Looking Back:
The 1970 vs 2023 Chiefs
Recently a friend sent me a detailed e-mail. He compared the old Chiefs with the new. I think he made a good point, so I wanted to share it. I agree, our 2023 Chiefs have a different vibe (as the kids say today) than the old 1970 Chiefs did. Don’t get me wrong, I am OK having the dynamic dual, ‘Mahomes and Kelce’ dual ‘out-front’. They seem to be good men and, of course, outstanding football players. But, again a different vibe. I have always been for the unsung heroes. The guys that are very important, but get little attention and even less praise. Oh sure, they get a pat on the back now and then, but the cameras constantly find their way to the stars. The ‘non-skilled’ players, as they are often called, are usually shown only after they get a foul called on them. Here is my friend’s e-mail. His name is Ron.
“My son and I were discussing the Super Bowl, and I told him the Chiefs today aren't nearly as good as the 1970 Chiefs, at least in my mind they aren't. I thought you might get a kick out of the e-mail I sent to him to show what I was talking about...
When the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 1970, I was a Sophomore at Clinton High School. Everyone in the KC area could name every starter on offense and defense. They all were the best at their positions (at least we thought so). It wasn't just Mahomes, Kelce and those other guys. We knew their names. To include:
Defensive Line- Buck Buchanan, Curley Culp, Aaron Brown, Jerry Mays. Linebackers- Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Jim Lynch. Def. Backfield- Johnny Robinson, Emmet Thomas. RB- Mike Garrett. Receivers- Otis Taylor, Gloster Richardson, Frank Pitts. TE- Fred Arbanas, Morris Stroud. Offensive Line- Ed Budde, Jim Tyrer, E.J. Holub, Mo Moorman, Jack Rudnay (center). Punter- Jerrell Wilson, Kicker- Jan Stenerud, and of course QB Len Dawson. Head Coach Hank Stram and Owner Lamar Hunt (He invented and named the Super Bowl).
You get the picture. The entire team was extremely well known and loved by the fans. In fact, Len Dawson was probably one of the more pedestrian players on the team. Everyone else was very, very good, and everyone knew it. Together, the entire team was a powerhouse of all stars. Very different from today's Chiefs.”
Well, do you agree with my friends point? Did you know that eight Chiefs from that team are in the NFL Hall of Fame. I guess, on the new Chiefs, I am getting to know Chris Jones and maybe a few more, but the credit and spotlight does seem to be more than a little one-sided. It is common for old timers (like me and my friend) to think the old teams were better, but I am not talking ‘better’ so much as ‘well known’. So, here are a few names from the Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl starters, other than M and K. How many will we remember 10 years from now? (Isiah Pacheco, Michael Burton, JuJu Smith-Schuster. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Orlando Brown Jr., Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, Andrew Wylie, Mike Danna, Derrick Nnadi, Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Nick Bolton, Willie Gay Jr., Leo Chenal, L’Jarius Sneed, Trent McDuffie, Juan Thornhill, Justin Reid, James Winchester, Tommy Townsend, Harrison Butker, and Kadarius Toney.)
Part of it is the length of time players stay put in modern times. Players like, Otis Tayler, Johnny Robinson, Ed Budde, Bobby Bell, Jan Stenerud, Len Dawson, etc. all stayed long enough to get to know them. Heck, Ed Budde played 14 years with the Chiefs, then, get this, his son, Brad also played for the Chiefs. They were both #1 draft picks by the Chiefs. Talk about getting to know a family. In the modern era free agency and ‘cap space’ rules the day. How long do you think Nick Bolton, our MU grad, will stay with us? You probably know Ju Ju Smith-Schuster has gone to the Patriots after being a Chief for one year. I doubt he will make the ‘Ring of Honor’ or ’Hall of Honor’. Go Chiefs, Old and New. Until next time.
