View source for Len Dawson

{{Short description|American football player (1935–2022)}}
{{about||the Australian rugby league player|Len Dawson (rugby league)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Len Dawson
| image       = LenDawson.JPG
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = Dawson at [[Whiteman Air Force Base]] in 2014
| number      = 16, 18
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1935|6|20}}
| birth_place = [[Alliance, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2022|8|24|1935|6|20}}
| death_place = [[Kansas City, Kansas]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lb   = 190
| high_school = [[Alliance High School (Alliance, Ohio)|Alliance]] (OH)
| college     = [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] (1953–1956)
| draftyear   = 1957
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 5
| pastteams   =
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1957|1959}})
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1960|1961}})
* [[History of the Kansas City Chiefs#Early years in Dallas|Dallas Texans]] / [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1962 American Football League season|1962]]–{{NFL Year|1975}})
| highlights  =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl IV|IV]])
*3× [[American Football League playoffs|AFL champion]] ([[1962 American Football League Championship Game|1962]], [[1966 American Football League Championship Game|1966]], [[1969 American Football League Championship Game|1969]])
* [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl MVP]] ([[Super Bowl IV|IV]])
* [[American Football League playoffs#Championship summary|AFL championship MVP]] ([[1966 American Football League Championship Game|1966]])
* [[American Football League Most Valuable Player Award|AFL Most Valuable Player]] (1962)
* [[Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award|NFL Man of the Year]] (1973)
* 2× First-team [[American Football League All-League Team|All-AFL]] ([[1962 All-AFL Team|1962]], [[1966 All-AFL Team|1966]])
* 2× Second-team All-AFL ([[1964 All-AFL Team|1964]], [[1968 All-AFL Team|1968]])
* 6× [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] (1962, 1964, 1966–1969)
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1972 Pro Bowl|1971]])
* 4× [[List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders#AFL annual passing touchdowns leaders|AFL passing touchdowns leader]] (1962, 1963, 1966, 1967)
* 6× [[List of National Football League annual passer rating leaders#American Football League (AFL)|AFL passer rating leader]] (1962, 1964–1968)
* 7× [[List of National Football League annual pass completion percentage leaders#American Football League|AFL completion percentage leader]] (1962, 1964–1969)
* [[List of National Football League annual pass completion percentage leaders|NFL completion percentage leader]] (1975)
* [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Team]]
* [[Kansas City Chiefs#Chiefs Hall of Fame|Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame]]
* [[Kansas City Chiefs#Retired numbers|Kansas City Chiefs No. 16]] retired
* Third-team [[College Football All-America Team|AP All-American]] ([[1954 College Football All-America Team|1954]])
* First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1954 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1954]])
* 2× Second-team All-Big Ten ([[1955 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1955]], [[1956 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1956]])
| statleague  = AFL/NFL
| statlabel1  = Passing attempts
| statvalue1  = 3,741
| statlabel2  = Passing completions
| statvalue2  = 2,136
| statlabel3  = Completion percentage
| statvalue3  = 57.1%
| statlabel4  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4  = 239–183
| statlabel5  = Passing yards
| statvalue5  = 28,711
| statlabel6  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6  = 82.6
| pfr         = DawsLe00
| HOF         = len-dawson 
}}

'''Leonard Ray Dawson''' (June 20, 1935 – August 24, 2022) was an American professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and [[American Football League]] (AFL) for 19 seasons, primarily with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] franchise. After playing [[college football]] at [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]], Dawson began his NFL career in 1957, spending three seasons with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and two with the [[Cleveland Browns]]. He left the NFL in 1962 to sign with the AFL's Chiefs (then known as the Dallas Texans), where he spent the last 14 seasons of his career, and rejoined the NFL after the [[AFL–NFL merger]].

