1997 Kansas City Chiefs

1997 Kansas City Chiefs season
Owner	Lamar Hunt
Head Coach	Marty Schottenheimer
General Manager	Carl Peterson
Home Field	Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record	13–3
Place	1st AFC West
Playoff Finish	Lost Divisional Playoffs (vs. Broncos) 10–14
Pro Bowlers	FB Kimble Anders WR Andre Rison OG Will Shields LB Derrick Thomas CB Dale Carter CB James Hasty
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
1996	1998

The 1997 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League, and the 38th overall.

The Chiefs improved on their 9–7 record from 1996, and finished with a 13–3 record and as AFC West division champions. Throughout the season, the Rich Gannon–Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy would be a focal point of the team's season, which brewed throughout the entire season and arguably cost the Chiefs a victory in the playoffs. The Chiefs were defeated by division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion, Denver Broncos, in the 1998 playoffs. 1997 was the final season that the Chiefs would appear in the playoffs during the 1990s and for the next several seasons, they fell into futility. They would return to the playoffs in 2003, only to lose to the Colts.

This was the last season that head coach Marty Schottenheimer would coach the team into the playoffs, with the loss to Denver in the Divisional round 14–10 capping off many years of disappointing playoff struggles. This was also the final season for future Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.

Personnel

Staff

1997 Kansas City Chiefs final staff
	Front Office Founder – Lamar Hunt President/General Manager/Chief Executive Officer – Carl Peterson Chairman of the Board – Jack Steadman Executive Vice President/Assistant General Manager – Dennis Thum Head Coaches Head Coach – Marty Schottenheimer Assistant Head Coach/Receivers – Al Saunders Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Russ Ball Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Paul Hackett Quarterbacks – Mike McCarthy Running Backs – Jimmy Raye Tight Ends/Offensive Assistant – Jim Erkenbeck Offensive Line – Mike Solari			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Gunther Cunningham Defensive Line – Bob Karmelowicz Defensive Backs – Kurt Schottenheimer Defensive Assistant/Assistant Special Teams – Woodrow Lowe Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Darvin Wallis Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Mike Stock Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Dave Redding Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Roberto Parker

Schedule

Week	Opponent	Result	Game site	Attendance
1	at Denver	L 3–19	Mile High Stadium	75,600
2	at Oakland	W 28–27	Network Associates Coliseum	61,523
3	Buffalo	W 22–16	Arrowhead Stadium	78,169
4	at Carolina	W 35–14	Bank of America Stadium	67,402
5	Seattle	W 20–17 OT	Arrowhead Stadium	77,877
6	at Miami	L 14–17	Pro Player Stadium	71,794
7	Bye
8	San Diego	W 31–3	Arrowhead Stadium	77,195
9	at St. Louis	W 28–20	Edward Jones Dome	64,864
10	Pittsburgh	W 13–10	Arrowhead Stadium	78,301
11	at Jacksonville	L 14–24	ALLTEL Stadium	70,444
12	Denver	W 24–22	Arrowhead Stadium	77,963
13	at Seattle	W 19–14	Kingdome	66,264
14	San Francisco	W 44–9	Arrowhead Stadium	77,535
15	Oakland	W 30–0	Arrowhead Stadium	76,379
16	at San Diego	W 29–7	Qualcomm Stadium	54,594
17	New Orleans	W 25–13	Arrowhead Stadium	66,772
1998 Playoffs
Divisional Playoff	Denver	L 10–14	Arrowhead Stadium	76,965

Standings

AFC West
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Kansas City Chiefs	13	3	0	.813	375	232
Denver Broncos	12	4	0	.750	472	287
Seattle Seahawks	8	8	0	.500	365	362
Oakland Raiders	4	12	0	.250	324	419
San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	266	425

See also

• Rich Gannon/Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy