LIST OF CHIEFS QUARTERBACKS BY YEAR SINCE 1980

LIST OF CHIEFS QUARTERBACKS BY YEAR SINCE 1980: Everything You Need to Know

list of chiefs quarterbacks by year since 1980 is a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the rich history of the Kansas City Chiefs' quarterbacks. With a legacy spanning over four decades, the Chiefs have had their fair share of talented signal-callers. In this article, we'll take you through a detailed list of the Chiefs' quarterbacks since 1980, highlighting their achievements, and providing valuable insights into the team's history.

Early Years: 1980-1993

The 1980s was a tumultuous time for the Chiefs, with the team experiencing a mix of ups and downs. One constant, however, was the presence of great quarterbacks. Here are some of the notable Chiefs quarterbacks from this era:

Len Dawson (1980): A legendary quarterback who won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 1970, Dawson returned to the team in 1980 and led them to a 8-8 record.
Steve DeBerg (1982-1983): DeBerg had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for two seasons and throwing for over 2,000 yards.
Steve Fuller (1984): A former running back, Fuller attempted to make a transition to quarterback, playing for the Chiefs in 1984.

The 1990s saw the emergence of some talented quarterbacks, including:

Mark Vlasic (1991): Vlasic had a promising start with the Chiefs, throwing for over 1,500 yards in his rookie season.
Darren Mack (1992): A backup quarterback, Mack played for the Chiefs for two seasons, appearing in 13 games.
Steve Bono (1993): Bono played for the Chiefs for two seasons, throwing for over 2,000 yards.

The Emergence of a Star: 1994-1999

The mid-1990s marked the beginning of the Chiefs' resurgence, thanks in large part to the arrival of a talented young quarterback. Here are some of the notable Chiefs quarterbacks from this era:

Joe Montana (1993-1994): A legendary quarterback, Montana joined the Chiefs in 1993 and led them to a 13-3 record in 1993.
Steve Bono (1994): Bono continued to play for the Chiefs, throwing for over 2,500 yards in 1994.
Warren Moon (1999): A veteran quarterback, Moon joined the Chiefs in 1999 and led them to a 7-9 record.

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During this period, the Chiefs also experimented with some other quarterbacks, including:

Mike Livingston (1995): A backup quarterback, Livingston played for the Chiefs for three seasons.
Steve Pelluer (1996): Pelluer had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for one season.

The Trent Green Era: 2000-2006

The early 2000s saw the emergence of a new star quarterback for the Chiefs. Here are some of the notable Chiefs quarterbacks from this era:

Trent Green (2001-2006): A talented quarterback, Green led the Chiefs to a 9-7 record in 2003 and threw for over 4,000 yards in 2004.
Doug Pederson (2004-2005): Pederson had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for two seasons.
Larry Johnson (2005): Johnson, a running back, also attempted to play quarterback for the Chiefs.

During this period, the Chiefs also had some other notable quarterbacks, including:

John St. Clair (2003): St. Clair played for the Chiefs for two seasons, appearing in 14 games.
Brodie Croyle (2006): Croyle had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for one season.

The Matt Cassel Era: 2009-2012

The late 2000s and early 2010s saw the emergence of a new quarterback for the Chiefs. Here are some of the notable Chiefs quarterbacks from this era:

Matt Cassel (2009-2012): A talented quarterback, Cassel led the Chiefs to a 10-6 record in 2010 and threw for over 3,500 yards in 2011.
Chase Daniel (2011): Daniel had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for one season.
Brady Quinn (2012): Quinn played for the Chiefs for one season, appearing in 11 games.

During this period, the Chiefs also experimented with some other quarterbacks, including:

Tyrod Taylor (2010): Taylor had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for one season.
Tom Brady (2010): Yes, you read that right! Tom Brady played for the Chiefs for one game in 2010.

The Alex Smith Era: 2013-2017

The mid-2010s saw the emergence of a new quarterback for the Chiefs. Here are some of the notable Chiefs quarterbacks from this era:

Alex Smith (2013-2017): A talented quarterback, Smith led the Chiefs to a 11-5 record in 2016 and threw for over 4,000 yards in 2017.
Nick Foles (2014): Foles played for the Chiefs for one season, appearing in 10 games.
Chase Daniel (2014-2016): Daniel continued to play for the Chiefs, appearing in 13 games.

During this period, the Chiefs also experimented with some other quarterbacks, including:

Patrick Mahomes (2017): Mahomes had a brief stint with the Chiefs, playing for one season before becoming the team's starter.

The Patrick Mahomes Era: 2018-Present

The late 2010s and early 2020s have seen the emergence of a new star quarterback for the Chiefs. Here are some of the notable Chiefs quarterbacks from this era:

Patrick Mahomes (2018-Present): A talented quarterback, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 12-4 record in 2018 and threw for over 5,000 yards in 2018.
Chad Henne (2020): Henne played for the Chiefs for one season, appearing in 12 games.

Here's a table comparing the Chiefs' quarterbacks by year since 1980:

Year	Quarterback	Games Played	Passing Yards	Touchdowns
1980	Len Dawson	12	2,463	11
1982	Steve DeBerg	14	2,535	15
1993	Joe Montana	16	3,670	28
2001	Trent Green	16	3,136	24
2013	Alex Smith	14	3,302	7
2018	Patrick Mahomes	16	5,097	50

By following this comprehensive guide, you'll have a better understanding of the Chiefs' quarterbacks by year since 1980. Whether you're a die-hard Chiefs fan or just a casual observer, this list will give you valuable insights into the team's history and the talented signal-callers who have led them over the years.

list of chiefs quarterbacks by year since 1980 serves as a fascinating case study in the evolution of NFL quarterback play. From the early days of Len Dawson to the modern era of Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs have had their fair share of talented signal-callers. In this article, we'll take a closer look at each Chiefs quarterback since 1980, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, and comparing their performances.

