To the best of my memory, I started watching in the 1970 season. I'm hopeful that the Chiefs will wear a patch on their jerseys this season for me during this golden season.
If I had to note my 50 most memorable moments of Chiefs fandom, they would be ... (in spoiler). I'm sure I'm missing some important and obvious events, but this is my initial thinking.
Spoiler!
Meeting my first bandwagon fan. In 1970, a girl named Roberta informed me that the Packers were the best team because they had beaten a team 10 to 0. Since we both agreed that 10 was the largest possible number, I had no rebuttal. But since I lived in southern Missouri, I later recognized that Roberta was a bandwagon fan.
The disappointment of Christmas 1971, though buoyed by the fact that the Chiefs would be back next year stronger than ever. (Give me a break - I was eight years old.)
Pretending to be Otis Taylor or Jim Lynch or Buck Buchanan on the playground.
Learning to take a hit on the playground because hey, if Otis can do it, so can I.
Watching Art Still dominate the line of scrimmage even when he was on his nuts and berries diet.
Developing a high-school tradition of going to my favorite restaurant to get a spaghetti and a Boston Cream Pie to go before watching Chiefs games.
Watching some Chief WR (can't remember who) unleash the greatest blindside block I've ever seen on Odis McKinney of the Raiders. It decleated him and they had to stop the game to find his contact lenses, which were really expensive at the time.
Joe Delaney's death.
The backfield of Lewis, Ross, Burruss, and Cherry.
The Chiefs' shocking last-second win over the Steelers to start the 1981 season.
An Albert Lewis punt block. Any Albert Lewis punt block. Every Albert Lewis punt block.
The Chiefs' victory over the Steelers to get into the playoffs in 1986, in which all three touchdowns were scored by the special teams unit.
Stephone Paige torching the Chargers for 300+ yards
Todd McNair converting third downs
Christian Okoye runs, the ones where he sheds tacklers like Godzilla in Tokyo.
My first-ever visit to Arrowhead in 1988, and seeing the field and the stadium for the first time. The Chiefs beat the defending AFC Champion Bengals with an Albert Lewis punt block, a Christian Okoye touchdown, and a last-second Nick Lowery field goal for a great comeback win. How's that for a signature first game?
My first time watching Derrick Thomas turn the corner on a left tackle, and thinking, 'whoa, this guy's good'.
Getting to see Derrick Thomas' 7-sack game live.
Montana's Monday Night Magic in Denver at a game I saw in person. My wife went with me for her first-ever live game, and I turned to her and said, "You'll probably never see a game better than that."
Keith Cash nailing the Buddy Ryan poster.
The 4th-down touchdown from Montana to Tim Barnett to save the Pittsburgh playoff game in 1993. (And after the game Barnett didn't know that it was a fourth-down catch.)
Tamarick Vanover winning the game against San Diego in overtime.
James Hasty winning the game against the Raiders in overtime.
The pain of the missed field goal in 1995.
Grbac to Rison to beat the Raiders.
Leslie O'Neal blindsiding a scrambling Jeff George.
Stoyanovich kicks a 57 yard field goal to beat the Broncos.
Listening morosely to fireworks in my house after the NFL awarded the Chiefs' 1997 Super Bowl win to the Broncos.
Derrick Thomas' death.
Discovering Chiefsplanet, which has led not only to great interactions online, but also several real-life great things through the friends I've made here.
Watching the Vermeil-era offensive line run a sweep. Any sweep.
The helmet game with John Tait, and watching Roaf and Waters immediately react and turn that play into the greatest power sweep ever.
Tony Richardson making the greatest lead block ever on a sweep left against (the Bears?) to let Priest score.
Dante Hall running backwards against the Broncos, and yelling, "Other way!" And then he did.
The Larry Johnson goal line touchdown against the Raiders, led by Jason Dunn.
Ray Lewis mic'ed up as he was being destroyed by the Chiefs blockers.
The Tony Moeaki touchdown catch.
Jamaal Charles scoring five touchdowns against the Raiders.
That Jamaal Charles run against the Redskins where they couldn't bring him down and at one point even tackled the wrong guy.
Knile Davis' kickoff return touchdown to start the playoff game against the Texans.
The Cairo Santos doink field goal to win the game against the Broncos (and the game itself).
Having my wife walk into the room and ask how the game was going a second before Tyreek Hill broke a long touchdown return on a punt, so I could show her how great he is.
Tyreek Hill's safety kick return against the Broncos. In fact, any Tyreek Hill touchdown.
