Len Dawson – From The Middle Blog

The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most important franchises in professional football history. Their story begins not in Kansas City, but in 1959, when Lamar Hunt founded the Dallas Texans as one of the original franchises of the American Football League (AFL). The Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963, and the franchise has remained in the Hunt family ever since. From the great AFL teams of the 1960s to the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs have produced Hall of Fame players, championship teams, legendary coaches and some of the greatest moments in NFL history. As of the beginning of the 2026 season, the franchise had won four Super Bowls: Super Bowl IV, Super Bowl LIV, Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. The Beginning: The Dallas Texans Lamar Hunt founded the franchise in 1959 as the Dallas Texans. The team became a charter member of the new American Football League and began playing in 1960. The Texans quickly became one of the AFL’s strongest teams. In 1962, Dallas won the AFL Championship in a dramatic double-overtime victory over the Houston Oilers. Despite the championship, Hunt concluded that Dallas could not adequately support both his team and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. He therefore moved the franchise to Kansas City after the 1962 season. The team officially became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963. The move was enormously successful. Kansas City immediately embraced the new franchise, and the Chiefs eventually became one of the AFL’s signature teams. All Chiefs Owners One of the most remarkable aspects of Chiefs history is the continuity of ownership. The franchise has never been sold outside the Hunt family. Lamar Hunt — 1959-2006 Lamar Hunt was the founder, original owner and guiding force behind the franchise. He owned the team from its creation as the Dallas Texans in 1959 until his death in 2006. Hunt was also one of the founders of the American Football League and played a major role in the AFL-NFL merger. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972. Hunt is also widely credited with helping popularize the name “Super Bowl.” Norma Hunt and the Hunt Family — 2006-2023 Following Lamar Hunt’s death in December 2006, ownership remained within the Hunt family. His wife, Norma Hunt, and their four children became involved in ownership of the franchise. Norma Hunt became one of the most recognizable figures in NFL history. She was known as the “First Lady of Football” and attended every Super Bowl from the first game through her death in 2023. The Four Hunt Family Ownership Groups — Present Today, the Chiefs are owned by the families of Lamar Hunt’s four children: Lamar Hunt Jr. Sharron Hunt Clark Hunt Daniel Hunt Clark Hunt serves as chairman and CEO and is the family’s principal representative in the operation of the franchise. The Chiefs therefore remain one of the NFL’s longest continuously family-owned franchises. Every Stadium the Chiefs Have Called Home The franchise has had three principal home stadiums when the Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs history is considered together. Cotton Bowl — Dallas, Texas 1960-1962 The original Dallas Texans played their home games at the Cotton Bowl. The stadium was already one of the best-known football venues in Texas, and it served as the franchise’s home during its three seasons in Dallas. The Texans won the 1962 AFL Championship while playing at the Cotton Bowl. Municipal Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri 1963-1971 After moving to Kansas City, the newly renamed Chiefs played at Municipal Stadium. The stadium was located at 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue and had previously been used by the Kansas City Athletics baseball club. Municipal Stadium became the birthplace of Kansas City Chiefs football. Some of the greatest players in franchise history began their Chiefs careers there, including Len Dawson, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Emmitt Thomas and Johnny Robinson. The Chiefs played their final game at Municipal Stadium on Christmas Day 1971, losing a dramatic overtime playoff game to the Miami Dolphins. Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri 1972-present The Chiefs moved into Arrowhead Stadium in 1972. Arrowhead quickly became one of the most recognizable stadiums in professional sports. Its steep seating bowl, loud crowd and distinctive design made it one of the most intimidating home-field advantages in the NFL. The stadium was later known as GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Arrowhead has been the home of the Chiefs through the eras of Marty Schottenheimer, Dick Vermeil, Herm Edwards, Todd Haley, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. It has also hosted some of the greatest playoff games in franchise history. Chiefs Pro Football Hall of Famers — The Chiefs Legacy The Pro Football Hall of Fame lists many former Chiefs because the players, coaches and executives associated with the franchise represent several generations of professional football excellence. For this list, the focus is on the Hall of Famers whose major football legacy was earned with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, rather than players who happened to spend a short portion of their careers in Kansas City. Bobby Bell Linebacker — Chiefs, 1963-1974 Bobby Bell was one of the great defensive players of the AFL era. He was a key member of the Chiefs’ championship defenses and became one of the most feared linebackers in professional football. Buck Buchanan Defensive Tackle — Chiefs, 1963-1975 Buck Buchanan was one of the dominant defensive linemen of the AFL. He was a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ great defenses and played in both of Kansas City’s first two Super Bowls. Curley Culp Defensive Tackle — Chiefs, 1968-1974 Culp was a powerful defensive tackle who became an important part of the Chiefs’ defense during the late AFL and early NFL years. Len Dawson Quarterback — Chiefs, 1963-1975 Len Dawson was the greatest quarterback of the early Chiefs era. He led Kansas City to the AFL Championship in 1966 and 1969 and quarterbacked the Chiefs to their historic victory in Super Bowl IV. Dawson was named… Continue reading Kansas City Chiefs: The Complete History of a Football Dynasty