In the AFL, Dawson led the league in completion percentage seven times, passer rating six times, and passing touchdowns four times. He was named [[American Football League Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] in 1962 and selected to six [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] games. Dawson also guided the Chiefs to three [[American Football League playoffs#Championship summary|AFL championships]] and the franchise's first [[Super Bowl]] title in [[Super Bowl IV]], of which he was named [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]]. He retired from [[Professional American football|professional football]] after the [[1975 NFL season|1975 season]] and later served as the sports director at [[KMBC-TV]] in [[Kansas City metropolitan area|Kansas City]] and [[Color commentator|color analyst]] for the Chiefs Radio Network. His demeanor and style earned him the nickname "'''Lenny the Cool'''" from his teammates.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Dave |date=January 11, 1970 |title=The Heat Is on Lenny the Cool |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/01/11/archives/the-heat-is-on-lenny-the-cool-the-heats-on-lenny-the-cool-today.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arrowheadaddict.com/2022/08/15/why-len-dawson-will-always-lenny-cool-photo/|title=Why Len Dawson will always be Lenny the Cool|first=Greg|last=Morse|date=August 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctnewsonline.com/sports/article_420177c2-23e8-11ed-bce4-8318ae8728dd.html|title='Lenny the Cool' dies at 87|website=The Cowley CourierTraveler|date=August 25, 2022 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Dawson was the [[seventh son of a seventh son]] and 9th of 11 children overall.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gregorian |first1=Vahe |title=On Chiefs great Len Dawson, seventh son of a seventh son and enduring Kansas City icon |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article264531011.html |access-date=14 November 2025 |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |date=August 26, 2022}}</ref> He attended [[Alliance High School (Alliance, Ohio)|Alliance High School]] in [[Alliance, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/oh-stark/len-dawson-recognized-as-hometown-hero-at-alliance-high-school-where-he-was-quarterback |title=Len Dawson recognized as 'hometown hero' at Alliance High School where he was quarterback - newsnet5.com Cleveland |access-date=October 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029001211/http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/oh-stark/len-dawson-recognized-as-hometown-hero-at-alliance-high-school-where-he-was-quarterback |archive-date=October 29, 2014 }}</ref> He was MVP of the football team and was named outstanding Ohio back of the year by the [[International News Service]]. A three-sport athlete, Dawson set school records in football and basketball, and was the first athlete in 13 years to be named first-team all-state in both sports during the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ohsaa.org/NFHSHallOfFame.asp |title=OHSAA Circle of Champions |access-date=October 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008063538/http://www.ohsaa.org/NFHSHallOfFame.asp |archive-date=October 8, 2014 }}</ref>

==College career==
[[File:Len Dawson 1955.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Dawson versus [[1956 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]], [[1956 Purdue Boilermakers football team|1956]]]]
During the recruiting process, Dawson had to choose between the [[1953 Ohio State Buckeyes football team|Ohio State University]] in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] and [[Purdue University]] in [[Indiana]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2022/statement-on-the-passing-of-hall-of-famer-len-dawson/|website=profootballhof.com|publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]|title=Chiefs' 'Man of the Moment' – Len Dawson: 1935-2022|date=August 2022}}</ref> While he was reluctant to take over [[Woody Hayes]]' split-T offense with the Buckeyes,<ref name="hammerandrails.com" /> the true reason he selected Purdue stemmed from the rapport he had established with assistant coach [[Hank Stram]], beginning a friendship that would last for more than a half-century.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.on3.com/news/former-purdue-boilermakers-nfl-quarterback-and-broadcaster-len-dawson-87-passed-away-wednesday-kansas-city-chiefs/|newspaper=On3|title=Former Purdue, NFL quarterback and broadcaster Len Dawson, 87, passed away Wednesday|author=Morrison, Daniel|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>