Early Years: 1980-1989

The 1980s were a tumultuous time for the Chiefs, with the team struggling to find consistency at quarterback. Len Dawson, a Hall of Famer, was the team's starter from 1980 to 1984, but his play began to decline with age.

His successor, Bill Kenney, showed flashes of brilliance but was ultimately unable to lead the team to the playoffs.

Despite the struggles, there were some bright spots, including the arrival of Steve DeBerg in 1988. DeBerg, a journeyman quarterback, would go on to have a successful career with the Chiefs, but his time with the team was marked by inconsistency.

The Steve DeBerg Era: 1990-1991

DeBerg's tenure with the Chiefs was marked by ups and downs. On the one hand, he led the team to a 9-7 record in 1990 and a playoff appearance. On the other hand, his play was often erratic, and he struggled to develop chemistry with his receivers.

DeBerg's pro's included his ability to extend plays with his feet and his strong arm. However, his con's included his tendency to turn the ball over and his lack of pocket presence.

In 1991, DeBerg's play began to decline, and he was eventually replaced by Dave Krieg, a veteran quarterback who would go on to have a successful stint with the team.

The Dave Krieg Era: 1992-1993

Krieg's arrival marked a turning point for the Chiefs, who would go on to win 11 games in 1992 and make a deep playoff run. Krieg's strengths included his experience, leadership, and ability to read defenses.

However, his play was not without its flaws. Krieg struggled with accuracy and decision-making, and his tendency to hold onto the ball too long led to sacks and turnovers.

Despite these issues, Krieg's time with the Chiefs was marked by a sense of stability and continuity, which was a welcome change for a team that had struggled with quarterback play for years.

The Elvis Grbac Era: 1997-2000

Elvis Grbac's arrival in 1997 marked a new era for the Chiefs, who would go on to win 13 games in 1999 and make a Super Bowl appearance. Grbac's strengths included his strong arm, accuracy, and ability to read defenses.

However, his play was not without its flaws. Grbac struggled with consistency and decision-making, and his tendency to hold onto the ball too long led to sacks and turnovers.

Despite these issues, Grbac's time with the Chiefs was marked by a sense of excitement and energy, which was a welcome change for a team that had struggled with quarterback play for years.

The Trent Green Era: 2001-2006

Trent Green's arrival in 2001 marked a new era for the Chiefs, who would go on to win 9 games in 2002 and make a deep playoff run. Green's strengths included his accuracy, decision-making, and ability to read defenses.

However, his play was not without its flaws. Green struggled with consistency and durability, and his tendency to hold onto the ball too long led to sacks and turnovers.

Despite these issues, Green's time with the Chiefs was marked by a sense of stability and continuity, which was a welcome change for a team that had struggled with quarterback play for years.

The Matt Cassel Era: 2009-2012

Matt Cassel's arrival in 2009 marked a new era for the Chiefs, who would go on to win 10 games in 2010 and make a deep playoff run. Cassel's strengths included his accuracy, decision-making, and ability to read defenses.

However, his play was not without its flaws. Cassel struggled with consistency and durability, and his tendency to hold onto the ball too long led to sacks and turnovers.

Despite these issues, Cassel's time with the Chiefs was marked by a sense of excitement and energy, which was a welcome change for a team that had struggled with quarterback play for years.

The Alex Smith Era: 2013-2017

Alex Smith's arrival in 2013 marked a new era for the Chiefs, who would go on to win 11 games in 2013 and make a deep playoff run. Smith's strengths included his accuracy, decision-making, and ability to read defenses.

However, his play was not without its flaws. Smith struggled with consistency and durability, and his tendency to hold onto the ball too long led to sacks and turnovers.

Despite these issues, Smith's time with the Chiefs was marked by a sense of stability and continuity, which was a welcome change for a team that had struggled with quarterback play for years.

The Patrick Mahomes Era: 2018-Present

Patrick Mahomes' arrival in 2018 marked a new era for the Chiefs, who would go on to win 12 games in 2018 and make a deep playoff run. Mahomes' strengths include his incredible athleticism, arm talent, and ability to extend plays with his feet.

His play is not without its flaws, however. Mahomes has struggled with consistency and decision-making, particularly in big games.

Despite these issues, Mahomes' time with the Chiefs has been marked by a sense of excitement and energy, which is a welcome change for a team that had struggled with quarterback play for years.

Comparing the Chiefs Quarterbacks

Quarterback	Years	Wins	Losses	TD/INT Ratio	Passer Rating
Len Dawson	1980-1984	32	40	1.1	73.1
Bill Kenney	1985-1988	23	39	0.8	65.4
Steve DeBerg	1988-1991	22	36	1.2	72.5
Dave Krieg	1992-1993	16	12	1.3	76.2
Elvis Grbac	1997-2000	25	33	1.1	72.9
Trent Green	2001-2006	45	33	1.4	84.1
Matt Cassel	2009-2012	24	32	1.1	74.4
Alex Smith	2013-2017	43	31	1.3	81.4
Patrick Mahomes	2018-Present	38	10	6.5	108.2

Conclusion

The list of Chiefs quarterbacks since 1980 is a long and varied one, filled with talented signal-callers who have left their mark on the franchise. From Len Dawson to Patrick Mahomes, each quarterback has brought their own unique strengths and weaknesses to the table, shaping the team's identity and performance in the process.

As we look to the future, it's clear that the Chiefs are in a good place at quarterback, with Mahomes leading the charge. But as we reflect on the past, it's also clear that the team's success is not solely dependent on the quarterback. A strong supporting cast, a solid defense, and a bit of luck have all played a role in the Chiefs' success over the years.