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1987 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head Coach Frank Gansz
Home Field Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record 4–11
Place 5th AFC West
Playoff Finish did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season Next season
1986 1988

The 1987 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with an 4–11 record, and last place finish in the AFC West.

One of the most tumultuous weeks in franchise history took place following the club’s playoff loss against the Jets in the playoffs. Assistant head coach and special teams coach Frank Gansz, resigned his position on January 7 in order to pursue opportunities as an NFL offensive coordinator.[1] The following day, the Chiefs announced in an impromptu press conference that John Mackovic was relieved of his duties as head coach on January 8. A popular figure among Chiefs players, Gansz was reinstated on January 10 and was named the sixth head coach in franchise history.[1]

Former quarterback Len Dawson became the third Chiefs player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8,[1] while injuries forced the retirement of the club’s all-time leading tackler Gary Spani. A duo of rookies made a splash in a 20–13 win on Opening Day against San Diego as running back Paul Palmer returned a kickoff for a TD and Christian Okoye dashed for 105 yards.[1] A 24-day players strike began on September 22, canceling the club’s contest against Minnesota.[1] Replacement players participated in games for the next three weeks. Much like Marv Levy five years earlier, Gansz’s grip on the club’s coaching reins was crippled by the labor unrest.[1]

Kansas City’s replacement squad consisted primarily of players cut in training camp. One of the few bright spots among this motley crew was running back Jitter Fields, who remained on the active roster following the strike.[1] The Chiefs strike squad received an ominous welcome in Los Angeles when in the early morning hours of October 4, the day prior to a contest against the Raiders, an earthquake rattled Southern California. The shaken Chiefs lost a 35–17 decision later that day. The low point of the year came the following week at Miami in the first regular season game played at what then was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. Chiefs replacement QB Matt Stevens was injured early in the contest, forcing into duty QB Alex Espinoza, a player who had never taken an NFL snap. The result was a 42–0 Dolphins victory, setting the stage for an 0–3 performance by Kansas City’s replacement unit, giving the Chiefs a 1–4 record before the club’s regular roster returned at San Diego on October 25.[1] Five straight losses followed, giving the Chiefs a team-record nine-game losing skid. For the only time in team history, five different players started games at quarterback for the club.[1] Behind Kenney, Kansas City won two of its last three games to conclude the strike-shortened 4–11 campaign.

Personnel[]

Staff[]

1987 Kansas City Chiefs staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Homer Smith
  • Running Backs – Billie Matthews
  • Receivers – Dick Wood
  • Offensive Line – Carl Mauck
  • Offensive Quality Control/Tight Ends – J. D. Helm
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – John Paul Young
  • Defensive Line – Don Lawrence
  • Defensive Backs – Dave Brazil
  • Defensive Quality Control/Linebackers – Mark Hatley

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning Coordinator – C. T. Hewgley

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 13, 1987 San Diego Chargers W 20–13
56,940
2 September 20, 1987 at Seattle Seahawks L 43–14
61,667
September 27, 1987 Minnesota Vikings canceled
3 October 4, 1987 at Los Angeles Raiders L 35–17
10,708
4 October 11, 1987 at Miami Dolphins L 42–0
25,867
5 October 18, 1987 Denver Broncos L 26–17
20,296
6 October 25, 1987 at San Diego Chargers L 42–21
47,972
7 November 1, 1987 at Chicago Bears L 31–28
63,498
8 November 8, 1987 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–16
45,249
9 November 15, 1987 New York Jets L 16–9
40,718
10 November 22, 1987 Green Bay Packers L 23–3
34,611
11 November 26, 1987 at Detroit Lions W 27–20
43,820
12 December 6, 1987 at Cincinnati Bengals L 30–27
46,489
13 December 13, 1987 Los Angeles Raiders W 16–10
63,834
14 December 19, 1987 at Denver Broncos L 20–17
75,053
15 December 27, 1987 Seattle Seahawks W 41–20
20,370

Standings[]

AFC West
view · talk · edit W L T PCT PF PA
Denver Broncos 10 4 1 .700 379 288
Seattle Seahawks 9 6 0 .600 371 314
San Diego Chargers 8 7 0 .533 253 317
Los Angeles Raiders 5 10 0 .333 301 289
Kansas City Chiefs 4 11 0 .267 273 388

[2]

References[]

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Buffalo Cincinnati Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta
Indianapolis Cleveland Kansas City NY Giants Detroit LA Rams
Miami Houston LA Raiders Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans
New England Pittsburgh San Diego St. Louis Minnesota San Francisco
NY Jets Seattle Washington Tampa Bay
1987 NFL Draft1987 NFL strikeNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XXII
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