The 1964 Kansas City Chiefs season was the fifth season for the Kansas City Chiefs as a professional AFL franchise and second season in Kansas City following their move from Dallas. The Chiefs began the year with a 2–1 mark, then dropped three consecutive games as several of the team's best players, including E.J. Holub, Fred Arbanas, and Johnny Robinson, missed numerous games with injuries. Arbanas missed the final two games of the year after undergoing surgery to his left eye, in which he suffered almost total loss of vision. Running back Mack Lee Hill, who signed with the club as a rookie free agent and received a mere $300 signing bonus, muscled his way into the starting lineup and earned a spot in the AFL All-Star Game.
The club ended the season with a pair of wins to finish at 7–7, runner-up in the AFL Western Division, 1½ games behind the San Diego Chargers. An average attendance of just 18,126 for the seven home games at Municipal Stadium prompted discussion at the AFL owners' meeting about the Chiefs future in Kansas City. Quarterback Lenny Dawson proceeded to have the best season of his career completing 199 passes out of 354 attempts for 2,879 yards and 30 touchdowns with 18 interceptions for a passer rating of 56.2 and a completion percentage of 89.9.
Personnel Roster 1964 Kansas City Chiefs roster Quarterbacks 16 Len Dawson QB 12 Eddie Wilson QB / P 10 Pete Beathard
Running Backs 30 Jack Spikes P/FB 23 Bert Coan HB 32 Curtis McClinton FB 36 Mack Lee Hill FB 26 Frank Jackson HB
Wide Receivers / Flankers 28 Abner Haynes WR / RB / KR 80 Reggie Carolan WR/FL 42 Johnny Robinson HB / WR / DB Tight Ends 84 Fred Arbanas TE 88 Chris Burford WR / E Offensive Linemen
77 Jim Tyrer LG 79 Jerry Cornelison T/G 71 Ed Budde LG 60 Al Reynolds RG 61 Dennis Biodrowski G 65 Jon Gilliam C 64 Curt Merz RG 73 Dave Hill RT
Defensive Linemen 78 Bobby Bell LDE 76 Hatch Rosdahl DE 82 Ed Lothamer DE 75 Jerry Mays DE 86 Buck Buchanan LDT 72 John Maczuzak DT 70 Curt Farrier DT 87 Mel Branch RDE Linebackers
56 Walt Corey RLB 69 Sherrill Headrick MLB 35 Smokey Stover LLB 55 E.J. Holub LLB 69 Sherrill Headrick MLB 14 Bobby Ply LB / DB Defensive Backs 48 Duane Wood LCB 25 Charley Warner LCB 20 Bobby Hunt SS 45 Dave Grayson RCB 22 Willie Mitchell DB
Special Teams 51 Tommy Brooker K / LB 44 Jerrel Wilson P
Rookies in italics
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 August 9 at Oakland Raiders W 21–14 1–0 Frank Youell Field 18,659 Recap 2 at Buffalo Bills W 24–21 2–0 War Memorial Stadium 17,738 Recap 3 San Diego Chargers L 14–26 2–1 Municipal Stadium 28,653 Recap 4 vs. Denver Broncos W 14–10 3–1 Farrington Field 19,500 Recap 5 at Houston Oilers W 27–17 4–1 Jeppesen Stadium 17,450 Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 13 at Buffalo Bills L 17–34 0–1 War Memorial Stadium 30,157 Recap 2Bye 3 September 27 at Oakland Raiders W 21–9 1–1 Frank Youell Field 18,163 Recap 4 October 4 Houston Oilers W 28–7 2–1 Municipal Stadium 22,727 Recap 5 October 11 at Denver Broncos L 27–33 2–2 Bears Stadium 16,285 Recap 6 October 18 Buffalo Bills L 22–35 2–3 Municipal Stadium 20,904 Recap 7 at Boston Patriots L 7–24 2–4 Fenway Park 27,400 Recap 8 November 1 Denver Broncos W 49–39 3–4 Municipal Stadium 15,053 Recap 9 November 8 Oakland Raiders W 42–7 4–4 Municipal Stadium 21,023 Recap 10 November 15 San Diego Chargers L 14–28 4–5 Municipal Stadium 19,792 Recap 11 November 22 at Houston Oilers W 28–19 5–5 Jeppesen Stadium 17,782 Recap 12 November 29 at New York Jets L 14–27 5–6 Shea Stadium 38,135 Recap 13 December 6 Boston Patriots L 24–31 5–7 Municipal Stadium 13,166 Recap 14 December 13 at San Diego Chargers W 49–6 6–7 Balboa Stadium 26,562 Recap 15 December 20 New York Jets W 24–7 7–7 Municipal Stadium 14,316 RecapNote: Intra-division opponents are in bold text
Standings
References
External links 1964 Kansas City Chiefs at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1964 Kansas City Chiefs at ProFootballArchives.com 1964 Kansas City Chiefs at jt-sw.com