American Football Database
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1965 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head Coach Hank Stram
Home Field Municipal Stadium
Results
Record 7–5–2
Place 3rd AFL Western
Playoff Finish did not qualify
Timeline
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1964 1966

The 1965 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 7–5–2 record and no postseason appearance.

For the 1965 season, the Chiefs were caught in the middle of the AFL and NFL's bidding wars for college talent. Kansas City made running back Gale Sayers from the University of Kansas their first-round draft pick,[1] but Sayers eventually signed with the Bears.[2] Sayers grew up in nearby Wichita, Kansas.

The club suffered a devastating blow late in the 1965 season when running back Mack Lee Hill suffered torn ligaments in his right knee in the next-to-last regular season game of the year at Buffalo on December 12. Following what was expected to be a routine surgery on December 14 at Menorah Hospital in Kansas City, Hill died from what was termed “a sudden and massive embolism.” Hunt called Hill’s death “the worst shock possible.” Beginning the following year, the club annually bestowed the Mack Lee Hill Award on its top rookie or first-year performer in honor of this fallen young star. Just days after Hill’s unexpected death, the mourning Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos on December 19 to finish the year with a 7–5–2 record.[2]

Season schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 12, 1965 at Oakland Raiders L 37–10
18,659
2 September 18, 1965 at New York Jets W 14–10
53,658
3 September 26, 1965 at San Diego Chargers T 10–10
28,126
4 October 3, 1965 Boston Patriots W 27–17
26,773
5 October 10, 1965 at Denver Broncos W 31–23
31,001
6 October 17, 1965 Buffalo Bills L 23–7
26,941
7 October 24, 1965 at Houston Oilers L 38-36
34,670
8 October 31, 1965 Oakland Raiders W 14–7
18,354
9 November 7, 1965 New York Jets L 13–10
25,523
10 November 14, 1965 San Diego Chargers W 31–7
21,968
11 November 21, 1965 at Boston Patriots T 10-10
13,056
12 November 28, 1965 Houston Oilers W 52–21
16,459
13 Bye
14 December 12, 1965 at Buffalo Bills L 34–25
40,298
15 December 19, 1965 Denver Broncos W 45–35
14,421

[3]

References[]

  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 395
  2. 2.0 2.1 Kansas City Chiefs History 1960's
  3. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1965_games.htm
Eastern Division Western Division
Boston Denver
Buffalo Kansas City
Houston Oakland
New York Jets San Diego
1965 AFL Draft1965 AFL Championship Game1965 AFL All-Star game
Related: 1965 NFL Season
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