The moment when Marcus Peters yanked the ball out of the Titan's hands and Derrick Johnson returned it for the winning touchdown (briefly) in the playoffs.
Watching Mahomes scramble and throw the touchdown against the 49ers, at which point I became convinced that we really had a franchise quarterback.
Mahomes' long bomb to Robinson to go 50/5000.
Walking into the Arrowhead parking lot before the Indy playoff game in 2019, with the snow shrouding everything in a magical way.
Watching the home playoff win against Indy live. (Thank you, kind sir.)
The brief moment after the interception against New England when the Chiefs were finally going to the Super Bowl.
The next game coming up.
It's been a good ride for 49 years. I'm kind of hopeful that Year 50 is going to put a few new highlights onto the list. [Reply]
AWESOME thread. I have been a fan longer than you. I traveled from LAX to MCI to see my first CHIEFS game at ARROWHEAD STADIUM in 1984 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bill Kenney vs. Steve DeBerg. ARROWHEAD was empty. It was one of the lowest attended games in CHIEFS history and I was there. And I loved it! GO CHIEFS! Club Level tickets were $25.00! [Reply]
I am with you Rainman. I saw SBIV on armed forces tv on Guam, at least a month after it happened.
I thought I was jumping on the bandwagon of a dynasty since they were in the first one also. [Reply]
Geez, now that you put it into that light, I guess I'm coming up on my 30th year as a fan. Lots of good memories as well as a few bad ones. Hopefully, we end this year on a great note. [Reply]
Originally Posted by ROYC75:
I hated getting behind those damn things. Since I was young, Dad always stuck me there since I didn't take up so much room for other fans to see over me and around the beams.
I always liked the rabbit popping up behind home plate to give the umpire some new baseballs. Charley Finley always had some type of surprise entertainment going on, him riding a horse at the games, in flashy colors, etc.
Now as for the Chiefs, I go back as far as the 63 season as well. I guess we all are a bunch of "old geezers".
Unfortunately there are less of us "old geezers" around and more of the kids to tell "get off my lawn".
But we are lucky in that we saw our only Super Bowl win....and the game that Ed Podolak had....Willie Lanier and that ram jet helmet crushing any back that dared enter his lane...Lenny the Cool smoking the cigarette on the bench..we saw the fight when Ben Davidson of the Raiders speared our guy....
Those were great years....and I hope to see just one more Super Bowl win before I pass on. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rain Man:
To the best of my memory, I started watching in the 1970 season. I'm hopeful that the Chiefs will wear a patch on their jerseys this season for me during this golden season.
If I had to note my 50 most memorable moments of Chiefs fandom, they would be ... (in spoiler). I'm sure I'm missing some important and obvious events, but this is my initial thinking.
Spoiler!
Meeting my first bandwagon fan. In 1970, a girl named Roberta informed me that the Packers were the best team because they had beaten a team 10 to 0. Since we both agreed that 10 was the largest possible number, I had no rebuttal. But since I lived in southern Missouri, I later recognized that Roberta was a bandwagon fan.
The disappointment of Christmas 1971, though buoyed by the fact that the Chiefs would be back next year stronger than ever. (Give me a break - I was eight years old.)
Pretending to be Otis Taylor or Jim Lynch or Buck Buchanan on the playground.
Learning to take a hit on the playground because hey, if Otis can do it, so can I.
Watching Art Still dominate the line of scrimmage even when he was on his nuts and berries diet.
Developing a high-school tradition of going to my favorite restaurant to get a spaghetti and a Boston Cream Pie to go before watching Chiefs games.
Watching some Chief WR (can't remember who) unleash the greatest blindside block I've ever seen on Odis McKinney of the Raiders. It decleated him and they had to stop the game to find his contact lenses, which were really expensive at the time.
Joe Delaney's death.
The backfield of Lewis, Ross, Burruss, and Cherry.
The Chiefs' shocking last-second win over the Steelers to start the 1981 season.
An Albert Lewis punt block. Any Albert Lewis punt block. Every Albert Lewis punt block.
The Chiefs' victory over the Steelers to get into the playoffs in 1986, in which all three touchdowns were scored by the special teams unit.
Stephone Paige torching the Chargers for 300+ yards
Todd McNair converting third downs
Christian Okoye runs, the ones where he sheds tacklers like Godzilla in Tokyo.
My first-ever visit to Arrowhead in 1988, and seeing the field and the stadium for the first time. The Chiefs beat the defending AFC Champion Bengals with an Albert Lewis punt block, a Christian Okoye touchdown, and a last-second Nick Lowery field goal for a great comeback win. How's that for a signature first game?
