The Kansas Chiefs have a rich history of impressive players, including some of the most iconic quarterbacks of all time. It's a tradition for the team to invest in some of the best new quarterback talent that the NCAA has to offer. Because of this, it can be difficult to rank the best Chiefs quarterbacks of all time.
So who are some of the best around? If you're wondering about this, then you've come to the right place! We're going to be turning back the clock and taking a look at some of the best quarterbacks ever to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. From the 1960s to current favorites for the playoffs, we're going to give you a brief profile of each so that you can learn more about the history of the team!
The Best Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks
Throughout their storied history, the Kansas City Chiefs have had 55 different quarterbacks. This includes 38 starters and 19 quarterbacks starting 10 games plus. Because of the wealth of talent that has passed through the team since the 1960s, it can be difficult to pick the absolute best.
However, our list is composed of some of the most iconic and impressive quarterbacks we could find. There might be others we missed out on, but these are some of the most talked about and celebrated across time.
1. Len Dawson
Len Dawson played for the Kansas City Chiefs from the years of 1962 to 1975. He was without a doubt one of the most iconic quarterbacks of all time, as seen in later years with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He left behind one of the most impressive legacies in Kansas City Chiefs history, where he led the chiefs to win the 4th Super Bowl in 1970.
Some of the most notable stats for Len Dawson include 30 touchdowns over the course of a season (1964) and a total of 93 victories over the course of his career. To put this in perspective, that's over twice as many as any other quarterback in the Kansas City Chiefs. That said—it is important to mention that the landscape of football was much different back in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
2. Joe Montana
Joe Montana is one of the most legendary quarterbacks of all time, mainly for his impressive comeback and performances in the 49ers. That said, it was his time playing for the Chiefs in 1993 that showed how influential he could be on a team. The team's offense created a new dynamic for the team, allowing Montana to lead the team back into the playoffs in 1994.
Joe Montana had a star-studded career and the Chiefs were another, but he did great things while he was around. All in all, he competed with the team for two seasons, completing 480 of 791 passes and 29 touchdowns across his time.
3. Trent Green
Next up we have Trent Green, who made notable playoff appearances between 2003 and 2006. Trent Green was a good pick over the course of the early 2000s, becoming a productive member of the team who had an impressive 5-season streak where he didn't miss a start.
Although his playoff resume isn't as impressive as some of the other names on this list, his overall stats are some of the most consistent, with 1720 of 2777 passes completed and 118 touchdowns.
4. Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a quarterback who made his most notable appearances for the Chiefs between the years 2013 and 2017. He was traded to the team after some impressive seasons with the 49ers. Alex Smith was a strong quarterback through four distinct playoff runs, including their first playoff victory since 1993 (in 2015) and their first consecutive division title.
After struggling with injury for many years, Alex Smith was eventually awarded the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, which was also awarded to Joe Montana during his injury-riddled career.
5. Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is a much newer addition to our list, but a very important figure who is looking very likely to stand the test of time and influence NFL money lines for years to come. He's been active since 2017, making playoff appearances between 2018 and the present.
His most notable achievement was back in 2018 when he was awarded the MVP and Bert Bell Award. With an intimidating contract signed with the team, and then one of the most impressive Super Bowl wins in recent years, Mahomes is one of the most impressive quarterbacks around right now.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! That was a short exploration of some of the best Kansas City Chief Quarterbacks of all time, from Len Dawson up to current superstar Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs have had some of the most iconic quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and there will likely be many more in the future.
We hope that our article has helped you get a better understanding of the wealth of player talent that the Chiefs have had over time. Here's to many more years of picking impressive quarterbacks!
