1982 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1982 Kansas City Chiefs season ended in a 3–6 record that resulted from the NFL Players Association strike that shortened the season.

In May 1982, running back Joe Delaney underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his eye, a radical procedure at the time. Optimism abounded at Arrowhead Stadium thanks to the club’s promising 9–7 record from 1981, but swelling labor unrest from NFL players spelled doom for both the Chiefs and Levy in 1982. The Chiefs split their first two games of the year before a 57-day strike by the NFL Players Association began at midnight on September 20. The strike concluded on November 17 after seven games were cancelled and one was rescheduled, but the Chiefs would never recover, dropping four straight games after their return to the field. Center Jack Rudnay, who had been one of the franchise’s most durable and decorated offensive performers over the past decade, announced on December 20 that he would retire after the season. Despite wins in two of the season’s final three games, the Levy era concluded as the club finished the strike-shortened campaign at 3–6.