Chiefs Quarterback History: Top QBs Through the Years

Kansas’ Finest

Born as the Dallas Texans back in 1960, the Kansas City Chiefs have been a model franchise in both the American and National Football Leagues. They haven’t always won, even stunk over a period of seasons, but few rivals would not trade places with the overall success of the team that entered the 2024 NFL season as two-time defending champions.

There’s not a conversation about the team that doesn’t include the Chiefs quarterback history. It’s no secret that to win a title, a team has to be strong at quarterback. Defenses may win titles, but a team has to score.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been at or near the top in scoring and total offense over the past number of seasons. That’s not news when looking at the history of the franchise and BetUS sportsbook Super Bowl odds.    

Who Are the Most Notable Quarterbacks in Kansas City Chiefs History?

Throughout their more than six decades as a franchise, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback history is elite, featuring passers who thrived on accuracy as well as improvisation. Here’s a list of the top five at that position…

5-Trent Green (2001–06)

It was a controversial decision at the time when Kansas City traded a first-round draft pick to the then-St, Louis Rams to sign Green, who lost his starting job (to Kurt Warner) after a gruesome injury. With two playoff appearances in his six KC seasons, Green didn’t miss a single start in his first five seasons (was concussed in the ‘06 opener). Green had 21,459 passing yards (118 touchdowns, 85 interceptions) with the team, but didn\’t earn a win in the postseason.

4: 4-Joe Montana (1993–94)

Montana didn’t spend much of his career with the Chiefs but was quite successful. Acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the ‘93 season, Montana, already a legend with the Niners, led KC to its first division championship since 1971. Kansas City advanced to the AFC title game (routed at home by the Buffalo Bills). Montana and the Chiefs made it back to the playoffs in ‘94, then eliminated by the Dolphins in Miami. Montana retired after helping change the trajectory of the franchise.

4: 3-Alex Smith (2013–17)

Similar to Montana, Smith was a former 49er who was traded to Kansas City. The team made the playoffs in all but one of his five seasons, Victory in the wild-card round of the 2015 postseason (30-0 over the Texans in Houston) was the franchise’s first since ‘93. Kansas City repeated that success the next two seasons, though unable to advance any further. Smith ended with a 2-1 win-loss ratio (actually 50-26) as a starter.

2-Len Dawson (1962–75)

He was the first true icon in Chiefs’ quarterback history. Leading the AFL/NFL in completion percentage eight times, Dawson and the then-Dallas Texans won the AFL championship (double overtime against the Oilers in Houston) back in 1962. Dawson can’t be mentioned without Super Bowl IV in New Orleans, leading the double-digit underdog Chiefs to a 23-7 rout of the Minnesota Vikings in the AFL’s last game. Dawson ended with MVP honors, flawless conducting and thoroughly confusing the vaunted defense of the Purple People Eaters. 

1-Patrick Mahomes (2017–present)

Becoming the face of the modern NFL and leading the KC Chiefs’ quarterback list is not easy, but a rack full of records and a trio of Super Bowl titles (2019, 2022, 2023 seasons) in his first seven seasons gave him that honor. Mahomes was awarded the MVP in each of those games, adding to his pair of regular-season MVP honors. He was just the second quarterback (Peyton Manning) with 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a (2018) season. Mahomes and the Chiefs were well on their way to a ninth consecutive AFC West title in 2024. He went over 31,000 career passing yards in 2024.

How Has the Chiefs’ Quarterback Position Evolved Over the Years?

The KC Chiefs’ QB history certainly contains some of the marquee names in football. What separated many of these leaders was their intelligence, picking apart opposing defenses and making them look rather foolish in the process. 

Which Chiefs Quarterbacks Hold Franchise Records?

The KC Chiefs’ quarterback history finds the “usual suspects” among the team’s record holders.

Here are some (as of 12/1/24)...

–Wins (Len Dawson 93).

–Passing yards (Patrick Mahomes 31,403).

–Completions (Mahomes 2,678).

–Touchdown passes (Mahomes 238, Dawson 237).

–Interceptions (Dawson 178).

–Games (Dawson 183).

Who Was the First Quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs?

As was mentioned, the Kansas City Chiefs began their existence in the American Football League as the Dallas Texans (1960-62). They lost their first game 21-20, to the Los Angeles Chargers at the Coliseum, with Cotton Davidson as their quarterback. They finished 8-6, with Davidson starting all the games.

How Many Pro Bowl Quarterbacks Have Played for the Chiefs?

Between the AFL All-Star Games and NFL Pro Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs have had 11 quarterbacks getting selected, including Len Dawson (seven times), Patrick Mahomes (six [through 2023]), Alex Smith (three), Cotton Davidson and Trent Green (two each), Steve Bono, Matt Cassel, Elvis Grbac, Bill Kenney, Mike Livingston and Joe Montana (one each). 

Any Final Thoughts?

The Kansas City Chiefs remain one of the marquee teams in the NFL, both in terms of fan and fan and betting interest each season. Provided that Patrick Mahomes remains healthy as their quarterback, BetUS sportsbook will have them as contenders.