the first Chiefs player to be inducted into the Pro Football 1985 — The Chiefs got off to a flying start with a 47-27 Hall of Fame on July 30th, providing some solace to the win at New Orleans (9/8), while Cherry tied an NFL record by registering four interceptions in a 28-7 win vs. Seattle franchise which was still mourning the death of RB Joe (9/29) as the club boasted a 3-1 record four games into Delaney. the season. The club was then confronted with a sevenWith Kenney and Blackledge both on the roster, game losing streak that was not snapped until Blackledge QB Steve Fuller was traded to the L.A. Rams on August was installed as the starter vs. Indianapolis (11/24). The 19th. Kenney earned a Pro Bowl berth after racking team rebounded to win three of its final five contests up a franchise-record 4,348 passing yards, while WR of the season with Blackledge under center, further Carlos Carson hauled inflaming a quarterback in 80 passes for 1,351 controversy that continued yards. Despite the JOE DELANEY into the ’86 campaign. One team’s high-flying aerial (1958-1983) of the few remaining bright game, Mackovic had Tragedy struck the club on spots in a disappointing 6-10 trouble finding a suitable June 29, 1983 when Delaney season came in the regular replacement for Delaney drowned trying to save the lives season finale vs. San Diego on the ground. The of three youngsters in Monroe, (12/22) when WR Stephone highest scoring contest Louisiana. An overflow crowd Paige set an NFL record in franchise history took with 309 receiving yards in place as the Chiefs and that included the Hunt family, a 38-34 win, breaking the Seahawks combined prominent members of the previous mark of 303 yards for 99 points in a wild, Chiefs administration and set by Jim Benton (Cleveland) 51-48 OT loss at Seattle head coach John Mackovic in ’45. Paige’s mark was (11/27). A meager crowd attended a memorial service held in Delaney’s high school subsequently surpassed by a of 11,377 attended the gymnasium in Haughton, Louisiana on July 4th. Delaney 336-yard effort by WR Willie club’s season-ending 48-17 was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen’s Anderson (L.A. Rams) in ’89. win vs. Denver (12/18), Medal by Ronald Reagan on July 13th. the smallest attendance 1986 — LB Willie Lanier was ever for a Chiefs game at enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August Arrowhead as the club finished at 6-10. 2nd. On the field, the pieces started coming together for 1984 — Wayne Rudy, the only head trainer the team Mackovic. His offense displayed plenty of scoring punch, had ever known, retired and passed the reins to his while the club’s defense and special teams became assistant Dave Kendall in February. Pro Bowl S Gary increasingly effective. With the team sitting at 3-3, Kenney Barbaro became the most notable Chiefs player to replaced Blackledge for the second half vs. San Diego defect to the rival USFL, signing with the New Jersey (10/19), guiding the club to a 42-41 victory. That win was Generals on February 2nd after sitting out the entire the first of four consecutive triumphs with Kenney at the helm, the club’s longest winning streak since ’80. Poised ’83 campaign in a contract dispute. All-America NT Bill with a 7-3 record after 10 games, three straight losses in Maas (Pitt) and T John Alt (Iowa) were both tabbed in the November put the Chiefs playoff chances in jeopardy. Two first round of the draft. Maas was named NFL Defensive December wins gave Kansas City a 9-6 mark, putting the Rookie of the Year, while Alt eventually became the Chiefs tantalizingly close to their first postseason berth cornerstone of the club’s offensive line later in the in 15 years. decade. Kansas City’s defense registered a team-record The defining moment of the ’86 campaign came in 11.0 sacks in a 10-6 win vs. Cleveland (9/30), coming the regular season finale at Pittsburgh (12/21). Despite 1.0 sack shy of the NFL single-game record. Kenney being outgained in total yardage by a 515-to-171-yard suffered a broken thumb during the preseason and was margin, the Chiefs were able to notch a 24-19 victory sidelined until the season’s seventh week. Blackledge as all of the team’s points came via special teams on a opened the first six contests of the season and had the blocked punt return, a FG, a kickoff return and a blocked club at 3-3. Kenney FG return. With a 10-6 record the Chiefs earned an AFC returned to the starting Wild Card berth, winning a tiebreaker with Seattle. Kenney lineup at the N.Y. Jets was injured in the fourth quarter of the Steelers contest, (10/21), but the club meaning Blackledge would draw the starting assignment dropped four of its first for the club’s first playoff contest since ’71, a 35-15 loss five contests after his at the N.Y. Jets (12/28). Little did anyone know at the time return. However, the that it would be the final contest of the Mackovic era. team rattled off three consecutive wins to 1987 — One of the most tumultuous weeks in franchise conclude the year at history took place following the club’s playoff loss vs. 8-8. the Jets. Assistant head coach and special teams coach Frank Gansz, who had been an integral figure in the club’s remarkable ’86 campaign, resigned his position on January 7th in order to pursue THE INTERCEPTORS opportunities as an NFL offensive coordinator. S Gary Barbaro’s departure and the trade of Pro Bowl CB It was announced in an impromptu press Gary Green in ’84 began a youth movement that produced conference that Mackovic was relieved of his the most vaunted secondary in team history. CB Kevin duties on January 8th. A popular figure among Ross (#31), S Deron Cherry (#20), CB Albert Lewis (#29) Chiefs players, Gansz was reinstated on and S Lloyd Burruss (#34) accounted for a combined 13 January 10th and was named the sixth head Pro Bowl appearances with the Chiefs. coach in franchise history.
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