Super Bowl IV Champions

Lore & Background

The Chiefs, led by head coach Hank Stram and quarterback Len Dawson, finished the regular season at 11–3, winning the AFL Western Division. After a knee injury to Dawson in the second game, third-string quarterback Mike Livingston engineered five wins in six starts. The Chiefs defeated the New York Jets 13–6 in the divisional round and the Oakland Raiders 17–7 in the AFL Championship Game. The Vikings entered as 13½-point favorites with a 12–2 record, but the Chiefs defense dominated, limiting Minnesota to 67 rushing yards, forcing three interceptions, and recovering two fumbles.

In Their Own Story

The humid New Orleans air hung heavy around Tulane Stadium, but Len Dawson’s grip on the ball never wavered. Around him, the roar of the crowd was a distant hum compared to the sharp commands he barked at the line. The Vikings' defensive giants loomed like walls, yet they found no purchase against the Chiefs' synchronized blocking schemes. As the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, Dawson spotted his receiver breaking free. He released the ball with a flick of his wrist, the spiral cutting through the thick air. It wasn't just a pass; it was a statement that the era of the underdog AFL champion had officially arrived.

Reader's Guide

Super Bowl IV is notable for NFL Films miking up Chiefs head coach Hank Stram during the game, the first time a head coach wore a microphone in a Super Bowl. Len Dawson completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, with one interception, and was named Super Bowl MVP. The Chiefs would not win or appear in another Super Bowl until Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

Did You Know?

• The Chiefs' Len Dawson became the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP.
• Super Bowl IV was the first Super Bowl held in New Orleans.
• The Vikings' defense, nicknamed the 'Purple People Eaters,' included Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Jim Marshall.