My first time watching Derrick Thomas turn the corner on a left tackle, and thinking, 'whoa, this guy's good'.
Getting to see Derrick Thomas' 7-sack game live.
Montana's Monday Night Magic in Denver at a game I saw in person. My wife went with me for her first-ever live game, and I turned to her and said, "You'll probably never see a game better than that."
Keith Cash nailing the Buddy Ryan poster.
The 4th-down touchdown from Montana to Tim Barnett to save the Pittsburgh playoff game in 1993. (And after the game Barnett didn't know that it was a fourth-down catch.)
Tamarick Vanover winning the game against San Diego in overtime.
James Hasty winning the game against the Raiders in overtime.
The pain of the missed field goal in 1995.
Grbac to Rison to beat the Raiders.
Leslie O'Neal blindsiding a scrambling Jeff George.
Stoyanovich kicks a 57 yard field goal to beat the Broncos.
Listening morosely to fireworks in my house after the NFL awarded the Chiefs' 1997 Super Bowl win to the Broncos.
Derrick Thomas' death.
Discovering Chiefsplanet, which has led not only to great interactions online, but also several real-life great things through the friends I've made here.
Watching the Vermeil-era offensive line run a sweep. Any sweep.
The helmet game with John Tait, and watching Roaf and Waters immediately react and turn that play into the greatest power sweep ever.
Tony Richardson making the greatest lead block ever on a sweep left against (the Bears?) to let Priest score.
Dante Hall running backwards against the Broncos, and yelling, "Other way!" And then he did.
The Larry Johnson goal line touchdown against the Raiders, led by Jason Dunn.
Ray Lewis mic'ed up as he was being destroyed by the Chiefs blockers.
The Tony Moeaki touchdown catch.
Jamaal Charles scoring five touchdowns against the Raiders.
That Jamaal Charles run against the Redskins where they couldn't bring him down and at one point even tackled the wrong guy.
Knile Davis' kickoff return touchdown to start the playoff game against the Texans.
The Cairo Santos doink field goal to win the game against the Broncos (and the game itself).
Having my wife walk into the room and ask how the game was going a second before Tyreek Hill broke a long touchdown return on a punt, so I could show her how great he is.
Tyreek Hill's safety kick return against the Broncos. In fact, any Tyreek Hill touchdown.
The moment when Marcus Peters yanked the ball out of the Titan's hands and Derrick Johnson returned it for the winning touchdown (briefly) in the playoffs.
Watching Mahomes scramble and throw the touchdown against the 49ers, at which point I became convinced that we really had a franchise quarterback.
Mahomes' long bomb to Robinson to go 50/5000.
Walking into the Arrowhead parking lot before the Indy playoff game in 2019, with the snow shrouding everything in a magical way.
Watching the home playoff win against Indy live. (Thank you, kind sir.)
The brief moment after the interception against New England when the Chiefs were finally going to the Super Bowl.
The next game coming up.
It's been a good ride for 49 years. I'm kind of hopeful that Year 50 is going to put a few new highlights onto the list.
Great thread... every magical moment that I can recall. Time to make some more! [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mosbonian:
1. But we are lucky in that we saw our only Super Bowl win....
2. and the game that Ed Podolak had....
3. ..we saw the fight when Ben Davidson of the Raiders speared our guy....
Those were great years....and I hope to see just one more Super Bowl win before I pass on.
1. First time I ever watched a major sporting event as a kid and jumped into the Chiefs Kingdom at 7 years old.
2. 350 all purpose yards on Christmas Day only to LOSE is so Chiefs. It was also the 1st of only two times in life I cried over a sporting result. The other was when Roberto Clemente died. Ironically both Christmas related events.
3. I met Ben Davidson along with another bunch of Raiders when my friend and former Raider Phil Villapiano brought them all to a restaurant after an autograph signing session at a new sorting goods store in New Jersey where I lived at the time. I got to look up at Ben Davidson in about 1993 or 1994 and told him he was the main reason I hate the Raiders because he speared Lenny Dawson. He gave me a big smile and chuckled saying " I got him and the Chiefs' pretty good that game." [Reply]
Defense denying the Broncos a 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th and one on the goal line. I was at the game, and had walked down to get pics...this was in the 90's. It was so...fucking...loud!! A 4 down stand on the goal line...not sure if I've ever seen that before or since... [Reply]
Proudly Raider-hating since 1963. The really fun part of old Municipal was to sit in those rickety bleachers. When the crowd got rowdy, they'd sway. [Reply]
