Lamar Hunt founded the American Football League in 1959 as a challenge to the NFL. When the AFL began play in 1960, eight franchises were born: New York Titans, Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Hunt's own Dallas Texans. The NFL responded to the Texans by placing an expansion team in Dallas, the Cowboys. Despite two second place finishes in the Western Division and a thrilling, double overtime victory over Houston in the 1962 AFL Championship Game, the Texans did not draw well. On May 14, 1963, Hunt announced that he will move the team to Kansas City, renaming it the Chiefs in honor of Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle, whose nickname was "The Chief."

The Chiefs, featuring an explosive offense, ferocious defense, and smart coaching, stood at the pinnacle of their success from 1966-71. The Chiefs blew out the Bills on New Year's Day 1967 for their second AFL championship and a spot in the first Super Bowl. Although they lost to the mighty Packers, the Chiefs showed for one half that the AFL was no patsy. The Chiefs finished the next four years in second place behind the Raiders, but a new AFL playoff system in 1969 allowed them to compete in the postseason. In the 1969 playoffs, Kansas City defeated the Eastern Division Champion Jets and then the Raiders for their third AFL championship. Thus the Chiefs closed out AFL competition as the league's only three-time champions. The Chiefs had the final word in the AFL-NFL rivalry, winning Super Bowl IV convincingly, beating the favored Vikings 23-7. Two years later in 1971, the Chiefs won the AFC Western Division title, only to fall to the Dolphins 27-24 in the longest game in pro football history. This now-legendary playoff game contested on Christmas Day 1971, featured a record breaking performance by Chiefs running back Ed Podolak, who gained the third most all-purpose yards in any NFL game, and the most in the postseason. This game was also the last football game played in Kansas City's Municipal Stadium, as the Chiefs moved into modern Arrowhead Stadium the next season.

The Chiefs went into a slow decline, finally reaching the AFC West basement in 1977, where they spent the next three seasons. Under Marv Levy, a brief renaissance occured from 1979-81, as the team climbed over the .500 mark in 1981 for the first time since 1973. However, the strike-shortened 1982 season was Levy's last. The final game of the season was probably the franchise's lowest point: only 13,000 fans showed up for the season finale against the Jets, while 15,000 attended an indoor soccer game played later that evening. The Chiefs gained a wild-card berth in 1986, posting its best record since 1971. The success wouldn't last long, as the team would only win 8 games in the next two years.

The 1980's weren't kind to the Chiefs, but there were a few bright spots. Defense has always been a hallmark of the franchise, and one of the better defensive secondaries in the NFL, made up of cornerbacks Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross, and safeties Lloyd Burruss and Deron Cherry, defended Arrowhead turf. Cherry was always among the league leaders in interceptions, while Lewis was a special teams terror. The Chiefs suffered many a close loss in the decade, because the offensive effort could never match the defensive effort. What little offense the Chiefs had was supplied by kicker Nick Lowery, who became the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history. A sharp turnaround began in 1989, when General Manager Carl Peterson and Coach Marty Schottenheimer took over the controls. The Chiefs equalled their win total for the past two seasons with an 8-7-1 campaign, just missing the playoffs. The Chiefs did make the playoffs the next six seasons, advancing as far as the AFC Championship Game in 1993.

In 1990, Miami again eliminated Kansas City with a 17-16 win. The first playoff game in Arrowhead Stadium was in 1991, as the Chiefs defeated the Raiders. After a 17-0 loss in the 1992 wildcard round, the Chiefs changed offensive philosophy from smash mouth running to West Coast passing. They obtained veterans Marcus Allen and Joe Montana, and both provided leadership as the Chiefs won the Western Division for the first time since 1971. Two of the most dramatic wins in Chiefs history occured in the 1993 playoffs. The first was a home affair against the Steelers. The Chiefs tied the game with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter on a fourth and goal touchdown pass to Tim Barnett. Set up by a blocked punt at midfield and a return to the Pittsburgh 7, the touchdown forced overtime. A Nick Lowery field goal in overtime won it. Next week against the heavily favored Oilers, the defense sacked Warren Moon nine times, forcing five fumbles. This defensive effort allowed the Chiefs to overcome an early 10-0 hole, winning 28-20. 1995 saw the "Cardiac Chiefs" win 13 games, many by last minute heroics. James Hasty returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown in overtime to beat the Raiders, Tamarick Vanover's 86 yard punt return in overtime beat the Chargers on Monday Night Football, and Mark Collins' 36 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter broke a tie with Houston.

Western Division winners again, the Chiefs had home field advantage in the playoffs, but wasted it when heavy underdog Indianapolis ended the season with a 10-7 win. 1996 was the only season this decade the Chiefs did not make the playoffs, and it sparked another clean house effort. This time defensive philosophy changed, as the Chiefs went to an quick, aggresive "falcon" defense. Inept quarterback Steve Bono, as well as veterans Neil Smith, Dan Saleamua, Keith Traylor, and Mark Collins were not re-signed. Quarterback Elvis Grbac and wide reciever Andre Rison were brought in to re-energize the offense.

Although many figured 1997 to be a rebuilding year and that the Chiefs would not finish better than 9-7, the team confounded the experts by winning the Western Division again with a 13-3 record. Again, the Chiefs won many a game at the last minute. After falling behind the Raiders in Week 2, the Chiefs rallied to win on a 33 yard bomb from Grbac to Rison with 4 seconds left in the game, stunning the fans in the Oakland Coliseum and a nation-wide Monday Night audience. Next week against the Bills at home, the Chiefs came from behind, helped by a 100 yard kickoff return by Tamarick Vanover and a four-down goal line stand in the game's closing minute. However, the game of the year came against the Broncos at home, as the Chiefs overcame an early 13-point deficit and another Elway 4th quarter comeback to win 24-22. Marcus Allen scored two touchdowns, while the defense held Denver out of the end zone in the second half. After a field goal with 1:00 left in the fourth quarter put Denver up 22-21, hugs and smiles broke out on the overconfident Denver bench. Rich Gannon managed to push the offense close enough for a long 54 yard last-second field goal, which Pete Stoyanovich just did get over the crossbar as time expired. This win began a six game winning streak that closed out the regular season. The defense put on a phenomenal performance during the season, at one point shutting out oppenents from the end zone in the second half for 10 consecutive games, a new NFL record.

The Chiefs also put on an impressive performance against the 49ers at Arrowhead, winning 44-9. Despite another solid regular season, the Chiefs failed again the in the first round of the playoffs as the top seed, losing a close rematch with the Broncos, 14-10, in a controversy-marred game. One month after the game, the NFL reviewed tape of the game and concluded that the officials blew two critical calls that cost the Chiefs 5 points. In the offseason, the Chiefs beefed up the defense by signing free agents Leslie O'Neal and Chester McClockten to bolster the defensive line.

During the 2000 season the Chiefs discovered that Elvis Grbac had finally come into his own and proved to be one heck of a field general and the Chiefs offense proved to be quite potent, but as time wore on during the season it appeared that the coaching staff just was not capable of handling an offense with so much potential. As we head into the 2001 season the coaches have changed with the addition of Dick Vermeil and Al Saunders both of whom coached for the Rams during their Super Bowl season. But during the off season problems have popped up caused by the season prior, the Chiefs once again find themselves in a quandry and that's without a starting quarterback with the loss of Grbac to the Baltimore Ravens and their unwillingness to give the Rams what they requested for Trent Green. Their final decision on quarterback will make an impact on their offense and we've only to wait and see what type of historical reflection it will have...good or bad...we can only wait and see what unfolds.