1987 Kansas City Chiefs season

Last updated

1987 Kansas City Chiefs season
Owner Lamar Hunt
General manager Jim Schaaf
Head coach Frank Gansz
Home field Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record4–11
Division place5th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros None

The 1987 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League and the 28th overall. Under new head coach Frank Gansz, the Chiefs split their first two games, 1-1. The 1987 NFL season featured games predominantly played by replacement players, as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) players went on strike from weeks four to six with week three being cancelled across the league. The replacement players went 0–3. After the regulars returned, the Chiefs continued to struggle. They lost their next five games to stand at 1–9 and finished the season with a 4–11 record a year after making the playoffs in 1986.

Contents

Offseason

One of the most tumultuous weeks in franchise history took place following the club's playoff loss against the Jets in the 1986 playoffs. Assistant head coach and special teams coach Frank Gansz, resigned his position on January 7 in order to pursue opportunities as an NFL offensive coordinator. [1] The following day, the Chiefs announced in an impromptu press conference that John Mackovic was relieved of his duties as head coach on January 8. A popular figure among Chiefs players, Gansz was reinstated on January 10 and was named the sixth head coach in franchise history. [1]

Former quarterback Len Dawson became the third Chiefs player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8, [1] while injuries forced the retirement of the club's all-time leading tackler Gary Spani.

NFL draft

1987 Kansas City Chiefs draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
119 Paul Palmer   Running back Temple
235 Christian Okoye  * Fullback Azusa Pacific
373 Todd Howard   Linebacker Texas A&M
5128 Kitrick Taylor   Wide receiver Washington State
7186 Doug Hudson   Quarterback Nicholls State
8218 Michael Clemons  Running back William & Mary
9244 Randy Watts   Defensive end Catawba
10271 James Evans  Running back Southern
11298Craig Richardson Wide receiver Eastern Washington
12325 Bruce Holmes  Linebacker Minnesota
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Personnel

Staff

1987 Kansas City Chiefs staff

Front office

  • Founder – Lamar Hunt
  • President – Jack Steadman
  • Vice president/general manager – Jim Schaaf
  • Director of pro personnel – Whitey Dovell
  • Director of college scouting – Les Miller
  • Coordinator of college scouting – Greg Mohns

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning coordinator – CT Hewgley

Replacement players

After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:

1987 Kansas City Chiefs replacement roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Final roster

1987 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Season summary

A duo of rookies made a splash in a 20–13 win on Opening Day against San Diego as running back Paul Palmer returned a kickoff for a TD and Christian Okoye dashed for 105 yards. [1] A 24-day players strike began on September 22, canceling the club's contest against Minnesota. [1] Replacement players participated in games for the next three weeks. Much like Marv Levy five years earlier, Gansz's grip on the club's coaching reins was crippled by the labor unrest. [1]

Kansas City's replacement squad consisted primarily of players cut in training camp. One of the few bright spots among the players was running back Jitter Fields, who remained on the active roster following the strike. [1] The Chiefs strike squad received an ominous welcome in Los Angeles when in the early morning hours of October 4, the day prior to a contest against the Raiders, an earthquake rattled Southern California. The shaken Chiefs lost a 35–17 decision later that day. The low point of the year came the following week at Miami in the first regular season game played at what then was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. Chiefs replacement QB Matt Stevens was injured early in the contest, forcing into duty backup quarterback Alex Espinoza, who had never taken an NFL snap. The result was a 42–0 Dolphins victory, setting the stage for an 0–3 performance by Kansas City's replacement unit, giving the Chiefs a 1–4 record before the club's regular roster returned at San Diego on October 25. [1] Five straight losses followed, giving the Chiefs a team-record nine-game losing skid. For the only time in team history, five different players started games at quarterback for the club. [1] Behind Kenney, Kansas City won two of its last three games to conclude the strike-shortened 4–11 campaign.

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
HOF August 8vs. San Francisco 49ers L 7–200–1 Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio)23,826 Recap
1August 13at Houston Oilers W 32–201–1 Houston Astrodome 30,147 Recap
2August 22 Atlanta Falcons W 13–102–1 Arrowhead Stadium 39,164 Recap
3August 29 Buffalo Bills W 34–143–1Arrowhead Stadium43,887 Recap
4September 6vs. St. Louis Cardinals W 13–10 (OT)4–1 Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN)62,353 Recap

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 13 San Diego Chargers W 20–131–0 Arrowhead Stadium 56,940 Recap
2September 20at Seattle Seahawks L 14–431–1 Kingdome 61,667 Recap
3September 27 Minnesota Vikings Cancelled due to players' strike
4October 4at Los Angeles Raiders L 17–351–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 10,708 Recap
5October 11at Miami Dolphins L 0–421–3 Joe Robbie Stadium 25,867 Recap
6October 18 Denver Broncos L 17–261–4Arrowhead Stadium20,296 Recap
7October 25at San Diego Chargers L 21–421–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,972 Recap
8November 1at Chicago Bears L 28–311–6 Soldier Field 63,498 Recap
9November 8 Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–171–7Arrowhead Stadium45,249 Recap
10November 15 New York Jets L 9–161–8Arrowhead Stadium40,718 Recap
11November 22 Green Bay Packers L 3–231–9Arrowhead Stadium34,611 Recap
12 November 26 at Detroit Lions W 27–202–9 Pontiac Silverdome 43,820 Recap
13December 6at Cincinnati Bengals L 27–30 (OT)2–10 Riverfront Stadium 46,489 Recap
14December 13 Los Angeles Raiders W 16–103–10Arrowhead Stadium63,834 Recap
15December 19at Denver Broncos L 17–203–11 Mile High Stadium 75,053 Recap
16December 27 Seattle Seahawks W 41–204–11Arrowhead Stadium20,370 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 1: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers0031013
Chiefs3701020

