Super Bowl IV vs Minnesota Vikings

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. 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.

In Their Own Story

The humid air of New Orleans hung heavy over Tulane Stadium as the final seconds ticked away. The scoreboard read 23-7, a scoreline that felt impossible just three hours prior. Len Dawson stood on the sideline, his helmet tucked under his arm, watching the Minnesota Vikings players trudge off the field in stunned silence. The roar of the crowd was a physical force, vibrating through the concrete stands as Chiefs fans celebrated an unlikely triumph. In that moment, the divide between leagues vanished; there were only winners and losers, and Kansas City had conquered the world.

Reader's Guide

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' defensive line was nicknamed the 'Purple People Eaters', not the Chiefs' defense.
• The Chiefs' Len Dawson was the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP.
• Super Bowl IV was the first time a head coach (Hank Stram) wore a microphone during a Super Bowl.