The famous Leonard Ray Dawson was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and American Football League for 19 seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. Dawson began his professional career in 1957 with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and also played for the Cleveland Browns.
Dawson signed with the American Football League’s Dallas Texans on June 30, 1962. The move reunited him with Stram, who was beginning his third year as the Texans’ head coach.
In 1962, Dawson led the league in touchdowns and yards per attempt and was The Sporting News selection as the AFL MVP. He also led Dallas to the first of three league titles in a thrilling double-overtime victory over the two-time defending champion Oilers in Houston. Dawson ran a ball-control offense in the 20–17 win and tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to halfback Abner Haynes.
Dawson (center) being tackled by the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I, January 1967. The team moved north to Kansas City and was renamed the Chiefs in 1963.
A pinpoint passer, Dawson’s mobility helped him flourish in Stram’s “moving pocket” offense. He would win four AFL passing titles and was selected as a league All-Star six times, ending the 10-year run of the league as its highest-rated career passer. From 1962 to 1969, Dawson threw more touchdown passes (182) than any other professional football quarterback.
In 1966, Dawson led the Chiefs to an 11-2-1 record and a 31–7 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFL Championship Game, earning his team the honor of representing the AFL in Super Bowl I, the first championship game between the AFL and their NFL rivals. The NFL champion Green Bay Packers won easily, 35–10, but Dawson performed fairly well, completing 16 of 27 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown, with one interception. Dawson was selected by his peers as a Sporting News 1966 AFL All-League player.
In addition to guiding the Texans/Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl IV and three AFL titles (1962, 1966, and 1969), Dawson also received the game’s MVP honors. After the 1975 season, Dawson announced his retirement from the professional game. He later worked as the sports director at KMBC-TV in Kansas City and a color analyst for the Chiefs Radio Network.
Source: Ghanafuo.com