As a sophomore in [[1954 Purdue Boilermakers football team|1954]], Dawson's first as the [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Boilermakers]]' quarterback, he was the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s leader in pass efficiency, while also playing defense and serving as the team's kicker.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/purdue/football/len-dawson-purdue-best-nfl-draft-picks|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|title=Draft Pick Countdown, No. 4: Len Dawson, a True Legend Of the Game|date=April 21, 2020|author=Douglas, Brett}}</ref> He threw four touchdown passes in a 31–0 victory over [[Missouri Tigers football|Missouri]], and later engineered a huge upset of [[1954 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]], which had entered the contest on a 13-game winning streak.<ref name="hammerandrails.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hammerandrails.com/2011/6/22/2237607/purdue-icons-12-lew-dawson|title=Purdue ICONS #12: Len Dawson|first=Travis|last=Miller|date=June 22, 2011|website=Hammer and Rails}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/08/24/len-dawson-dies-kansas-city-chiefs-quarterback-tv-host|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|title=Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson Dies at Age 87: Remembering Len Dawson: Super Bowl Champion, TV Host and 'One Lucky Son of a Gun'|author=Bechtel, Mark|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>

During three seasons (1954–1956) with the Boilermakers, Dawson threw for 3,325 yards and 29 touchdowns,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hammerandrails.com/2022/8/24/23319722/purdue-football-legend-len-dawson-passes | title=Purdue Football Legend Len Dawson has Died | newspaper=Hammer and Rails | date=August 24, 2022 }}</ref> leading the [[Big Ten Conference]] in that category during each year.  He was named third-team [[1956 College Football All-America Team|All-American in 1956]]. He was an All-Big Ten quarterback during the 1955 and 1956 seasons.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/purdue/football/hall-of-fame-quarterback-purdue-football-legend-len-dawson-dies-at-87|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|title=Hall of Fame Quarterback, Purdue Football Legend Len Dawson Dies at 87|date=August 24, 2022|author=Fezler, D. J.}}</ref>

While at Purdue, Dawson was initiated into the [[Alpha Tau Omega]] [[Fraternities and sororities|fraternity]].<ref name="hammerandrails.com" />

==Professional career==
===Pittsburgh Steelers===
Dawson was the fifth overall selection in the [[1957 NFL draft]], taken by the [[1957 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], but he was unable to make an impact. Following his rookie season in [[1957 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1957]], his status became more tenuous when the Steelers acquired future Hall of Famer [[Bobby Layne]] early in the [[1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1958 season]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/nfl/2022/08/24/len-dawson-dies-obituary-hospice-kansas-city-chiefs/stories/202208240100|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|title=Len Dawson, Hall of Fame Chiefs quarterback who started career with Steelers, dies at 87 |author=Skretta, Dave|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>

===Cleveland Browns===
Dawson was traded to the [[1960 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] on December 31, 1959.<ref name=bgldgn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=axgTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-AAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7184%2C147546 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Browns get Len Dawson, Gern Nagler |date=January 1, 1960 |page=27}}</ref><ref name=defyinc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1ZtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4955%2C202685|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Sell |first=Jack |title=Dawson ends 5-year, inactive NFL career |date=July 3, 1962 |page=12 }}</ref> However, after encountering similar problems in battling Browns quarterback [[Milt Plum]],<ref name="dlppom">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u2AqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qk4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5527%2C1526691 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |last=Livingston |first=Pat |title=Len Dawson gets shot at old mates |date=October 21, 1961 |page=6}}</ref> Dawson was released after the [[1961 Cleveland Browns season|1961 season]],<ref name="defyinc" /> having completed only 21 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns in his five seasons of NFL play.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DawsLe00.htm|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|title=Len Dawson Stats}}</ref>

===Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs===
Dawson signed with the American Football League's [[1962 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]] on June 30, 1962.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dTZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6VgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3645%2C360791 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |location=Ohio |agency=Associated Press |title=Len Dawson joins Texans of A.F.L. |date=July 1, 1962 |page=D1}}</ref> The move reunited him with Stram, who was beginning his third year as the Texans' head coach.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108219995/the-akron-beacon-journal/|newspaper=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|location=Ohio|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|date=July 1, 1962|page=39|title=Len Dawson Goes To AFL}} {{Open access}}</ref>
[[File:Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos 1985-12-14 (ticket) (crop).jpg|thumb|left|Dawson during a game against the [[Denver Broncos]]]]

