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Len Dawson - Pro Football Hall of Fame...

Born June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio, was Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback Len Dawson. He played...

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FOOTBALL NAME | Len Dawson

"Len Dawson - Pro Football Hall of Fame bio"

Last updated 📅 2023-06-20

Born June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio, was Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback Len Dawson. He played college football at Purdue.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame states that Dawson is among the elite in Pro quarterbacks with an 82.56 QB rating over a span of 19 seasons in the NFL.

He was the top pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957's NFL Draft. He served as a backup there and, later, in Cleveland until in 1962, he found his way onto the AFL's Dallas Texans roster. After the move to Kansas City and rebranding the team as the Chiefs, Dawson cemented himself as the starter.

He was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1962 and was selected to play six AFL All-Star games. Dawson also guided the Chiefs to three AFL championships and the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl IV, of which he was named MVP. The Chiefs revered Number 16 may be best remembered for his gritty performance as he led Kansas City to a 23-7 upset over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. In that game, Dawson connected on 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards.

  • HASHTAGS: #June20 #DawsonLen #LenDawson #ClevelandBrowns #KansasCityChiefs #PittsburghSteelers #Jersey16 #ProFootballHallofFame #Football
  • DOB: June 20
  • EVENTDAY: June 20
  • FOOTBALL NAME: Dawson Len, Len Dawson
  • FOOTBALL TEAM: Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • NFL JERSEY: Jersey 16
  • SPORTS: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Football
football name

"Len Dawson and His Rise To A Pro Football Hall of Fame Career"

Len Dawson's professional football career is a testament to perseverance and finding the right fit. This gridiron legend was born in Alliance, Ohio on June 20, 1935.
Drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, Dawson struggled for playing time behind established veterans. Bouncing between the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, his talent remained largely untapped. However, in 1962, a move to the upstart American Football League (AFL) and the Dallas Texans (soon to be the Kansas City Chiefs) proved to be the turning point. ✦ Starting QB Dawson thrived in the AFL, a league known for its wide-open passing game. His calm demeanor and pinpoint accuracy quickly earned him a reputation as one of the league's premier quarterbacks. He not only led the Texans/Chiefs to their first AFL championship in 1962, a double-overtime thriller against the Houston Oilers, but also spearheaded a dominant run for the Chiefs, who would win AFL championships in 1966 and 1969 under his leadership...