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs070714
Seahawks31420643

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 4: at Los Angeles Raiders

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs0014317
Raiders1477735

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs00000
Dolphins7721742

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 25,867
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 6: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Broncos9100726
Chiefs773017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 7: at San Diego Chargers

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs0147021
Chargers14210742

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,972
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Dave Casper
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs1477028
Bears7731431

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Fog, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,498
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Paul Maguire
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 9: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 9: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Steelers077317
Chiefs730616

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 10: vs. New York Jets

Week 10: New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Jets3031016
Chiefs03609

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 40,718
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Paul Maguire
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Packers7013323
Chiefs00303

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 12: at Detroit Lions

Thanksgiving Day games

Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs7173027
Lions0103720

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 43,820
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
  • Recap
Game information

Week 13: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Chiefs031410027
Bengals10737330

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 38 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 46,489
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mel Proctor and Reggie Rucker
  • Recap
Game information

Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

Week 14: Los Angeles Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Raiders037010
Chiefs073616

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 41 °F (5 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,834
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at Denver Broncos

Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs037717
Broncos7103020

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 19
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 75,053
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Seahawks7130020
Chiefs17107741

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast and Drizzle, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 20,370
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Gayle Sierens and Dave Rowe
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

AFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Denver Broncos (1)1041.7007–18–3379288W2
Seattle Seahawks (5)960.6004–35–6371314L1
San Diego Chargers 870.5333–46–7253317L6
Los Angeles Raiders 5100.3332–63–8301289L3
Kansas City Chiefs 4110.2673–53–9273388W1

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The 1999 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 30th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 40th overall. The season began with the promotion of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham to head coach following the resignation of Marty Schottenheimer after the Chiefs finished with a 7–9 record in 1998.

The 1998 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 39th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 29th overall.

The 1997 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 28th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 38th overall. The Chiefs improved on their 9–7 record from 1996, and finished with a 13–3 record and as AFC West division champions. The Rich Gannon–Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy was a focal point of the team's season. It brewed throughout the entire season and arguably cost the Chiefs a victory in the playoffs. The Chiefs were defeated by division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion, Denver Broncos, in the 1997 playoffs. 1997 was the final season the Chiefs appeared in the playoffs during the 1990s and for the next several seasons, they fell into futility. They did not return to the playoffs until 2003.

The 1996 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 27th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 37th overall. Following their loss to the Colts in the playoffs the year before, the Chiefs failed to improve their 13–3 record from 1995 and finishing 9–7 record and second-place finish in the AFC West. Despite being predicted as one of the eventual winners of Super Bowl XXXI by Sports Illustrated, the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 1989.

The 1994 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 25th season in the National Football League, the 32nd as the Kansas City Chiefs and the 35th overall. They failed to improve their 11–5 record from 1993 and finishing with a 9–7 record and Wild Card spot in the 1994–95 playoffs. The Chiefs lost to the Miami Dolphins 27–17 in the wild-card round. Alongside celebrating the NFL's 75th anniversary season, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana retired following the season.

The 1992 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League and the 33rd overall. The Chiefs matched their 10–6 record from 1991, but were shut out by the San Diego Chargers 17–0 in the wild-card round.

The 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 22nd season in the National Football League and 32nd overall. They failed to improve on their 11–5 record from 1990 and finished with a 10–6 record. Compared to the Chiefs' 1990 campaign, Steve DeBerg’s consistency had dropped. The running game made up for lost time as Christian Okoye ran for 1,031 yards for the season, Barry Word was productive, and rookie Harvey Williams was outstanding in limited playing time. The Chiefs defeated their division rival, the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round, resulting in the franchise's first playoff victory since Super Bowl IV in 1970. The next week, the Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional playoffs.

The 1989 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 20th in the National Football League, their 30th overall and their first under head coach Marty Schottenheimer and general manager Carl Peterson. They improved on their 4–11–1 record from 1988 and finished with an 8–7–1 record. The Chiefs did not qualify for the playoffs in for the third straight year but did send four players to the Pro Bowl. The Chiefs Week 11 10–10 tie against the Cleveland Browns remains the most recent tie in Chiefs history.

The 1980 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 11th season in the National Football League and 21st overall. They improved from 1979 from a 7–9 to an 8–8 record, the most wins for the franchise since an 8–6 season in 1972, but missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.

The 1981 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and 22nd overall. They improved from 1980 from an 8–8 record to a 9–7 record but missing the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season.

The 1982 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's strike-shortened 13th season in the National Football League and the 23rd overall.

The 1983 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League and the 24th overall. They matched on their 6–10 record and last place finish in the AFC West.

The 1984 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League, the 22nd as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 25th overall.

The 1985 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League and the 26th overall.

The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the 27th overall. It ended with a 10–6 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1971. The Chiefs clinched a wild card playoff berth, but lost to the New York Jets 35–15.

The 1988 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League and the 29th overall.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's". Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  2. "1987 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 12, 2014.