Kansas City Chiefs: Ten Best Seasons In Team History

Tenth Best Season in Kansas City Chiefs History – 1990 (11-5; Lost in Wild Card Round)

Looking at the Kansas City Chiefs’ coaching staff in the 1990 season, it’s puzzling how the Chiefs lost in the first round of the playoffs. This was a team led by head coach Marty Schottenheimer, and also had Bill Cowher as a defensive coordinator, and notable assistants such as Bruce Arians, Tony Dungy, and Herm Edwards.

The 1990 KC Chiefs were led on offense by quarterback Steve DeBerg, who actually had himself quite the season. He started all 16 games, threw for 3,444 yards with 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions. It was his best season as a Chief.

Derrick Thomas was in his second year of the NFL, and had 20 sacks in 1990, making him one of the Chiefs’ best players that year. The defense also had guys like Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross, both cornerbacks, which made for a deadly combo in the secondary.

The Chiefs went on to an 11-5 record and earned a Wild Card berth in the playoffs that year. Once again, they failed to make an impact in the postseason, a story that Chiefs fans know all too well, as it seemed to be a theme for the team for 20 plus years.

Kansas City had a 16-3 lead in the Wild Card game against the Dolphins, but blew their 13 point lead. A long run by Christian Okoye was called back due to holding, and Nick Lowery (one of the best kickers in Chiefs history), missed a long field goal to try and take the lead late in the game.

The Chiefs had an early exit from the playoffs yet again, but the 1990 season still will go down as one of the most memorable in franchise history.

Next: Taking it back even further