The 1965 Kansas City Chiefs season was the sixth season for the Kansas City Chiefs as a professional AFL franchise and the third in Kansas City; they finished with a 7–5–2 record (their first winning season in Kansas City), third in the Western division.

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 (sixth overall),NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 395 but Sayers signed with the Chicago Bears, who had selected him fourth overall in the NFL's draft.

The Chiefs lost running back Mack Lee Hill late in the year when he suffered torn ligaments in his right knee in the next-to-last regular-season game at Buffalo on December 12. Following what was expected to be a routine surgery two days later 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." Five days after Hill's unexpected death, the mourning Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos to finish with a 7–5–2 record.

Roster 1965 Kansas City Chiefs roster Quarterbacks 16 Len Dawson 10 Pete Beathard

Running Backs 23 Bert Coan 32 Curtis McClinton

Wide Receivers / Flankers 88 Chris Burford 26 Frank Jackson 89 Otis Taylor 26 Frank Pitts Tight Ends 84 Fred Arbanas 80 Reggie Carolan 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 85 Chuck Hurston DE 76 Hatch Rosdahl DE 82 Ed Lothamer DE 75 Jerry Mays DE 86 Buck Buchanan LDT 79 Al Dotson DT 70 Curt Farrier DT 87 Mel Branch RDE Linebackers 78 Bobby Bell OLB 56 Walt Corey RLB 51 Jim Fraser OLB 69 Sherrill Headrick MLB 35 Smokey Stover LLB 55 E.J. Holub LLB 69 Sherrill Headrick MLB 50 Ronnie Caveness LB Defensive Backs 42 Johnny Robinson 24 Fred Williamson CB 38 Solomon Brannan CB 20 Bobby Hunt SS 22 Willie Mitchell 14 Bobby Ply

Special Teams 51 Tommy Brooker K 44 Jerrel Wilson P

Rookies in italics

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 at Denver Broncos W 30–24 1–0 Bears Stadium 17,707 Recap 2 San Diego Chargers L 10–31 1–1 Municipal Stadium 13,132 Recap 3 at Oakland Raiders L 6–23 1–2 Frank Youell Field 13,592 Recap 4 vs. Buffalo Bills W 18–16 2–2 Veterans Field 15,157 Recap 5 Boston Patriots W 34–7 3–2 Municipal Stadium 15,157 Recap

Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 12 at Oakland Raiders L 10–37 0–1 Frank Youell Field 18,659 Recap 2 at New York Jets W 14–10 1–1 Shea Stadium 53,658 Recap 3 September 26 at San Diego Chargers T 10–10 1–1–1 Balboa Stadium 28,126 Recap 4 October 3 Boston Patriots W 27–17 2–1–1 Municipal Stadium 26,773 Recap 5 October 10 at Denver Broncos W 31–23 3–1–1 Bears Stadium 31,001 Recap 6 October 17 Buffalo Bills L 7–23 3–2–1 Municipal Stadium 26,941 Recap 7 October 24 at Houston Oilers L 36–38 3–3–1 Rice Stadium 34,670 Recap 8 October 31 Oakland Raiders W 14–7 4–3–1 Municipal Stadium 18,354 Recap 9 November 7 New York Jets L 10–13 4–4–1 Municipal Stadium 25,523 Recap 10 November 14 San Diego Chargers W 31–7 5–4–1 Municipal Stadium 21,968 Recap 11 November 21 at Boston Patriots T 10–10 5–4–2 Fenway Park 13,056 Recap 12 November 28 Houston Oilers W 52–21 6–4–2 Municipal Stadium 16,459 Recap 13Bye 14 December 12 at Buffalo Bills L 25–34 6–5–2 War Memorial Stadium 40,298 Recap 15 December 19 Denver Broncos W 45–35 7–5–2 Municipal Stadium 14,421 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Source: Pro Football Reference

Standings

References

External links 1965 Kansas City Chiefs at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1965 Kansas City Chiefs at ProFootballArchives.com 1965 Kansas City Chiefs at jt-sw.com