Kansas City Chiefs: Franchise quarterback woes evident in all-time records
Patrick Mahomes has a chance to break a record for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and the record itself has stood for over 50 years. That shows the level of quarterback woes the Chiefs organization has had.
This Sunday the Kansas City Chiefs host the Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium and there’s a chance for 54-year franchise record to finally be broken. The record I’m referring to is the all-time passing touchdown record by a Chiefs quarterback.
As of now, that record still is held by Len Dawson, who threw for 30 touchdowns in the 1964 season. The record has stood to this very day, but there’s a very slim chance that it continues to live on.
Even if Mahomes, who has 29 passing touchdowns on the year so far, doesn’t throw for a touchdown on Sunday, he still has over a month of regular season action to try and break Dawson’s accomplishment from over five decades ago.
When looking at this piece of history, it’s very baffling just how long it has stood. Dawson threw for 30 touchdowns back in 1964 and the game of football was much different then (or so I can imagine). Quarterbacks didn’t throw the ball nearly as much and that’s a HUGE part of today’s game.
With the 54-year record sticking to this day, it really shows how less than stellar the Chiefs quarterbacks have been over the years. Look, don’t get it twisted, throwing for 30 touchdowns in a single season is tough. There have been 113 quarterbacks (some of those are duplicates) who have thrown for 30 or more in the NFL’s existence, so it’s not like it’s an easy accomplishment.
There’s only one Chief on that list of 113 quarterbacks, however, and that’s Len Dawson. Patrick Mahomes (assuming something awful doesn’t happen – Knock on wood please) should be joining that prestigious club in the coming days/weeks.
Here’s the list of the Chiefs who came the closest to breaking Dawson’s 30 touchdown season:
Elvis Grbac – 28 (2000)
Matt Cassel – 27 (2010)
Trent Green – 27 (2004)
Alex Smith – 26 (2017)
While that list does include two of the better Chiefs quarterbacks in franchise history, there are two others that aren’t highly thought of by fans. The fact that before Mahomes, Elvis Grbac had the most passing touchdowns in a single season is proof enough that this team hasn’t done a great job at finding quarterbacks.
If/when Mahomes breaks this record, it’ll really make Chiefs Kingdom buy into him as the savior of the franchise. This team hadn’t drafted a quarterback in the first round for over 30 years and always relied on castoffs from other teams (mainly the 49ers) to take the snaps.
There’s been a ton of pressure on Mahomes, but the kid hasn’t batted an eye. He’s been incredible and Chiefs Kingdom is lucky to have him. Let’s break this record on Sunday!