Personnel
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| 1998 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Lamar Hunt |
| General manager | Carl Peterson |
| Head coach | Marty Schottenheimer |
| Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 7–9 |
| Division place | 4th AFC West |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | 1 |
| AP All-Pros | None |
The 1998 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 39th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 29th overall.
The season began with the team hoping to not only improve on their 13–3 campaign the previous season but to also avenge their loss in the 1998 playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. However, instead, the Chiefs failed to succeed in the highly competitive AFC West.
Kansas City began the season on a bright spot, with a 4–1 record and three wins against division rivals; however they then endured a 6-game losing streak, dropping their record to 4–7, and the team finished with a 7–9 record and 4th place in the AFC West. The biggest low point of the season was during a Week 11 matchup against their division rival Denver Broncos, in which the Chiefs defense were penalized five times on the same drive, including three penalties by linebacker Derrick Thomas, topping off an embarrassing 30–7 loss. Following the season, head coach Marty Schottenheimer announced his intention to resign after ten seasons with the team, and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham assumed coaching duties for 1999.
This was the first time Derrick Thomas was not named to the Pro Bowl roster.
On April 9, Marcus Allen announced his retirement.
| 1998 Kansas City Chiefs draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | Victor Riley | Offensive tackle | Auburn | |
| 3 | 88 | Rashaan Shehee | Running back | Washington | |
| 4 | 120 | Greg Favors | Linebacker | Mississippi State | |
| 5 | 128 | Robert Williams | Defensive back | North Carolina | |
| 6 | 181 | Derrick Ransom | Defensive tackle | Cincinnati | |
| 7 | 216 | Eric Warfield | Defensive back | Nebraska | |
| 7 | 224 | Ernest Blackwell | Running back | Missouri | |
| Made roster | |||||
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 1 | vs. Green Bay Packers | L 24–27 (OT) | 0–1 |  Tokyo Dome (Tokyo) | 42,018 | Recap |
| 2 | August 8 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 17–13 | 1–1 | Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, OK) | 43,657 | Recap |
| 3 | August 15 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 0–34 | 1–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 60,955 | Recap |
| 4 | August 22 | Jacksonville Jaguars | W 22–21 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 71,079 | Recap |
| 5 | August 28 | St. Louis Rams | L 6–10 | 2–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 69,501 | Recap |
The Chiefs began the season well on September 6 with an impressive performance and easily defeated the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead 28–8. Kansas City sacked the Raiders quarterbacks 10 times, with Derrick Thomas collecting 6 by himself.
On September 13, Kansas City fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road, 21–16.
On September 27, the Chiefs visited the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time in franchise history.
On October 4, Kansas City conquered the Seattle Seahawks and the rain at Arrowhead, 17–6. Rich Gannon hit Andre Rison for an 80-yard touchdown pass after a 54-minute rain delay caused by a violent storm. The two teams combined for nine turnovers, five by Kansas City. The win improved the Chiefs' record to 4–1, however a 6-game losing streak following this game dropped the team to 4–7.
On November 16, against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs defense was penalized five times on one drive, three of the penalties coming from legendary linebacker Derrick Thomas. The game is known now by Chiefs fans as the "Monday Night Meltdown". After that it was all downhill as the Chiefs suffered their first losing season since 1988.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 6 | Oakland Raiders | W 28–8 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,945 | Recap |
| 2 | September 13 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 16–21 | 1–1 | Alltel Stadium | 69,821 | Recap |
| 3 | September 20 | San Diego Chargers | W 23–7 | 2–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 73,730 | Recap |
| 4 | September 27 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 24–21 | 3–1 | Veterans Stadium | 66,675 | Recap |
| 5 | October 4 | Seattle Seahawks | W 17–6 | 4–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 66,418 | Recap |
| 6 | October 11 | at New England Patriots | L 10–40 | 4–2 | Foxboro Stadium | 59,749 | Recap |
| 7 | Bye | ||||||
| 8 | October 26 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 13–20 | 4–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 79,431 | Recap |
| 9 | November 1 | New York Jets | L 17–20 | 4–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 65,104 | Recap |
| 10 | November 8 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 12–24 | 4–5 | Kingdome | 66,251 | Recap |
| 11 | November 16 | Denver Broncos | L 7–30 | 4–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,100 | Recap |
| 12 | November 22 | at San Diego Chargers | L 37–38 | 4–7 | Qualcomm Stadium | 59,894 | Recap |
| 13 | November 29 | Arizona Cardinals | W 34–24 | 5–7 | Arrowhead Stadium | 69,613 | Recap |
| 14 | December 6 | at Denver Broncos | L 31–35 | 5–8 | Mile High Stadium | 74,962 | Recap |
| 15 | December 13 | Dallas Cowboys | W 20–17 | 6–8 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,697 | Recap |
| 16 | December 20 | at New York Giants | L 7–28 | 6–9 | Giants Stadium | 66,040 | Recap |
| 17 | December 26 | at Oakland Raiders | W 31–24 | 7–9 | Network Associates Coliseum | 52,679 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Chiefs | 17 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 28 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Chiefs | 6 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Patriots | 7 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 40 |
at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Seahawks | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 14 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 37 |
| Chargers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 38 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 34 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 21 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Broncos | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Giants | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 31 |
| Raiders | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| AFC West | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |||
| (1) Denver Broncos | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 501 | 309 | W1 | ||
| Oakland Raiders | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 288 | 356 | L1 | ||
| Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 372 | 310 | L1 | ||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 327 | 363 | W1 | ||
| San Diego Chargers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 241 | 342 | L5 | ||
The team was penalized 158 times for 1,304 yards, an NFL record that stood until the Oakland Raiders surpassed it in 2011. [2]
The 2004 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 35th in the National Football League (NFL), their 45th overall and their 42nd in Kansas City.