In [[1962 Dallas Texans season|1962]], Dawson led the league in touchdowns and yards per attempt, and was the ''[[Sporting News]]''{{'}} selection as the [[American Football League Most Valuable Player Award|AFL MVP]]. He also led Dallas to the [[1962 American Football League Championship Game|first]] of three league titles in a thrilling double-overtime victory over the two-time defending champion [[1962 Houston Oilers season|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]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108220245/press-and-sun-bulletin/|newspaper=[[Press & Sun-Bulletin]]|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|date=December 24, 1962|page=22|title=If That Kick Missed, Li'l Abner Was Next}} {{Open access}}</ref>


The team moved north to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] and was renamed to the [[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]] in [[1963 Kansas City Chiefs season|1963]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-history/|website=profootballhof.com|publisher=[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]|title=Team History}}</ref>
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 15 - Willie Davis (Willie Davis crop).jpg|thumb|Dawson (''center'') being tackled by the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I, January 1967]]
A pinpoint passer, Dawson's mobility helped him flourish in Stram's "moving pocket" offense.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article264533391.html|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=August 24, 2022|title=Len Dawson, Chiefs' Hall of Fame quarterback and Kansas City sports icon, dies at 87|author=Covitz, Randy}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-len-dawson-quarterback-chiefs-texans-hospice-death-obit-kansas-city|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|title=Dallas' First Star Pro QB, Chiefs Icon Len Dawson, Dead at 87|author=Whitt, Richie|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> In 1966, Dawson led the Chiefs to an 11–2–1 record and a 31–7 win over the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the [[1966 American Football League Championship Game|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1966awards.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1966 AFL and NFL Awards}}</ref>

Though he threw for more than 2,000 yards in each of the previous seven campaigns, Dawson's [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|1969 season with Kansas City]] would be his most memorable because of his dramatic comeback from a knee injury suffered in the season's second game.<ref name = Goldstein/> The injury was at first feared to be season-ending, but after missing five games, Dawson went on to lead the Chiefs to road playoff victories over both the defending Super Bowl champion [[New York Jets]] and the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/once-a-quarterback-always-a-quarterback-stories-of-the-legend-len-dawso-19672337|website=chiefs.com|publisher=[[Kansas City Chiefs]]|title=Once a Quarterback, Always a Quarterback: Stories of the Legend Len Dawson|date=November 11, 2017}}</ref> He then capped his year with MVP accolades in [[Super Bowl IV]], the last game ever played by an American Football League team.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/len-dawson-chiefs-legend-former-super-bowl-mvp-and-hall-of-fame-qb-dies-at-age-87/|website=[[CBS Sports]]|date=August 24, 2022|title=Len Dawson, Chiefs legend, former Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Fame QB dies at age 87|author=DeArdo, Bryan; Kerr, Jeff}}</ref> In the game, Dawson paced the Chiefs to a win over the NFL's heavily favored [[Minnesota Vikings]] by completing 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, and rushing for 11 yards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/24/sport/len-dawson-death-nfl-spt-intl/index.html|newspaper=[[CNN]]|title=Len Dawson, Hall of Fame quarterback who led Kansas City Chiefs to first Super Bowl title, has died at 87|author=Sterling, Wayne|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> The performance was especially notable given that Dawson had been mistakenly linked to a gambling scandal (by an unrelated gentleman who was named Donald Dawson) in the days leading up to the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.actionnetwork.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs-gambling-scandal-super-bowl-4-len-dawson|website=[[The Action Network]]|title=The Gambling Scandal That Rocked the Chiefs' Last Super Bowl Berth 50 Years Ago|author=Rovell, Darren|date=September 23, 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Pro Football Hall of Fame (38094262274).jpg|thumb|Dawson's #16 jersey exhibited at the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]]]

