Top 50 NFL Quarterbacks: #26 - Len Dawson

Len Dawson

Len Dawson was the #5 overall draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957, but he was unable to take over the starting job in 3 seasons in Pittsburgh, so they traded him to Cleveland, where he faced the same problem. In his first 5 seasons in the league, he threw a total of 45 passes, only two for touchdowns, definitely not the kind of start you'd expect from a first-round pick.

He caught his lucky break in 1962 when he signed on with the Dallas Texans of the AFL. In his first season, he led the league in touchdown passes (29) and completion percentage (61.0), and he led them to the best record in the Western Division, at 11-3. Although he only threw for 88 yards in the title game, he was much better than Houston's George Blanda, who threw 5 interceptions, which allowed Dallas to win.

The team moved to Kansas City the following season, and while the Chiefs failed to make the playoffs in their first three seasons, Dawson still led the league twice each in touchdowns and completion percentage. In 1966, he led them back to the playoffs when he led the league in both categories again, and they defeated Buffalo behind 227 yards and 2 touchdowns from Dawson. That earned them the right to play in the first-ever Super Bowl, which they lost 35-10 to Green Bay.

Three years later was one of the most memorable of his career. He missed 5 games with a severe knee injury, but came back in time to lead the Chiefs back to the playoffs, where they pulled off 3 straight upsets to become Super Bowl champions. He was named the MVP of the Super Bowl after he threw the game's only passing touchdown late in the 4th quarter to put the game away. It was also the second straight time an AFL team won the Super Bowl, and validated the AFL as equal with the NFL in the final game before the merger between the two leagues.

Dawson played another 6 seasons in Kansas City, and although he only saw the playoffs once more, he did enough in his first 8 years as a Chief to earn this spot on the list. He led the AFL in touchdowns 4 times, completion percentage 6 times, won 3 AFL titles and a Super Bowl as the MVP. He wasn't a big yardage guy, but he was accurate and a winner, and he belongs in the top 30.