oilers
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
HOU – Ken Houston 68-yard fumble return (Braden Beck kick). Chiefs 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–7. Third quarter
HOU – Braden Beck 15-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–10. Fourth quarter
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 14/24, 207 yards
HOU – Dan Pastorini – 10/21, 156 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
KC – Warren McVea – 15 rushes, 45 yards, TD
HOU – Joe Dawkins – 13 rushes, 16 yards Top receivers
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Aaron Brown 68-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 20-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–3. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 26-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 16-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–3.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 15-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–10. Fourth quarter
KC – Warren McVea 15-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 24–10.
KC – Ed Podolak 7-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 31–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
SD – Mike Garrett – 7 rushes, 44 yards
KC – Warren McVea – 11 rushes, 80 yards Top receivers
SD – Gary Garrison – 1 reception, 36 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 6 receptions, 97 yards, TD
Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
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Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Steelers
9
0
0 7 16
Chiefs 0
28
0 10 38
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
PIT – Roy Gerela 43-yard field goal. Steelers 3–0.
PIT – Roy Gerela 40-yard field goal. Steelers 6–0.
PIT – Roy Gerela 35-yard field goal. Steelers 9–0. Second quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 3-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Steelers 9–7.
KC – Otis Taylor 27-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–9.
KC – Elmo Wright 5-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 21–9.
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 28–9. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal. Chiefs 31–9.
PIT – John Fuqua 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Chiefs 31–16.
KC – Emmitt Thomas 32-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 38–16.
Top passers
PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 20/39, 269 yards, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 14/26, 290 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers
PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 9 rushes, 37 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 20 rushes, 43 yards, TD Top receivers
PIT – Dave Smith – 5 receptions, 93 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 6 receptions, 190 yards, 2 TD
Week 6: vs. Washington Redskins
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Week 6: Washington Redskins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Redskins
7
10
0 3 20
Chiefs 3
3
7 14 27
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 15-yard field goal. Redskins 7–6.
WAS – Curt Knight 33-yard field goal. Redskins 10–6.
WAS – Charley Taylor 36-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Curt Knight kick). Redskins 17–6. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
WAS – Curt Knight 23-yard field goal. Redskins 20–13.
KC – Elmo Wright 15-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Tied 20–20.
KC – Otis Taylor 28-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 27–20.
Top passers
WAS – Billy Kilmer – 15/38, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT
KC – Len Dawson – 10/23, 203 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
Top receivers
WAS – Charley Taylor – 7 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD
KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
Week 7: at Oakland Raiders
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
OAK – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (George Blanda kick). Raiders 10–7.
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–10. Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 12-yard field goal. Chiefs 17–10. Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal. Chiefs 20–10.
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 24-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick). Chiefs 20–17.
OAK – George Blanda 8-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.
Top passers
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 13 rushes, 71 yards, 2 TD
OAK – Marv Hubbard – 17 rushes, 48 yards, TD Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 70 yards
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 7 receptions, 128 yards, TD
Week 8: at New York Jets
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Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
7
3
0 0 10
Jets 7
3
0 3 13
at Shea Stadium , New York, New York
Date : November 7Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 53 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 62,812Referee : Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatisRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYJ – Bobby Howfield 30-yard field goal. Jets 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 19-yard field goal. Tied 10–10. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
NYJ – Bobby Howfield 39-yard field goal. Jets 13–10.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 13/25, 111 yards, TD, 2 INT
NYJ – Bob Davis – 3/9, 19 yards Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns
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Week 9: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Browns
0
0
0 7 7
Chiefs 3
10
0 0 13
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 14Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 66 °F (19 °C)Game attendance : 50,388Referee : Bernie Ulman TV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatisRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0.
KC – Wendell Hayes 26-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 13–0. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
CLE – Bill Nelsen – 7/11, 130 yards, TD
KC – Len Dawson – 15/24, 234 yards, TD Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
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Week 10: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos
3
0
0 7 10
Chiefs 14
7
7 0 28
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 21Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 44 °F (7 °C)Game attendance : 49,945Referee : John McDonough TV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and George RattermanRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 17-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 21–3. Third quarter
KC – Jim Otis 12-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 28–3. Fourth quarter
DEN – Floyd Little 26-yard run (Jim Turner kick). Chiefs 28–10.