On November 1, 1970, the Chiefs led the Oakland Raiders 17–14 late in the fourth quarter. Facing third and long, a run by Dawson apparently sealed victory for the Chiefs, but as Dawson lay on the ground, he was speared by Raiders' defensive end [[Ben Davidson]], who dove into Dawson with his helmet, provoking Chiefs' receiver [[Otis Taylor (American football)|Otis Taylor]] to attack Davidson.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Football's Blackest Hole: A Fan's Perspective|page=22|publisher=Frog Books|date=2003|author=Parker, Craig|isbn=9781583940921}}</ref> After a bench-clearing brawl, offsetting penalties were called, nullifying the first down under the rules in effect at that time. The Chiefs were obliged to punt, and the Raiders tied the game on a [[George Blanda]] field goal with eight seconds to play. Taylor's retaliation against Davidson not only cost the Chiefs a win, but Oakland won the AFC West with a season record of 8–4–2, while Kansas City finished 7–5–2 and out of the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/100/originals/100-greatest/characters-50|website=nfl.com|publisher=[[National Football League]]|title=Defensive End Ben Davidson}}</ref>

===Retirement and legacy===
Dawson announced his retirement in May 1976, shortly before turning 41.<ref name=ldiretrg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jBQfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5p0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6865%2C261264 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |agency=associated Press |title=Len Dawson is retiring |date=May 2, 1976 |page=19B}}</ref> Dawson ended his career in 1975, having completed 2,136 of 3,741 passes for 28,711 yards and 239 touchdowns, with 181 interceptions. He also gained 1,293 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in his career.<ref name=":0" />

Dawson retired as the Chiefs all-time career leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, attempts, rushing yards by a quarterback, and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Only his touchdowns records still stand. He also held the single-season passing touchdown record from 1964 until it was broken in 2018. He held the single-season passing yards record from 1964 until 1983. He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1979 and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1987. His number 16 was retired by the Chiefs, and is the only number in franchise history to be worn by a single player. He was also named to the [[American Football League All-Time Team]] in 1970.

==After professional football==
[[File:Allen with Len Dawson at Alumni Game (cropped).jpg|thumb|Dawson at a Purdue Alumni Game in 2019]]
In 1966, while still playing for the Chiefs, Dawson became sports director at [[KMBC-TV]] in Kansas City. On March 16, 2009, Dawson announced he would step down from anchoring on a nightly basis, but would still report for KMBC during the Chiefs football season and would fill in when other anchors were on leave.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108221192/the-kansas-city-star/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|date=March 17, 2009|page=19, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108221234/the-kansas-city-star/ 24]|title=New role for Dawson|author=Covitz, Randy}} {{Open access}}</ref>

From 1977 to 2001, Dawson hosted HBO's ''[[Inside the NFL]]''. He also worked as an analyst for [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]'s AFC coverage from 1977 to 1982. From 1985 to 2017, Dawson was the color analyst for the Chiefs' radio broadcast team. In 2012, Dawson was honored with the [[Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award]] presented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his longtime contributions as a sports broadcaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Len Dawson named Rozelle Award Winner {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2012/06/news-len-dawson-named-rozelle-award-winner |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> At the beginning of his final season as the Chiefs radio analyst, the Chiefs named their broadcast booth at [[Arrowhead Stadium]] after Dawson.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chiefs Broadcast Booth Named After Gold Jacket Len Dawson |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/chiefs-broadcast-booth-named-after-gold-jacket-len-dawson/ |website=ProFootballHOF.com}}</ref> When he retired after the 2017 season, he had spent 58 years with the Texans/Chiefs organization.

