Founding as Dallas Texans (1960)

Lore & Background

The Dallas Texans won one AFL championship in 1962. The team relocated to Kansas City in 1963, with the move announced in May 1963 and taking effect before the 1963 season.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the frozen Cotton Bowl in December 1962, biting through heavy wool coats as thousands packed the stands for a Game Seven of the AFL Championship. It was a grueling rematch against the Houston Oilers, already stretched into double overtime with no end in sight. The scoreboard read 20-17, but time had long since evaporated. On the sideline, Lamar Hunt stood wrapped in a heavy coat, his breath visible in the freezing air, eyes locked on players who were battered but unbroken, fighting for every inch of turf. The roar of the crowd wasn't just noise; it was a physical force, a testament to a city that had embraced this new league with desperate fervor. As the ball snapped for what would become the final play, the air seemed to hold its breath, capturing the precise moment the Texans cemented their legacy—not just as survivors of a financial gamble, but as kings of a revolutionary football world.

Reader's Guide

The Chiefs have had 57 different quarterbacks attempt a pass, 39 different starting quarterbacks, and 19 different quarterbacks start at least 10 games. Eleven different quarterbacks have been named to either the AFL All-Star team or Pro Bowl for a total of 25 selections. Five of those quarterbacks have been named All-Star or Pro Bowl multiple times. Eleven of the Chiefs starting quarterbacks have led the Chiefs to the playoffs, however, only five have won a playoff game. Patrick Mahomes has been the Chiefs' starting quarterback since 2018. Mahomes has been the full-time starting quarterback since the beginning of the 2018 season, when he broke multiple single season team records and became the first Chiefs player to win MVP. However, after Mahomes and backup QB Gardner Minshew III injured themselves in December of 2025, their emergency 3rd quarterback Chris Oladokun became the starter while they recover. Cotton Davidson was the team's first starting quarterback. He played all 14 games for the Texans in their inaugural 1960 season. Davidson played with the franchise from 1960 to 1962, and was traded in 1963 to the Oakland Raiders. Len Dawson signed with the Chiefs (then known as the Texans) on July 2, 1962, and played for the franchise for 14 seasons. With Dawson as the team's starter, the Texans/Chiefs won three American Football League championships and appeared in two Super Bowl championship games. Dawson was named Most Valuable Player after the Chiefs' victory in Super Bowl IV and retired in 1975 with several franchise records. Three quarterbacks currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame have started at least one game for Kansas City: Dawson, Joe Montana, and Warren Moon. The most quarterbacks started in one season was five in 1987, however, this was primarily due to the player strike that led to teams using replacement players. The Chiefs have had the same quarterback start every game in a season 15 times. Trent Green started the most consecutive games with 81. Mahomes and Dawson are the only quarterbacks to lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, I and IV for Dawson and LIV, LV, LVII, LVIII, and LIX for Mahomes, with the Chiefs winning IV, LIV, LVII, and LVIII.

Did You Know?

• The Dallas Texans won only one AFL championship (1962), not two.
• The team relocated to Kansas City in 1963, with the move announced in May 1963 and taking effect before the 1963 season, not after the season.

Founding and Early Settlement

The origins of Dallas trace back to the mid-19th century, rooted in a landscape that had previously witnessed the presence of Indigenous tribes like the Caddo and Comanche, as well as shifting colonial claims by Spain, France, Mexico, and the Republic of Texas. Accompanied only by his dog and a Cherokee companion named Ned, Bryan initially planted a stake on a bluff before returning two years later to establish a permanent settlement. While official markers suggest it honored Vice President George M. Dallas, alternative theories point to his brother Commodore Alexander James Dallas or even a Scottish village.

Transportation and Industrial Growth

Dallas evolved into a major economic powerhouse primarily due to its strategic development as a transportation nexus. Initially, the construction of railroad lines through the region unlocked access to vital resources such as cotton, cattle, and later oil from North and East Texas. This rail connectivity transformed the city into a bustling business and trading center by the late 19th century. The prominence of Dallas was further cemented in the 20th century with the construction of the Interstate Highway System, which saw four major interstates converging within the city limits and a fifth looping around it. This infrastructure expansion facilitated its growth into a strong industrial hub and a significant inland port. The development of the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of the world's largest and busiest facilities, alongside the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, solidified its status as a critical node for moving goods and people across the Southern United States.

Economic Dominance and Corporate Landscape

The city's economy diversified significantly over time to become one of the most robust in the nation, anchored by dominant sectors including defense, financial services, information technology, telecommunications, and transportation. Today, the broader Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex hosts an impressive twenty-three Fortune 500 companies, ranking second in Texas and fourth nationally, with eleven of these corporate giants located directly within Dallas city limits. Beyond heavy industry, the region is a hub for traditional banking, investment banking, private equity, and venture capital. This economic vitality supports a diverse population from myriad ethnic and religious backgrounds and sustains an educational landscape featuring over 41 colleges and universities, the highest concentration of any metropolitan area in Texas.

Social History and Demographic Shifts

The social fabric of Dallas has been shaped by complex historical events and demographic movements that reflect both progress and profound tragedy. In the late 19th century, a short-lived community of French Socialists known as La Réunion was established along the Trinity River. The city also saw the rise of distinct neighborhoods like Little Mexico in the early 20th century, where Latin American immigrants sought better living conditions and opportunities amidst the Mexican Revolution; this area even hosted visits from high-profile figures like President Álvaro Obregón. Despite these dark chapters and the challenges of rapid population expansion, Dallas continued to grow as a manufacturing center during World War II, producing tens of thousands of military vehicles for Allied forces.