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1983 Kansas City Chiefs season

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1983 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerJim Schaaf
Head coachJohn Mackovic
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record6–10
Division place5th AFC West
Playoff finishdid not qualify
Pro BowlersQB Bill Kenney
WR Carlos Carson
CB Gary Green
S Deron Cherry

The 1983 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a second consecutive 6–10 record, and last place finish in the AFC West.

To begin 1983, the Chiefs fired head coach Marv Levy on January 4 after compiling a 31–42 record. Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach John Mackovic was named the fifth head coach in team history on February 2. The 39-year-old Mackovic became the youngest individual ever to hold that post for the club.[1] The Chiefs held the seventh overall pick in the quarterback-laden 1983 NFL Draft and selected Todd Blackledge. The five other signal-callers selected in the first round that year included John Elway, Jim Kelly, Tony Eason, Ken O'Brien, and Dan Marino.

Tragedy struck the club on June 29 when Joe Delaney drowned trying to save the lives of three youngsters in Monroe, Louisiana. Delaney was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizen's Medal by Ronald Reagan on July 13.[1] Linebacker Bobby Bell became the first Chiefs player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 30,[1] providing some solace for the mourning Chiefs fan base following Joe Delaney's death.

With Bill Kenney and Todd Blackledge both on the roster, starting Steve Fuller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on August 19. Kenney earned a Pro Bowl berth after racking up a franchise-record 4,348 passing yards, while wide receiver Carlos Carson hauled in 80 passes for 1,351 yards.[1] Despite the team's high-flying passing game, head coach John Mackovic had trouble finding a suitable replacement for Joe Delaney and the running back position. The highest scoring contest in franchise history took place as the Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks combined for 99 points in a wild, 51–48 overtime loss at the Kingdome. A meager crowd of 11,377 braved near-zero degree temperatures to attend the club's season-ending 48–17 win against Denver on December 18, the smallest attendance figure ever for a Chiefs game at Arrowhead as the club finished the year at 6–10.[1]

Personnel

Staff

1983 Kansas City Chiefs staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Jim Vechiarella

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – C. T. Hewgley


Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 4, 1983 Seattle Seahawks W 17–13
42,531
2 September 12, 1983 San Diego Chargers L 17–14
62,150
3 September 18, 1983 at Washington Redskins L 27–12
52,610
4 September 25, 1983 at Miami Dolphins L 14–6
50,785
5 October 2, 1983 St. Louis Cardinals W 38–14
58,975
6 October 9, 1983 at Los Angeles Raiders L 21–20
40,492
7 October 16, 1983 New York Giants W 38–17
55,449
8 October 23, 1983 at Houston Oilers W 13–10
39,462
9 October 30, 1983 at Denver Broncos L 27–24
74,640
10 November 6, 1983 Los Angeles Raiders L 28–20
75,497
11 November 13, 1983 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–15
44,711
12 November 20, 1983 at Dallas Cowboys L 41–21
64,103
13 November 27, 1983 at Seattle Seahawks L 51–48
56,793
14 December 4, 1983 Buffalo Bills L 14–9
27,104
15 December 11, 1983 at San Diego Chargers L 41–38
35,510
16 December 18, 1983 Denver Broncos W 48–17
11,377

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Raiders(1) 12 4 0 .750 6–2 10–2 442 338 W1
Seattle Seahawks(4) 9 7 0 .563 5–3 8–4 403 397 W2
Denver Broncos(5) 9 7 0 .563 3–5 9–5 302 327 L1
San Diego Chargers 6 10 0 .375 4–4 4–8 358 462 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 6 10 0 .375 2–6 4–8 386 367 W1

References