Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson dies at age 87

Len Dawson (YouTube)

According to KMBC on Wednesday, National Football League Hall of Famer Len Dawson of Alliance, Ohio died at the age of 87. Dawson spent 19 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1975.

Dawson completed 2136 passes in 3741 attempts for 28711 yards with 239 touchdowns and 183 interceptions. On the ground, Dawson had 294 rushes for 1293 yards and nine touchdowns.

Seven times Dawson was selected to the Pro Bowl. The first time in 1962 with the Texans, and then six times with the Chiefs (1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1971). It should be noted that the Dallas Texans were part of the American Football League in 1962 and then moved to Kansas City in 1963.

Four times Dawson led the American Football League in touchdowns. He had 29 touchdowns with the Texans in 1962, 26 touchdowns with the Chiefs in 1963, 21 touchdowns with the Chiefs in 1965 and 26 touchdowns with the Chiefs in 1966. Ironically when Dawson had a career high 30 touchdown passes in 1964, he did not lead the American Football League in touchdown passes. That is because Boston Patriots quarterback Babe Parilli of Rochester, Pennsylvania had 31 touchdown passes that year.

In 1962 with the Texans, Dawson was the American Football League Most Valuable Player. He completed 189 passes in 310 attempts for 2759 yards, 29 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Dawson also had 38 rushes for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

In 1970, Dawson was the Super Bowl MVP. He completed 12 passes in 17 attempts for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 23-7 Chiefs win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Dawson’s number 16 has been retired by the Chiefs. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. Dawson and Patrick Mahomes are considered the two best Chiefs quarterbacks of all-time.

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