Top 5 Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks of All Time

I am a former sports editor and currently serve as a historian with the Society of American Baseball Research and manage a valet operation.

Who Are the Best Chiefs Quarterbacks of All Time?

Throughout their history, the Chiefs have had a rich tradition at the quarterback position, and some of that history continues to be made as Kansas City employs one of the best QBs in the current NFL landscape. From one of the most accurate passers of the 1960s to several strong starters who helped the Chiefs make the playoffs 15 times between 1986 to 2017 to Patrick Mahomes’ back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2019 and ‘20, Kansas City has been home to several prominent quarterbacks. In this article, I’ll count down the best of the bunch.

Selection Criteria

This is a list of the top five quarterbacks in the history of the Chiefs, as well as two honorable mentions. Also included are some quarterback trivia, franchise records, and a list of all quarterbacks to start at least one game for the team. The criteria used to develop this list include:

• Single-Season Honors (MVP, All-Pro, Pro Bowl, league leader, etc.)
• On-Field Success (winning percentage, winning seasons, playoff appearances, etc.)
• Longevity (years with the Chiefs, percentage of career with the team, etc.)

Only games played with the Chiefs are factored into this list, so while Warren Moon is a prime candidate for a list about the Houston Oilers, his single start with the Chiefs in 2000 won't make the cut here.

5. Trent Green (2001–06)

• Playoff Appearances: 2003 and ‘06
• Pro Bowl: 2003 and ‘05

The Chiefs gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire Trent Green, and they were rewarded with two playoff berths in his six productive seasons. Green didn’t miss a start over his first five seasons in Kansas City, and that streak was only broken after he suffered a severe concussion in Week 1 of the 2006 season. He returned to action in Week 10 and went 4–3 down the stretch to get the Chiefs into the postseason. Green is second all-time in Chiefs history after completing 1,720 of 2,777 passes for 21,459 yards and 118 touchdowns, but he was unable to secure a playoff win for Kansas City. As a starter, he posted a record of 48–40.

Trent Green: Chiefs Statistics

4. Joe Montana (1993–94)

• Playoff Appearances: 1993–94
• Pro Bowl: 1994
• Legacy Honors: Hall of Fame (2000)

Joe Montana didn’t spend that much time with the Chiefs, but he was wildly successful while in Kansas City. Montana was acquired in a trade with the 49ers prior to the 1993 season, and that trade was influential in the free-agent acquisition of running back Marcus Allen that same year. The transformed offense led the Chiefs to their first division championship since 1971, and they advanced to the AFC Championship game. Montana led Kansas City back into the playoffs in 1994—the team’s fifth straight postseason appearance—but the Chiefs were ousted in the opening round and he retired after the season. Montana missed seven games over his two seasons, but he completed 480 of 791 passes for 5,427 yards and 29 touchdowns in his brief stay (which included a 17–8 record as a starter).

Joe Montana: Chiefs Statistics

3. Alex Smith (2013–17)

• Playoff Appearances: 2013 and 2015–17
• Pro Bowl: 2013 and 2016–17

After several strong seasons with the 49ers, Alex Smith was traded to the Chiefs for a second-round draft pick and promptly pushed Kansas City to the playoffs in four of five seasons. That included a victory in the Wild Card round of the 2015 postseason—the first playoff win for the Chiefs since 1993. Kansas City returned to the postseason for the next two seasons, but they took narrow losses in the first round despite decent efforts from Smith. In the 2016 season-opener, he helped the Chiefs overcome a 21-point deficit against the Chargers by throwing two second-half touchdowns and rushing for the game-winning score in overtime in what was then the largest comeback victory in franchise history. He missed just four starts during his time with the Chiefs, and he ranks in the top five all-time for Kansas City with 17,608 yards and 102 touchdowns on 1,857-of-2,436 passing. His record as a starter was 50–26.

Alex Smith: Chiefs Statistics

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2. Patrick Mahomes (2017–present)

• Playoff Appearances: 2018–20
• All-Pro: 2018
• Pro Bowl: 2018–20
• Major Awards: MVP (2018) and Bert Bell Award (2018)

As the future face of the NFL, Patrick Mahomes was given a 10-year, $477 million contract prior to the 2020 season to keep the young star in Kansas City. That came after an MVP win in 2018 and a Super Bowl championship the following season, which was the first title for Kansas City in 50 years. During his MVP campaign, Mahomes became the second quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season (after Peyton Manning). He’s led the Chiefs into the playoffs in three straight seasons and has a 6–2 record and 17 touchdown passes in the postseason. He was brilliant during the 2019 postseason, throwing five touchdowns in the opening round and claiming Super Bowl MVP honors after firing two TDs in a 31–20 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Mahomes suffered the first double-digit loss of his professional career in Super Bowl LI, a 31–9 loss to the Buccaneers. Thus far in his career, Mahomes has completed 1,114 of 1,687 passes for 14,152 yards and 114 touchdowns. He’s thrown just 24 interceptions, a rate of 1.4%, and posted a 38–8 record.

