Kansas City Chiefs Aim For a Playoff Bid in 2009

The 2008 football schedule ended for the Chiefs with a 2-14 record which placed them 4th in their conference division. Brodie Croyle, the quarterback of this young team, ended his season in only the 7th week with a new injury. This may have been the worst season for the team on record, but fans remained hopeful and enthusiastic. Even with a series of painful losses at home and on the road there was still a strong demand for Kansas City Chiefs tickets. This loyalty has been evident since 1963 when this Texas based team first rolled into town.

The Franchise Beginning of the Kansas City Chiefs

Lamar Hunt’s was the driving force that helped establish the franchise that became the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the one who first launched the idea of a second football league in 1959. There were 8 team owners that signed on with Hunt to begin the AFL. The concept of a new football organization competing toe to toe with the NFL was so alien that many thought it was doomed to failure. The 8 owners of AFL teams were dubbed “The Foolish Club”. The new league was announced by Bert Bell who was then the NFL Commissioner. The NFL did not want to be associated with the AFL teams, but this made little difference to the proud new team owners who were bursting with excitement.

Chicago was the site for the first meeting of the new AFL league and the 6 charter members were the cities of New York, Denver, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Minneapolis. Buffalo was added as a seventh member two months later and then Boston was included as the 8th franchise. The owners all agree that without Lamar Hunt none of this would have been possible.

Shortly after the 8 teams had committed to the endeavor the Minneapolis owner bowed out because he had been offered an NFL franchise. Lamar Hunt was also offered a Dallas expansion franchise but he turned it down so that he could concentrate on his new AFL league. The owners elected Hunt as AFL president in 1960, and a Dallas contingent was given the coveted NFL expansion franchise. The AFL also incorporated the 2 point conversion football rule. This same playing rule would finally be approved by the NFL in 1994. During the 1960 football season the AFL was contracted with ABC television in a deal that gave each of the clubs $112,000.

The mighty Texans had a championship season in 1962, but Dallas could not maintain 2 separate pro football teams. Hunt had begun to take scouting trips to some of the larger cities like Miami and Atlanta to look for a new home. The mayor of Kansas City heard of the impending move and invited Hunt to bring his team to the Mid-West. There was a flurry of incessant activity to add new seats to the Municipal Stadium and also to sell season tickets.

Looking Forward with Renewed Determination

This football team is not letting the 2008 season set them back in their determination and drive. Players are eager to hit the field for training and fans are anxious to see what new faces will be coming their way. The 2009 fall schedule will be a time for the Chiefs to channel that determination into winning drives. With anticipation for a new quarterback at a fever pitch fans are turning the heat up with requests for Kansas City Chiefs tickets.