The 2002 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall and the franchise's 40th in Kansas City, Missouri.
The 2001 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 32nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 42nd overall. It was their first year under head coach Dick Vermeil and 13th under general manager Carl Peterson. They finished the regular season with a 6–10 record.
The 2000 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 31st in the National Football League (NFL), their 41st overall and their second and final season under head coach Gunther Cunningham. They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from 1999 and finished the season 7–9, marked by a series of on and off-field struggles and incidents.
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 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 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 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 21st season in the National Football League, the 28th as the Kansas City Chiefs and the 31st overall. The team improved from an 8–7–1 record to an 11–5 record and Wild Card spot in the 1991 playoffs. In Marty Schottenheimer's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, they lost to the Miami Dolphins 17–16 in the wild-card round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record 19 consecutive seasons with every home game sold out. The streak was finally broken in the final home game of the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs season versus Cleveland.
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 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.
The 2011 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 52nd overall and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Todd Haley and Scott Pioli. A 10–6 record in their 2010 season lent high expectations to their 2011 season, but the Chiefs suffered reversed fortunes. A season-ending hand injury to their starting quarterback Matt Cassel in their eighth game of the season proved especially significant. After a 4–4 record with Cassel at the helm, the Chiefs staggered to a 7–9 win–loss record by season end and failed to make the playoffs.
The 2012 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall and their first and only full season under head coach Romeo Crennel, who had served as the interim head coach for the final three games of the 2011 season following Todd Haley's termination. The Chiefs failed to rebound from their 7–9 record in 2011, and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12. Although they shared the same 2–14 record as the Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record of the season, the Chiefs had a lower strength of schedule, so they were awarded the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Chiefs went 0–12 against AFC opponents in 2012; their only wins of the season were from NFC teams, against the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. In 2017, ESPN.com named the 2012 season the Chiefs’ worst in franchise history. The season remains, as of 2023, the most recent season that the Chiefs finished at or below .500.
The 2014 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Andy Reid and John Dorsey. The Chiefs broke the crowd noise record on Monday Night Football against the New England Patriots on September 29, 2014 with a crowd roar of 142.2 decibels. The Chiefs failed to match their 11–5 record from 2013, and missed the playoffs. However, they defeated both teams that would eventually meet in that season's Super Bowl: the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The 2014 Kansas City Chiefs became the first NFL team since the 1964 New York Giants, and the only team in the 16 game season era, to complete an entire season with no touchdown passes to a wide receiver.
The 2016 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 47th in the National Football League (NFL), their 57th overall and their fourth under head coach Andy Reid and the fourth and final season under general manager John Dorsey who was fired June 22, 2017. The Chiefs clinched their first AFC West division title since 2010, beginning a streak of eight consecutive that still stands as of 2023. The Chiefs also clinched a first-round bye for the first time since 2003, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional round 18–16.
The 2017 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 48th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 55th as the Kansas City Chiefs, the 58th overall, the fifth under head coach Andy Reid, and first under general manager Brett Veach. They won the AFC West, but lost to the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card round after blowing a 21–3 lead at the half. The season was the first to feature future two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes whose first start came in the last game of the regular season against the Denver Broncos, a game which had no playoff implications as the Chiefs had secured the division in Week 16.
The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 59th overall, their sixth under head coach Andy Reid, and their second under general manager Brett Veach. The Chiefs finished 12–4 and won their third consecutive AFC West title, made their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the AFC Championship in overtime. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the AP NFL MVP award, becoming the first Chiefs player to ever be named MVP.
The 2019 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 50th in the National Football League (NFL), their 60th overall, their seventh under head coach Andy Reid and third under general manager Brett Veach.
