win vs. Denver (11/23), a contest that also marked the initial live game telecast by the NFL Network. Owning a 7-4 record, Kansas City appeared poised to make a serious run at the postseason, but a three-game losing streak that began with an unlikely 31-28 OT loss at Cleveland (12/3) put those hopes in serious jeopardy. The month of December proved particularly gloomy for the Chiefs as the health of the franchise’s patriarch steadily declined. After originally being diagnosed with prostate cancer in ’98, Hunt quietly and bravely underwent many treatments and surgeries in the ensuing years without complaint. On December 13th, he peacefully passed away in Dallas, surrounded by his family. Memorial services celebrating the life of Hunt were conducted on the SMU campus in Dallas on December 16th and at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Mo., on December 19th. A mourning team would return to the field the following Sunday and capture a 20-9 win at Oakland (12/23) to keep the Chiefs playoff hopes afloat entering the regular season finale vs. Jacksonville (12/31). The Chiefs prevailed by a 35-30 count against the Jaguars as RB Larry Johnson established an NFL record with 416 rushing attempts on the season and broke his own franchise single-season record with 1,789 rushing yards. After Cincinnati and Tennessee lost earlier in the day, the Chiefs officially got their ticket to the postseason punched when San Francisco won an unlikely 26-23 OT decision at Denver (12/31). 2007 — The Chiefs made their first postseason appearance on the road since ’94 in an AFC Wild Card Game at Indianapolis (1/6). Despite enjoying the support of a throng of Kansas City fans who made the trek to the RCA Dome and a valiant first-half performance from the Chiefs defense, Kansas City lost a 23-8 decision. An artist’s rendering for the club’s new office complex and practice facility was unveiled in March, while design work and plans for Arrowhead’s rehabilitation continued. On June 2nd, the club announced that it was partnering with HBO Sports and NFL Films to produce Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs - a five-hour documentary series. On June 6th, QB Trent Green was traded to Miami. Green concluded his successful six-year run with the franchise owning a team-record 87.3 passer rating. The summer months were highlighted by a pair of groundbreaking ceremonies at the Truman Sports Complex. A private, staff-only groundbreaking session for the Chiefs new office and practice headquarters was conducted by Clark Hunt on July 25th. In addition, the Hunt family, Chiefs officials, Senator Kit Bond, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and other county legislators participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the “New Arrowhead” on August 22nd. On the field, Kansas City overcame an 0-2 start to register a 4-3 record at the bye week, securing sole possession of first place in the AFC West standings. That early-season turnaround was highlighted by a 30-16 comeback win at San Diego (9/30). WR Dwayne Bowe set a Chiefs single-game rookie record with 164 receiving yards in that contest, including a 51-yard TD catch. Bowe would shatter the franchise’s single-season rookie receiving records with 70 catches for 995 yards, figures that led all NFL rookies. Meanwhile, TE Tony Gonzalez became the NFL’s all-time TD catch leader among tight ends in a 27-20 win vs. Cincinnati (10/14).
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However, Kansas City could not maintain any of that positive momentum after the bye week. The downward spiral began when RB Larry Johnson suffered a season-ending right foot injury in a 33-22 loss vs. Green Bay (11/4). That setback began a nine-game losing streak to conclude the regular season. Second-year QB Brodie Croyle supplanted QB Damon Huard in the second half the following week vs. Denver (11/11). Croyle enjoyed a solid debut in his initial NFL start in the club’s next contest at Indianapolis (11/18). That game would mark the final chapter in the illustrious career of RB Priest Holmes, who announced his retirement on November 21st. The all-time leading rusher in franchise history with 6,070 yards made a remarkable comeback after missing almost a season-and-a-half of action. He returned to play four games in 2007, including two starts, before eventually hanging up his cleats for good. DE Jared Allen was a defensive bright spot, leading the league with 15.5 sacks. After suffering a thumb injury at Detroit (12/23), Croyle returned for the season finale at the N.Y. Jets (12/30) as Kansas City suffered a 13-10 OT setback. Gonzalez recorded his 820th career reception in the game, the most catches of any tight end in NFL history. Gonzalez earned his ninth straight Pro Bowl berth and finished the year with 1,172 receiving yards. 2008 — Head Coach Herm Edwards named Chan Gailey his offensive coordinator on January 16th. CB Emmitt Thomas was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 2nd and was officially enshrined in Canton on August 3rd. Kansas City and Minnesota orchestrated a major trade on April 23rd as the Chiefs sent Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen and a sixth-round pick to the Vikings. In exchange, Kansas City received a first-round selection, two third-round picks and a sixth-round selection. Upon the team’s return from training camp in August, the club’s football operations moved into the organization’s new practice facility. The rest of the franchise’s administrative staff completed the move from Arrowhead by season’s end. On the field, the Chiefs owned the dubious distinction of becoming just the fourth team since the AFL-NFL merger to start three different quarterbacks in the season’s first three weeks in a non-strike season. TE Tony Gonzalez surpassed TE Shannon Sharpe (10,060) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history at Carolina (10/5). After QBs Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard both suffered season-ending injuries vs. Tennessee (10/19), the club eventually turned to QB Tyler Thigpen for good for the season’s final nine games. The Coastal Carolina product showed flashes of promise and set a then single-season franchise record for QBs with 386 rushing yards. Thigpen outplayed QB Brett Favre, but the Jets signal caller rallied his club as the Chiefs dropped a 28-24 decision at the N.Y. Jets (10/26). That Jets contest marked the first in a series of excruciating losses. Kansas City squandered a 21-point lead in a 30-27 OT loss vs. Tampa Bay (11/2) and lost a 20-19 decision at San Diego (11/9) as a botched PAT and a failed two-point try doomed the club. Thigpen’s lone victory of the season was a 20-13 win at Oakland (11/30), but the losses continued to mount, including a second one-point setback vs. San Diego (12/14) as the Chargers overcame an 18-point deficit, scoring the game’s final 19 points. On December 15th, President/General Manager and CEO Carl Peterson announced his resignation, effective at the end of the season. The Chiefs dropped a 38-31 decision vs. Miami (12/21). Based on wind chill of -12 at kickoff, it was the second-coldest contest in @CHIEFS