Cleveland Browns: One of the NFL’s Most Historic Franchises: The Cleveland Browns are one of the most distinctive franchises in professional football. Founded in 1946 as a member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), the Browns immediately established themselves as a football powerhouse. They won the AAFC championship in all four seasons of that league’s existence before joining the National Football League in 1950. Their success continued in the NFL. Cleveland reached the NFL Championship Game in each of its first six NFL seasons and won championships in 1950, 1954 and 1955. The Browns added another NFL championship in 1964, giving the franchise four NFL championships. Including their four AAFC titles, Cleveland has won eight league championships. The Browns’ history includes legendary players such as Otto Graham, Jim Brown, Lou Groza, Marion Motley, Ozzie Newsome and Otto Graham, Jim Brown, Lou Groza, Marion Motley, Ozzie Newsome, along with Hall of Fame coach and franchise founder Paul Brown. Paul Brown The Browns began play in 1946 in the AAFC. Businessman Arthur “Mickey” McBride was the principal owner, and he hired Paul Brown as head coach and general manager. Paul Brown quickly built the Browns into a revolutionary football organization. He emphasized year-round coaching, systematic scouting, film study, playbooks and detailed preparation. His Browns won four consecutive AAFC championships from 1946 through 1949. When the AAFC folded, Cleveland entered the NFL in 1950. The Browns immediately proved they belonged. In their first NFL season, they went to the championship game and defeated the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFL championship. Cleveland continued to dominate throughout the early 1950s. Cleveland Browns Owners The Browns have had several ownership eras since their founding. Arthur “Mickey” McBride — 1946–1952 Arthur B. McBride was the original owner and one of the principal figures responsible for bringing professional football back to Cleveland after World War II. McBride hired Paul Brown to build the franchise. The decision proved enormously important, as Brown established one of the most successful organizations in early professional football. David Jones and Ellis Ryan — 1953–1960 Ownership changed in the early 1950s, with David Jones and Ellis Ryan holding ownership interests in the club. Jones served as president and became the majority owner, while Ryan remained a partial owner. Art Modell — 1961–1995 Arthur B. “Art” Modell purchased the Browns in 1961 for approximately $4 million. Modell owned the team for more than three decades. During his ownership, Cleveland won the 1964 NFL Championship, led by Jim Brown and a strong defense. Modell’s ownership ultimately became one of the most controversial chapters in Browns history. In 1995, he announced plans to move the franchise to Baltimore. The NFL and the city of Cleveland subsequently reached an agreement that preserved the Browns’ name, colors and history in Cleveland. The Baltimore organization became a new franchise, the Ravens, while Cleveland received an expansion Browns team beginning in 1999. NFL Trust — 1996–1998 Following the move announcement and before the new Browns returned to the field, the inactive Cleveland franchise was held in an NFL trust. Cleveland did not field a team during the 1996–1998 seasons. Al Lerner — 1999–2001 Al Lerner became the owner of the re-established Cleveland Browns. Under Lerner, the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 and moved into a newly constructed stadium on the same general lakefront site where the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium had stood. Randy Lerner — 2002–2011 Randy Lerner, Al Lerner’s son, took over ownership following his father’s death. The Browns made the playoffs in 2002 during the Lerner era, their first postseason appearance since returning to the NFL. Jimmy and Dee Haslam — 2012–present Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam purchased the Browns in 2012. The NFL approved the sale in October 2012. The Haslams remain the controlling owners of the franchise. In 2025, Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson became a limited partner in the Browns’ ownership group, the first minority owner added since the Haslams became controlling owners. Every Stadium the Browns Have Called Home Cleveland Municipal Stadium — 1946–1995 The Browns’ original and longest-serving home was Cleveland Municipal Stadium, commonly called Municipal Stadium or Cleveland Stadium. The Browns played there from their 1946 AAFC debut through the 1995 season. They also occasionally played games at the smaller League Park during their earliest seasons, particularly before 1947. Municipal Stadium was the setting for many of the greatest moments of the early Browns dynasty, including championship games and the Browns’ 1964 NFL championship season. Browns home: 1946–1995 League Park — Early Browns Home Games Although Cleveland Municipal Stadium was the principal Browns home, League Park was also used during the early AAFC years. The Browns played weekday games at League Park during their earliest seasons, while larger crowds were accommodated at Municipal Stadium for weekends and holidays. Browns use: primarily 1946–1947 Cleveland Browns Stadium — 1999–2012 and 2023–2024 After Cleveland received the re-established Browns franchise, a new stadium was constructed on the site of the former Municipal Stadium. It opened in 1999 and was originally named Cleveland Browns Stadium. The stadium underwent a succession of corporate naming arrangements over the years. FirstEnergy Stadium — 2013–2022 Beginning in 2013, the stadium was renamed FirstEnergy Stadium. Cleveland Browns Stadium — 2023–2024 The building temporarily returned to the name Cleveland Browns Stadium before another naming-rights agreement was reached. Huntington Bank Field — 2024–present In September 2024, the Browns announced a 20-year naming-rights partnership with Huntington Bank. The stadium was officially renamed Huntington Bank Field. Browns Home Stadium Timeline Years Stadium 1946–1995 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 1946–1947, selected games League Park 1999–2012 Cleveland Browns Stadium 2013–2022 FirstEnergy Stadium 2023–2024 Cleveland Browns Stadium 2024–present Huntington Bank Field Browns in the Hall of Fame The Cleveland Browns organization identifies 18 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in its principal Browns Hall of Fame group. This list includes Hall of Famers whose Cleveland Browns accomplishments form… Continue reading Cleveland Browns: A Complete History