Patrick Mahomes: Chiefs Statistics

1. Len Dawson (1962–75)

• Playoff Appearances: 1962, ‘66, 1968–69, and ‘71
• All-Pro: 1962 and ‘66
• Pro Bowl: 1962, ‘64, 1966–69, and ‘71
• Major Awards: AFL MVP (1962), NFL Man of the Year (1973), Super Bowl IV MVP
• Legacy Honors: Hall of Fame (1987) and Chiefs No. 16 Retired

Len Dawson was the first legend in Chiefs history, and he’s still remembered as the best quarterback in franchise history. He led the NFL in completion percentage in seven of his eight seasons with the franchise (Dawson’s first season came in 1962 with the Dallas Texans, who became the Chiefs in 1963). Dawson helped the Texans win the AFL championship in 1962, and he later led the Chiefs to a championship in Super Bowl IV. On the way to his Super Bowl title, Dawson had missed several games of the regular season after suffering a knee injury in Week 2. He went 3–2 down the stretch and then helped the Chiefs upset the favored Vikings to finish off a perfect postseason run in the final game that featured an AFL team. Earlier in his career, he was the losing quarterback in Super Bowl I.

His career-high 30 touchdowns in 1964 stood as a single-season record for the Chiefs until 2018. Dawson is the franchise’s career leader in every major passing category after completing 2,115 of 3,696 passes for 28,507 yards and 237 touchdowns. His 93 career victories are almost double the total of any other Kansas City quarterback, and as a starter, he went 93-56-8 for the franchise.

Len Dawson: Chiefs Statistics

Who Is the Best Chiefs Quarterback in History?

For the time being, Hall of Famer Len Dawson is the best quarterback in Chiefs history, but as long as Patrick Mahomes continues to produce as he has throughout the early portion of his career, he’ll undeniably become the top quarterback in franchise history. Mahomes has already established a base with two Super Bowl appearances in three seasons as a starter, and with his contract in hand, it’s only a matter of time before his accomplishments surpass Dawson’s.

Honorable Mentions

While I have listed the greatest quarterbacks in Chiefs history above, I’ve listed a couple more players worth mentioning below.

Bill Kenney (1980–88)

Bill Kenney was a reliable quarterback for the Chiefs for nine seasons, notably breaking out in 1983 and helping Kansas City into the 1986 postseason. In the only season he started 16 games, Kenney made the 1983 Pro Bowl and posted career highs after completing 346 of 603 passes (which both led the NFL) for 4,348 yards and 24 touchdowns. His completion and yardage totals stood as team records until 2004, while his 603 attempts still hold the top spot for a single-season mark. In his career, Kenney completed 1,330 of 2,430 passes for 17,277 yards and 105 touchdowns, and he compiled a 34–43 record as a starter.

Steve Deberg (1988–91)

Steve Deberg led the Chiefs to back-to-back postseason appearances in 1990 and ‘91, but he only won one playoff game. He enjoyed his best season with Kansas City in 1990, when he threw for 3,444 yards and a career-high 23 touchdowns while leading the NFL with a 0.9% interception rate. During his four seasons, Deberg completed 934 of 1,616 passes for 11,873 yards and 67 touchdowns, and he posted a 31-20-1 record as a starter.

FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about Chiefs quarterbacks, as well as trivia and records about the team’s quarterbacks.

How Many Starting Quarterbacks Have the Chiefs Had?

In total, the Chiefs have used 39 starting quarterbacks throughout their 61-year history. Eight of those starters never won a game, including Brodie Croyle, who was 0–10 in occasional appearances from 2007 to ‘10. Hunter Enis (2–0 in 1960) and Nick Foles (1–0 in 2016) are the only undefeated Chiefs quarterbacks, while Eddie Wilson played to a 24–24 tie against the Boston Patriots on November 17, 1963, in his only start for Kansas City.

Who Is the Current Starting Quarterback for the Chiefs?

Patrick Mahomes is the starting quarterback for the Chiefs. He has led the team to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, and his backup is Chad Henne.

Who Was the First Quarterback for the Chiefs?

Before moving to Kansas City, the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans from 1960-62. Cotton Davidson was the starting quarterback in the franchise's first game. Once in Kansas City, the first quarterback was Len Dawson.

How Many Quarterbacks Have the Chiefs Drafted in the First Round?

The Chiefs have selected four quarterbacks in the first round of the NFL Draft, and it’s not likely they will draft another for many years.

• 2017: Patrick Mahomes (10th overall)
• 1983: Todd Blackledge (7th overall)
• 1979: Steve Fuller (23rd overall)
• 1964: Pete Beathard (2nd overall)

Chiefs Quarterback Records

Below are Chiefs franchise records among quarterbacks.

• Career Yards: 28,507, Len Dawson (1962–75)
• Single-Season Yards: 5,097, Patrick Mahomes (2018)
• Single-Game Yards: 504, Elvis Grbac (Nov. 5, 2000)
• Career Touchdowns: 237, Dawson (1962–75)
• Single-Season Touchdowns: 50, Mahomes (2018)
• Single-Game Touchdowns: 6, Len Dawson (Nov. 1, 1964), and Mahomes (Sept. 16, 2018, and Nov. 19, 2018)
• Career Completion Percentage: 66.0%, Mahomes (2017–20)
• Single-Season Completion Percentage: 67.5%, Alex Smith (2017)
• Single-Game Completion Percentage: 86.4%, Smith (Oct. 16, 2016)

Chiefs Starting Quarterback History

© 2021 Andrew Harner