It could easily be said that in peak value, Patrick Mahomes is the most important quarterback in Kansas City Chiefs history. But from a career value perspective, Mahomes still has a way to go before he’ll match Len Dawson. The Hall-of-Famer, who passed away Wednesday at age 87, played for the Chiefs from 1962 (their last season as the Dallas Texans) to 1975. Dawson played in two Super Bowls, including Super Bowl I against the Green Bay Packers, and he was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IV in Kansas City’s 23-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Dawson was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time First-Team All-Pro, the 1973 NFL Man of the Year, and a broadcasting legend both calling Chiefs games, and for his time with HBO’s “Inside the NFL” from 1977 through 2001.
On Thursday night, the Chiefs honored Dawson by replicating the “choir huddle” the team lined up in during Dawson’s time with the team. Mahomes came out to run it, the Chiefs were called for a delay of game penalty, and then Mahomes left the field to be replaced by backup Chad Henne.
It was a lovely and fitting tribute.
Patrick Mahomes took the field for the first play of the #chiefs drive. The offense huddled up in the “choir huddle” that Len Dawson used during his day. KC took the delay of game and Mahomes left the field and won’t play tonight. Amazing gesture from 15 pic.twitter.com/DWEB7ffMq1
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) August 26, 2022
Beautiful. pic.twitter.com/WkD45hqNk7
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 26, 2022
Mahomes was also seen wearing a Len Dawson hoodie in warm-ups.
Charles Goldman, editor of our Chiefs Wire site, was one of many who wanted to see this happen.
Would love to see #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes get one snap tonight: Sugar huddle and call 65 Toss Power Trap to honor Len Dawson and call it a night.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) August 25, 2022
The Chiefs didn’t run “65 Toss Power Trap” — a nod to head coach Hank Stram’s utterly brilliant and hilarious miked-up segment in Super Bowl IV — but they got everything else just right.
