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List of Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterbacks

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The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League (NFL). Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). In 1963, the team moved to Kansas City, Missouri and were renamed the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs have had 57 different quarterbacks attempt a pass, 39 different starting quarterbacks, and 19 different quarterbacks start at least 10 games. Eleven different quarterbacks have been named to either the AFL All-Star team or Pro Bowl for a total of 25 selections. Five of those quarterbacks have been name All-Star or Pro Bowl multiple times. Eleven of the Chiefs starting quarterbacks have led the Chiefs to the playoffs, however, only five have won a playoff game. Patrick Mahomes has been the Chiefs' starting quarterback since 2018. Mahomes has been the full-time starting quarterback since the beginning of the 2018 season, when he broke multiple single season team records and became the first Chiefs player to win MVP. However, after Mahomes and backup QB Gardner Minshew III injured themselves in December of 2025, Their emergency 3rd quarterback Chris Oladokun became the starter while they recover. Cotton Davidson was the team's first starting quarterback. He played all 14 games for the Texans in their inaugural 1960 season. Davidson played with the franchise from 1960 to 1962, and was traded in 1963 to the Oakland Raiders. Len Dawson signed with the Chiefs (then known as the Texans) on July 2, 1962, and played for the franchise for 14 seasons. With Dawson as the team's starter, the Texans/Chiefs won three American Football League championships and appeared in two Super Bowl championship games. Dawson was named Most Valuable Player after the Chiefs' victory in Super Bowl IV and retired in 1975 with several franchise records. Three quarterbacks currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame have started at least one game for Kansas City: Dawson, Joe Montana, and Warren Moon. The most quarterbacks started in one season was five in 1987, however, this was primarily due to the player strike that led to teams using replacement players. The Chiefs have had the same quarterback start every game in a season 15 times. Trent Green started the most consecutive games with 81. Mahomes and Dawson are the only quarterbacks to lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, I and IV for Dawson and LIV, LV, LVII, LVIII, and LIX for Mahomes, with the Chiefs winning IV, LIV, LVII, and LVIII.

Starting quarterbacks by season

access-date=September 17, 2008}}</ref>

Regular-season

The number of games started in the season by each player is listed in small parentheses. Statistics do not include postseason starts.

;14 game seasons

SeasonQuarterback(s)Reference(s)Kansas City Chiefs}};color:white;border:2px solid #f2c800;text-align:center"Dallas Texans 1960–1962Kansas City Chiefs}};color:white;border:2px solid #f2c800;text-align:center"Kansas City Chiefs 1963–present
1960Cotton Davidson (12) / Hunter Enis (2)
1961Cotton Davidson (12) / Randy Duncan (2)
1962Len Dawson (14)
1963Len Dawson (13) / Eddie Wilson (1)
1964Len Dawson (14)
1965Len Dawson (12) / Pete Beathard (2)
1966Len Dawson (14)
1967Len Dawson (14)
1968Len Dawson (13) / Jacky Lee (1)
1969Len Dawson (7) / Jacky Lee (1) / Mike Livingston (6)
1970Len Dawson (12) / Mike Livingston (2)
1971Len Dawson (13) / Mike Livingston (1)
1972Len Dawson (12) / Mike Livingston (2)
1973Mike Livingston (8) / Len Dawson (6)
1974Len Dawson (8) / Mike Livingston (6)
1975Mike Livingston (7) / Len Dawson (5) / Tony Adams (2)
1976Mike Livingston (14)
1977Mike Livingston (11) / Tony Adams (3)

;16 game seasons

SeasonQuarterback(s)Reference(s)
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020

;17 game seasons

SeasonQuarterback(s)Reference(s)
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Post-season records

Kansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"QuarterbackKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"Record
Patrick Mahomes17–4
Len Dawson5–3
Joe Montana2–2
Steve DeBerg1–2
Alex Smith1–4
Todd Blackledge0–1
Dave Krieg0–1
Steve Bono0–1
Elvis Grbac0–1
Matt Cassel0–1
Trent Green0–2

All-Star/Pro Bowl quarterbacks

Kansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"QuarterbackKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"No. of selections
Len Dawson7×
Patrick Mahomes6×
Alex Smith3×
Cotton Davidson2×
Trent Green2×
Steve Bono1×
Matt Cassel1×
Elvis Grbac1×
Bill Kenney1×
Mike Livingston1×
Joe Montana1×

Most games as starting quarterback

Only the top 10 are listed below.

Kansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"RankKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"NameKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"SeasonsKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"GSKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"GPKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"WKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"LKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"TKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"Pct
11962–7515818394568
22017–present12612695310
32001–06888848400
41980–887710634430
52013–17767650260
61968–79759030431
71988-91525731201
81997–2000474926210
2009–124819280
101979–82315213180
1994–963721100

As of week 15 of the 2025 season

Team career passing leaders

Below are the top five quarterbacks in each category throughout their tenure with the Chiefs. Stats are complete through week 15 of the 2025 NFL Season. ;Yards

Kansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"NameKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"Yards
Patrick Mahomes35,939
Len Dawson28,507
Trent Green21,459
Alex Smith17,608
Bill Kenney17,277

;Touchdowns

Kansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"NameKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"TDs
Patrick Mahomes267
Len Dawson237
Trent Green118
Bill Kenney105
Alex Smith102

;Quarterback rating (minimum 500 attempts)

Kansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"NameKansas City Chiefsborder=2}};"Rating
Patrick Mahomes100.8
Alex Smith94.8
Trent Green87.3
Joe Montana85.0
Damon Huard83.3

Notes

: Strikes by the National Football League Players Association in the 1982 and 1987 seasons resulted in shortened seasons (9 and 15-game schedules, respectively).

