Search - NFL Americas Game: Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl IV on DVD

Sad to say, but still the Chiefs greatest moment

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 06/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released by NFL Films as part of its 20 greatest Super Bowls package, this film relates the story of the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl by defeating Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in early 1970. For Chiefs fans, this is must viewing since it is still the team's only Super Bowl win.

The storylines of that famous 1969 season are, for the most part, all told in this video. The Chiefs were a dominant AFL team throughouth the 1960s, having won the 1962 championship in their final year as the Dallas Texans, then winning again in 1966 to get the honor of losing to Green Bay in the first Super Bowl.

Among memorable moments in the video is the story of QB Len Dawson's alleged gambling scheme, a story that broke during Super Bowl week and grabbed a big share of headlines. Turned out Dawson was clean and the story, coming on the heels of his dad's death, added drama to the upcoming game, which -- following the Jets remarkable win the year before over the Colts -- confirmed the authenticity of the AFL. It was the last Super Bowl played before the two leagues merged.

Another memorable moment caught here is coach Hank Stram (whom the NFL Network recently ranked among the top 10 greatest motivational coaches in NFL history) being miked throughtout the game, the first time NFL Films ever did this. It resulted in legend for both NFL Films and Stram, who uttered now famous lines including, "Keep matriculating the ball down the field" and "65 toss power trap."

Having been a Chiefs fan from their 1960 organization in Dallas, I was a little disappointed some of the great moments of the 1969 season weren't included. One I remember vividly came near the end of the 13-6 playoff win against the Jets where the Chiefs defense, led by Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier, stretched the Jets and Joe Namath to the sideline, forcing an incomplete pass late in the game in the shadow of the end zone. The final regular season loss to the hated rival Raiders that season had the Chiefs so secretive of their playoff agenda that they started the game offensively in the T-formation.

These memories aside, anyone that thinks they're a Chiefs fan should own this video, one of NFL Films enduring set about great Super Bowl champions."

End of an Era

cawriter | California | 10/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The 1969 season marked the end of the American Football League (AFL), which was an enormous success. It also marked the last time the Kansas City Chiefs were of championship caliber. This DVD could be improved by extending it a bit and giving more coverage to Super Bowl IV, which the Chiefs won at the end of the 1969 season. Remember, NFL diehards had dismissed the NY Jets victory over Baltimore in Super Bowl III as a fluke. If the Chiefs had lost Super Bowl IV to the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL folks may have been right. So, to cement the AFL's legitimacy, it was essential that the AFL champions win the final Super Bowl played between the two separate leagues. When the Chiefs defeated the Vikings convincingly, the AFL reached its pinnacle. Having said this, the DVD is a fine product. It's worthy of purchase by football fans of all types, particularly those interested in the AFL. And of course, every Chiefs fan should own it."