Super Bowl IV Victory

Lore & Background

Despite the AFL's New York Jets winning the previous season's Super Bowl, many sports writers and fans thought it was a fluke and continued to believe that the NFL was still superior to the AFL, and thus fully expected the Vikings to defeat the Chiefs; the Vikings entered the Super Bowl as 13½ point favorites. The Vikings posted a 12–2 record in 1969, then defeated the Los Angeles Rams 23–20 for the Western Conference title, and the Cleveland Browns 27–7 in the NFL Championship Game. The Chiefs, who previously appeared in the first Super Bowl, finished the regular season at 11–3; they continued with two road wins in the AFL playoffs, dethroning the New York Jets 13–6, and then taking down division rival Oakland Raiders 17–7 in the final AFL title game.

In Their Own Story

The humid New Orleans air hung heavy over Tulane Stadium, thick with the scent of damp earth and electric anticipation. Inside the huddle, Len Dawson wiped sweat from his brow, his gaze locking onto the wall of purple helmets across the line. The crowd's roar vibrated through the soles of their cleats, a deafening wall of sound that threatened to drown out every play call. "They think they're better," Dawson murmured, his voice unnervingly calm amidst the chaos. "Let's show them."

The snap came low and true. As the Purple People Eaters surged forward, Dawson stepped back, eyes scanning the secondary until he spotted Otis Taylor breaking free down the sideline. With a flick of his wrist, the ball spiraled through the muggy air, landing perfectly in Taylor's hands for another score. When the final whistle blew, turning the 23-7 deficit into a rout, the roar from the Red and Gold section erupted into a deafening chant that would echo through history: the AFL was no longer a challenger; it was a champion.

Reader's Guide

Under wet conditions, the Chiefs defense dominated Super Bowl IV by limiting the Vikings' offense to only 67 rushing yards, forcing three interceptions, and recovering two fumbles. The Chiefs' Len Dawson became the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, with one interception. Dawson also recorded three rushing attempts for 11 yards. Super Bowl IV is also notable for NFL Films miking up the Chiefs' Hank Stram during the game, the first time that a head coach had worn a microphone during a Super Bowl. The Chiefs would not win or appear in another Super Bowl until Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

Did You Know?

• The Vikings entered the game as 13½ point favorites despite a 12–2 regular season record.
• Len Dawson's passer rating for the game was not perfect; he completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, with one interception.
• The Chiefs scored two touchdowns (one rushing and one passing) plus three field goals, not more than two touchdowns.