Len Dawson Biography

Len Dawson, born June 20, 1935, played American football as a quarterback in the NFL and AFL for 19 seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs. After college at Purdue, Dawson began his NFL career in 1957 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and later played for the Cleveland Browns. He joined the AFL's Chiefs in 1962 and spent 14 seasons with the team before the AFL–NFL merger. Dawson led the Chiefs to three AFL championships and the franchise's first Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl IV, earning MVP honors. As a high school athlete, he set records in football and basketball and became the first to earn first-team all-state honors in both sports in 13 years. In 1954, his sophomore year at Purdue, he led the NCAA in pass efficiency while also playing defense and serving as kicker. During his three seasons with Purdue from 1954 to 1956, he threw for 3,325 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Big Ten in passing each year.