Top passers
DEN – Steve Ramsey – 17/37, 231 yards, 3 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 11/19, 294 yards, 3 TD, INT Top rushers
DEN – Floyd Little – 13 rushes, 63 yards, TD
KC – Ed Podolak – 14 rushes, 69 yards, TD Top receivers
DEN – Jerry Simmons – 6 receptions, 153 yards
KC – Morris Stroud – 3 receptions, 93 yards, TD
Week 11: at Detroit Lions
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Thanksgiving Day games
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
0
7
7 7 21
Lions 0
17
12 3 32
at Tiger Stadium , Detroit, Michigan
Date : Game time : 12:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 29 °F (−2 °C)Game attendance : 54,418Referee : Jim Tunney TV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatisRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
DET – Earl McCullouch 17-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Lions 24–7.
DET – Punt blocked by Ron Jessie out of bounds in endzone for a Safety. Lions 26–7.
DET – Errol Mann 28-yard field goal. Lions 29–7.
KC – Ed Podolak 5-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Lions 29–14. Fourth quarter
DET – Errol Mann 21-yard field goal. Lions 32–14.
KC – Ed Podolak 6-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Lions 32–21.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 13/22, 139 yards, INT
DET – Greg Landry – 15/22, 225 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
KC – Wendell Hayes – 10 rushes, 68 yards
DET – Steve Owens – 22 rushes, 79 yards, TD Top receivers
KC – Ed Podolak – 5 receptions, 61 yards
DET – Charlie Sanders – 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers
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Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs 0
16
7 3 26
49ers
3
7
0 7 17
at Candlestick Park , San Francisco, California
Date : Game time : 6:00 p.m. PSTGame weather : 53 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 45,306Referee : Pat HaggertyTV announcers (ABC) : Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard CosellRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 15-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
KC – Otis Taylor 46-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 10–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 54-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–3.
SF – Ted Kwalick 35-yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick). Chiefs 13–10.
KC – Jan Stenerud 12-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–10. Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 25-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 23–10. Fourth quarter
SF – Vic Washington 3-yard run (Bruce Gossett kick). Chiefs 23–17.
KC – Jan Stenerud 8-yard field goal. Chiefs 26–17.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 16/28, 263 yards, TD
SF – John Brodie – 20/32, 229 yards, TD, INT Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 17 rushes, 75 yards
SF – Vic Washington – 12 rushes, 43 yards, TD Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 81 yards, TD
SF – Gene Washington – 3 receptions, 73 yards
Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders
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Week 13: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders
0
7
0 7 14
Chiefs 7
6
7 3 23
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 12Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 38 °F (3 °C)Game attendance : 51,215Referee : Fred SwearingenTV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy and Al De RogatisRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 33-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–0.
OAK – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (George Blanda kick). Chiefs 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 14-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–7. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
OAK – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (George Blanda kick). Raiders 14–13.
KC – Jan Stenerud 10-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–14.
Top passers
OAK – George Blanda – 12/22, 94 yards, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 18/31, 199 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
OAK – Marv Hubbard – 21 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TD
KC – Wendell Hayes – 19 rushes, 77 yards Top receivers
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 6 receptions, 52 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 8 receptions, 113 yards, TD
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
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Week 14: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bills
3
6
0 0 9
Chiefs 3
6
10 3 22
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 19Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 44 °F (7 °C)Game attendance : 48,121Referee : Bob FredericTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and George RattermanRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
BUF – John Leypoldt 31-yard field goal. Bills 6–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 23-yard field goal. Tied 6–6.
BUF – John Leypoldt 49-yard field goal. Bills 9–6.
KC – Jan Stenerud 48-yard field goal. Tied 9–9. Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 45-yard field goal. Chiefs 12–9.
KC – Bobby Bell 26-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 19–9. Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 34-yard field goal. Chiefs 22–9.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. Miami Dolphins
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NFL on Christmas Day
AFC Divisional Playoffs: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT 2OT Total
Dolphins 0
10
7 7 0 3 27
Chiefs
10
0
7 7 0 0 24
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 25Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 47 °F (8 °C)Game attendance : 45,822Referee : John McDonoughTV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy and Al De RogatisRecap
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
KC – Jim Otis 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–10.
MIA – Jim Kiick 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). Tied 17–17. Fourth quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 24–17.
MIA – Marv Fleming 5-yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick). Tied 24–24. Overtime
Second overtime
MIA – Garo Yepremian 37-yard field goal. Dolphins 27–24.
Top passers
MIA – Bob Griese – 20/35, 263 yards, TD, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 18/26, 246 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers
MIA – Larry Csonka – 24 rushes, 86 yards, TD
KC – Wendell Hayes – 22 rushes, 100 yards Top receivers
MIA – Paul Warfield – 7 receptions, 140 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 8 receptions, 110 yards, TD
