Kansas City Chiefs

I'm a week late, but...
Here are the ten 1971 cards for the Chiefs. This includes FIVE all-star cards. (Surprisingly, Len Dawson is not one of them!) With all those all-stars, how did the team do?

In 1970 (the first year after the AFL was absorbed) the Chiefs finished 7-5-2, 2nd in the AFC West behind Oakland (who were 8-4-2). In 1971, the Chiefs finished 10-3-1, 1st in the division, but lost to Miami in the playoffs.


#180 Len Dawson - This is the 10th of Dawson's 14 seasons with the team. He was a 7-time Pro Bowler, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

#254 Robert Holmes - Holmes was the Chiefs' 14th-round pick in 1968. He was their starting fullback in his first 2 seasons. In 1970 he was primarily a kick returner (with Wendell Hayes playing fullback). In 1971 he played 6 games with the Chiefs, then spent the rest of the season (and 1972) with the Oilers. He later played for the Chargers.


#139 Otis Taylor - Taylor was the Chiefs' 4th-round pick in 1965, and played his entire 11-year career with the Chiefs. In 1967, his 11 TDs were tops in the AFL. In 1971 he led the NFL with 1110 receiving yards. He also played in 3 Pro Bowls.


#206 Jim Tyrer - A 3rd round pick for the Chiefs (Dallas Texans) in 1961, Tyrer was a fixture at left tackle from 1961 to 1973, before finishing his career with the Redskins in 1974. He was an AFL All-Star from 1962 to 1969, a 9-time Pro Bowler, and played in Super Bowls I and IV.

#61 Jan Stenerud - Jan joined the Chiefs in 1967 (the year after the Chiefs' Super Bowl I appearance) and kicked for them through 1979. He then played 4 seasons with the Packers and 2 with the Vikings. Stenerud was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.


#13 Buck Buchanan - Buck was the Chiefs' #1 pick in 1963. He played defensive tackle for the Chiefs for his entire career (1963-75), and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.


#114 Willie Lanier - One of two 2nd-round picks for the Chiefs in 1967, Lanier moved to middle linebacker in his sophomore season, and held that spot until his retirement after the 1977 season. He and Dick Butkus were known as the 2 toughest SOBs MLBs of their era. He was an 8-time Pro Bowler, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

#35 Bobby Bell - Bell is the 2nd All-Star Chiefs linebacker to be featured in this card set. Bell played his entire career (1963-74) with the Chiefs. His first 2 seasons were at left defensive end, before moving to left linebacker. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983.

#232 Jim Lynch - Like Willie Lanier, Lynch was a Chiefs' 2nd-round pick in 1967. Also like Lanier, Jim played his entire career (1967-77) with the Chiefs. He took over as the starting right linebacker in 1968 (from Lanier), and stayed there until the end of his career.


#88 Johnny Robinson - Robinson was the Detroit Lions' 1st-round pick (#3 overall) in 1960, but signed with the new Dallas Texans AFL franchise (which became the Chiefs in 1963). He was a flanker in his first 2 seasons, then became the starting free safety from 1962 until his retirement after the 1971 season. He was a 7-time Pro Bowler.


Also check out the 1968 Chiefs.


Coming Feb 27th: Atlanta Falcons
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