In 1979, Dawson was enshrined in the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chiefs.com/team/halloffame/1970s?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|title=Official Website of the Kansas City Chiefs {{!}} Chiefs.com|website=Kansas City Chiefs|language=en-US|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=June 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617203810/https://www.chiefs.com/team/halloffame/1970s?campaign=sf:fanshare:facebook|url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by induction into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1987 and [[Purdue University|Purdue]]'s [[Purdue Boilermakers football#Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame|Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purduesports.com/school-bio/pur-hallfame.html|title=Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame|publisher=[[Purdue Boilermakers|Purdue University Athletics]]|access-date=September 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423073252/http://www.purduesports.com/school-bio/pur-hallfame.html|archive-date=April 23, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, he was awarded the [[Walter Camp Distinguished American Award]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://waltercamp.org/distinguished-american/|website=waltercamp.org|publisher=[[Walter Camp Football Foundation]]|title=The Walter Camp Distinguished American}}</ref>

In 2006, Dawson was interviewed for the [[NFL Network]] documentary ''[[America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions]]'' chronicling the [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108220845/the-kansas-city-star/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|via=[[Ancestry.com#Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]|date=December 5, 2006|page=22|title=K-State Fans Lose Out On Bowl TV Agreement|author=Flanagan, Jeffrey}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Dawson teamed with [[Depend (undergarment)|Depend]] in 1998 to encourage men to visit their doctors and to be screened for [[prostate cancer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.depend.com/learn/LenDawsons.asp|title=Super Bowl MVP Teams Up with DEPEND|publisher=Depend|date=December 27, 2008|access-date=December 27, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220051512/http://www.depend.com/learn/LenDawsons.asp|archive-date=December 20, 2008}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Dawson was married to his [[Childhood sweetheart|high school sweetheart]] from 1954 until her death in 1978.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19781207&id=mYMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5176,2272227|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World |location=Kansas|agency=Associated Press |title=Len Dawson's wife dies |date=December 8, 1978 |page=20}}</ref> He had two children. He later remarried and remained married until his death.<ref name="ESPNObit">{{Cite news |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson, who led Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl IV win, dies at age 87 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34451383/hall-fame-qb-len-dawson-led-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl-iv-win-dies-age-87 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |work=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

In 1991, Dawson was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]].<ref name="son/ prostate">{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/28364|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124114302/http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/28364|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2013|title=ESPN Sportsnation chat}}</ref>

On August 12, 2022, Dawson's family announced that he had entered [[hospice]] care at the [[University of Kansas Medical Center]] in [[Kansas City, Kansas]].<ref name = Goldstein>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/24/sports/football/len-dawson-dead.html|title = Len Dawson, Who Took Kansas City to a Championship, Dies at 87|last = Goldstein|first = Richard|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|date = August 24, 2022|accessdate = August 24, 2022|url-access = limited}}</ref> He died on August 24, at the age of 87.<ref>{{cite news |title=Legendary Chiefs quarterback and Kansas City broadcaster Len Dawson has died |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/len-dawson-kansas-city-chiefs-quarterback-dead-at-87/40943140 |website=kmbc.com|date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> He had been one of the last living members of the Chiefs franchise who dated back to its time in Dallas.

