Hall of Famer Len Dawson Remembered: Tributes for Legendary Quarterback

Legendary NFL quarterback Len Dawson died today at age 87, according to reports from his family. The Hall of Famer made an impact in the football realm that many professional athletes still tout.

Dawson played a 14-year career with the Chiefs starting in 1962. The Purdue University graduate boasted a laundry list of achievements. Dawson led the Chiefs to the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967, in which they lost 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers. Dawson later led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title in 1970 against the Minnesota Vikings. Topping the list of his many achievements, Dawson was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. After he retired from playing football in 1976, Dawson went on to enjoy a second career as a broadcast host on HBO's Inside the NFL from 1977 to 2001.

Photos and memories of Dawson are circulating on Twitter, with many fellow athletes sharing tributes to the NFL legend.

"RIP to the legend Len Dawson," Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted Wednesday morning while also sharing an image of him with Dawson. "The legacy and impact you made on Kansas City will live on forever."

The Kansas City Chiefs released a statement after Dawson's passing. Dawson entered hospice care earlier this month and died with his wife Linda at his side, according to his family.

"He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend," Dawson's family said in a statement to KMBC. "Len was always grateful and many times overwhelmed by the countless bonds he made during his football and broadcast careers."

Tribute tweets have poured in, calling Dawson a "class act" and touting Dawson's "iconic photo" of him smoking a cigarette and enjoying a beer during halftime of Super Bowl I. Others said Dawson led an exceptional life.

"My thoughts & prayers go out to the family & loved ones of legendary QB Len Dawson," retired NFL quarterback Matt Cassel tweeted. "Everyone that has ever been a part of Chiefs Kingdom know his impact on the field & in the community. I'm thankful for the great memories I had with him during my time in KC. He'll be missed."

Other tweets recognized the impact Dawson's voice had as a host on HBO's Inside the NFL. Dawson won the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award for his broadcasting efforts.

"Len Dawson the player and Len Dawson the broadcaster connected multiple generations of Chiefs fans together," writer and podcast host Kent Swanson said on Twitter. "His voice was an important part of my childhood and many others."

"Before there was ESPN, or anything like it, there were these two legends teaching us all about football," ESPN television host Mike Greenberg tweeted, sharing a photo of Dawson and fellow Inside the NFL broadcaster Nick Buoniconti. "I hope they are together right now, breaking down tape. Thank you, Len Dawson, for being so classy, and for making it all so much fun."

Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt also expressed his sorrow at the news.

"My family and I are heartbroken. Len Dawson is synonymous with the Kansas City Chiefs," Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. "Len embraced and came to embody Kansas City and the people that call it home. You would be hard-pressed to find a player who had a bigger impact in shaping the organization as we know it today than Len Dawson did.

"I admired Len my entire life—first as a Hall of Fame player on the field, and later as he transitioned into a successful broadcasting career," Hunt added. "Throughout his remarkable career, Len made it a priority to give back to the community that he loved. The franchise has lost a true legend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Linda and his family."

In 2018, Mahomes called Dawson the "backbone" of the NFL organization.

"So for me to try and carry on that tradition, hopefully, bring another Super Bowl back to Chiefs Kingdom is something I'll strive to do," Mahomes said in a joint interview with Dawson with KMBC News in 2018.

"We're going hold you to that, pal," Dawson responded.

Mahomes held his promise and led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl championship in 2020 with a 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers. It was the second Chiefs Super Bowl win and the first in 50 years since Dawson led the team to its title in 1970.