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Originally called the Dallas Texans, the club was founded in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League. The team moved to Kansas City and became the Chiefs in 1963. There continued to enjoy the success the team had experienced in Dallas. The Chiefs won a second AFL title in 1966 and was the first team to represent the AFL in Super Bowl competition
Kansas City won another title in 1969 and became the only team in AFL history to win three championships. Although the Minnesota Vikings were heavily favored in Super Bowl IV, Kansas City upset the NFL champions 23-7 to complete the AFL vs. NFL portion of the Super Bowl series tied at two wins each. It was the last game ever played by an AFL team.
The success was thanks to the man who started all, Lamar Hunt. Thanks to Hunt's wise player-procurement policies, his teams were loaded with potential superstars, including five -- quarterback Len Dawson, defensive end Buck Buchanan, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier and kicker Jan Stenerud -- who have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hunt himself was the first Chief elected for his role in forming a new league that caused pro football to grow from 12 teams to 26 teams in the 1960s.
Lately the Chiefs have really been struggling. In 2006 they made the playoffs but were defeated by the Colts 23-8. In 2007 they finished with a 4-12 record and in 2008 ended at an embarrassing 2-14. The team's general manager, chief executive officer, and team president Carl Peterson resigned at the end of the season. Former New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli was hired soon after to replace him. Herman Edwards was fired as head coach in January, and two weeks later Todd Haley signed a four-year contract to take his spot. On February 28, 2009 the Chiefs traded their second round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft for New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel and in April. Kansas City then traded star TE Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs will have a tough road ahead but hopefully with these new installments in place, they will take a step towards becoming threat in the AFC West.