: Replacement quarterbacks Matt Stevens, Frank Seurer, and Doug Hudson started for the Chiefs alongside Kenney and Blackledge following the NFL Players Association strike in 1987. For the only time in team history, five different quarterbacks started in 1987 following the player's strike.

References

References

  1. "Chiefs All-time Quarterbacks".
  2. Herb, Kuhbander, Looney, and Moris. p. 400
  3. (July 6, 2007). "This Week in Chiefs History". Kansas City Chiefs.
  4. Herb, Kuhbander, Looney, and Moris. p. 417
  5. (August 10, 2007). "This Week in Chiefs History". Kansas City Chiefs official website.
  6. (September 17, 2008). "Chiefs QB Thigpen to start vs. Falcons".
  7. "Cotton Davidson". Sports Reference LLC.
  8. "1960 Dallas Texans season". Sports Reference.
  9. "Hunter Enis". Sports Reference LLC.
  10. "1961 Dallas Texans season". Sports Reference.
  11. "Randy Duncan". Sports Reference LLC.
  12. "1962 Dallas Texans season". Sports Reference LLC.
  13. "Len Dawson". Sports Reference LLC.
  14. "1963 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  15. "Ed Wilson". Sports Reference LLC.
  16. "1964 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  17. "1965 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  18. "Pete Beathard". Sports Reference LLC.
  19. "1966 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  20. "1967 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  21. "1968 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  22. "Jacky Lee". Sports Reference LLC.
  23. "1969 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  24. "Mike Livingston". Sports Reference LLC.
  25. "1970 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  26. "1971 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  27. "1972 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  28. "1973 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  29. "1974 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  30. Gretz, Bob. (September 12, 2003). "Thinking about quarterbacks". Kansas City Chiefs.
  31. "1975 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  32. "1976 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  33. "1977 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  34. "Tony Adams". Sports Reference LLC.
  35. "1978 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  36. "1979 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  37. "Steve Fuller (American football)". Sports Reference LLC.
  38. "1980 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  39. "Bill Kenney". Sports Reference LLC.
  40. "1981 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  41. "1982 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  42. "1983 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  43. "1984 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  44. "Todd Blackledge". Sports Reference LLC.
  45. "1985 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  46. "1986 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  47. "1987 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  48. "Matt Stevens". Sports Reference LLC.
  49. "Frank Seurer". Sports Reference LLC.
  50. "Doug Hudson". Sports Reference LLC.
  51. "1988 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  52. "Steve DeBerg". Sports Reference LLC.
  53. "1989 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  54. "Ron Jaworski". Sports Reference LLC.
  55. "Steve Pelluer". Sports Reference LLC.
  56. "1990 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  57. "1991 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  58. "Mark Vlasic". Sports Reference LLC.
  59. "1992 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  60. "Dave Krieg". Sports Reference LLC.
  61. "1993 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  62. "Joe Montana". Sports Reference LLC.
  63. "1994 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  64. "Steve Bono". Sports Reference LLC.
  65. "1995 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  66. "1996 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  67. "Rich Gannon". Sports Reference LLC.
  68. "1997 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  69. "Elvis Grbac". Sports Reference LLC.
  70. "1998 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  71. "1999 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  72. "2000 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  73. "Warren Moon". Sports Reference LLC.
  74. "2001 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  75. "Trent Green". Sports Reference LLC.
  76. "2002 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  77. "2003 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  78. "2004 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  79. "2005 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  80. "2006 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  81. "Damon Huard". Sports Reference LLC.
  82. "2007 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference.
  83. "Brodie Croyle". Sports Reference LLC.
  84. (September 8, 2008). "Chiefs QB Croyle out for this week". National Football League.
  85. (October 19, 2008). "Chiefs QB Croyle sprains right knee, done for the season". ESPN.
  86. "Tyler Thigpen". Sports Reference LLC.
  87. "2009 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  88. "2010 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  89. "2011 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  90. "2012 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  91. "2013 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  92. "2014 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  93. "2015 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  94. "2016 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  95. "2017 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  96. "2018 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  97. "2019 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  98. "2020 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  99. "2021 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  100. "2022 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  101. "2023 Kansas City Chiefs season". Sports Reference LLC.
  102. "2024 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports".
  103. "Career passing yards by Chiefs Quarterbacks".
  104. "Career Passing Touchdowns by Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks".
  105. "Career QB Rating leaders (minimum 500 attempts) by Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks".
  106. "NFL History by Decade, 1981–1990". NFL.com.
  107. "Kansas City Chiefs History–1980's". Kansas City Chiefs.
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