The Chiefs wore a decal with the number 16 on their helmets for the entire [[2022 Kansas City Chiefs season|2022 season]] in honor of Dawson. Before their first offensive play of the preseason game the day after his death, the Chiefs lined up in a huddle popularized by Dawson, where the quarterback stands in front of the other 10 offensive players instead of standing in the middle with the players making a circle around him.<ref name="c760">{{cite magazine | last=Foote | first=Jordan | title=Chiefs Honor Len Dawson With Helmet Decal and Iconic Huddle | magazine=Sports Illustrated | date=2022-08-26 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/kansas-city-chiefs-honor-len-dawson-with-helmet-decal-and-iconic-huddle | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ffff00; width:3em;"|
| [[American Football League Most Valuable Player Award|TSN AFL MVP/POTY]]
|-
| style="background:#f4c842; width:3em;"|
| [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award|Super Bowl MVP]]
|-
| style="background:#ffe6bd; width:3em;"|
| AFL champion
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| AFL & [[Super Bowl]] champion
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starter}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}}
|-
! [[1957 NFL season|1957]] !! [[1957 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 3 || 1 || 0–1 || 2 || 4 || 50.0 || 25 || 6.3 || 15 || 0 || 0 || 69.8
|-
! [[1958 NFL season|1958]] !! [[1958 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 4 || 0 || — || 1 || 6 || 16.7 || 11 || 1.8 || 11 || 0 || 2 || 0.0
|-
! [[1959 NFL season|1959]] !! [[1959 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 12 || 0 || — || 3 || 7 || 42.9 || 60 || 8.6 || 32 || 1 || 0 || 113.1
|-
! [[1960 NFL season|1960]] !! [[1960 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]
| 2 || 0 || — || 8 || 13 || 61.5 || 23 || 1.8 || 23 || 0 || 0 || 65.9
|-
! [[1961 NFL season|1961]] !! [[1961 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]
| 7 || 1 || 1–0 || 7 || 15 || 46.7 || 85 || 5.7 || 17 || 1 || 3 || 47.2
|-
! style="background:#ffff00;"|[[1962 American Football League season|1962]] !! style="background:#ffe6bd;"|[[1962 Dallas Texans season|DAL]]
| 14 || 14 || 11–3 || 189 || 310 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 61.0 || 2,759 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 8.9 || '''92''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| 29 || 17 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 98.3
|-
! [[1963 American Football League season|1963]] !! [[1963 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 13 || 5–7–1 || 190 || 352 || 54.0 || 2,389 || 6.8 || 82 || 19 || 19 || 77.5
|-
! [[1964 American Football League season|1964]] !! [[1964 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 14 || 7–7 || 199 || 354 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 56.2 || '''2,879''' || 8.1 || 72 || '''30''' || 18 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 89.9
|-
! [[1965 American Football League season|1965]] !! [[1965 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 12 || 6–4–2 || 163 || 305 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 53.4 || 2,262 || 7.4 || 67 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 21 || 14 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 81.3
|-
! [[1966 American Football League season|1966]] !! style="background:#ffe6bd;"|[[1966 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 14 || 11–2–1 || 159 || 284 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 56.0 || 2,527 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 8.9 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 89 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 26 || 10 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''101.7'''
|-
! [[1967 American Football League season|1967]] !! [[1967 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 14 || 9–5 || '''206''' || '''357''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| 57.7 || 2,651 || 7.4 || 71 || 24 || 17 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 83.7
|-
! [[1968 American Football League season|1968]] !! [[1968 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 13 || 11–2 || 131 || 224 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 58.5 || 2,109 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''9.4''' || '''92''' || 17 || 9 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 98.6
|-
! style="background:#f4c842;"|[[1969 American Football League season|1969]] !! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 9 || 7 || 5–2 || 98 || 166 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 59.0 || 1,323 || 8.0 || 55 || 9 || 13 || 69.9
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 12 || 5–5–2 || 141 || 262 || 53.8 || 1,876 || 7.2 || 61 || 13 || 14 || 71.0
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! [[1971 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 13 || 9–3–1 || 167 || 301 || 55.5 || 2,504 || 8.3 || 82 || 15 || 13 || 81.6
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! [[1972 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 12 || 7–5 || 175 || 305 || 57.4 || 1,835 || 6.0 || 44 || 13 || 12 || 72.8
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] !! [[1973 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 8 || 6 || 3–2–1 || 66 || 101 || 65.3 || 725 || 7.2 || 48 || 2 || 5 || 72.4
|-
! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 8 || 3–5 || 138 || 235 || 58.7 || 1,573 || 6.7 || 84 || 7 || 13 || 65.8
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 12 || 5 || 1–4 || 93 || 140 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''66.4''' || 1,095 || 7.8 || 51 || 5 || 4 || 90.0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DawsLe00.htm Career] !! 211 !! 159 !! 94–57–8 !! 2,136 !! 3,741 !! 57.1 !! 28,711 !! 7.7 !! 92 !! 239 !! 183 !! 82.6
|}

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders]]
* [[List of American Football League players]]
* [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award#Winners|List of Super Bowl MVPs]]
* [[List of Super Bowl starting quarterbacks]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category inline}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Len}}
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