1986 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the 27th overall. It ended with a 10–6 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1971. The Chiefs clinched a wild card playoff berth, but lost to the New York Jets 35–15.

1986 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
Head coachJohn Mackovic
General managerJim Schaaf
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs (Jets) 15–35
Pro BowlersDT Bill Maas
S Lloyd Burruss
S Deron Cherry

Former linebacker Willie Lanier was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 2. On the field, the pieces started coming together for head coach John Mackovic. His offense displayed plenty of scoring punch, while the club’s defense and special teams became increasingly effective.[1] With the team sitting at 3–3, Bill Kenney replaced Todd Blackledge for the second half of the season in a game against San Diego,[1] guiding the club to a 42–41 victory. That win was the first of four consecutive triumphs with Kenney at the helm, the club’s longest winning streak since 1980. Poised with a 7–3 record after 10 games, three straight losses in November put the Chiefs playoff chances in jeopardy. Two December wins gave Kansas City a 9–6 mark, putting the Chiefs on the verge of their first postseason berth in 15 years.[1]

The defining moment of the season came in the regular season finale at Pittsburgh on December 21.[1] Despite being outgained in total yardage by a 515-to-171-yard margin, the Chiefs were able to notch a 24–19 victory as all of the team’s points came via special teams on a blocked punt return, a field goal, a kickoff return and a blocked field goal return.[1] With a 10–6 record the Chiefs earned an AFC Wild Card berth, winning a tiebreaker with Seattle. Bill Kenney was injured in the fourth quarter of the Steelers contest, meaning Todd Blackledge would draw the starting assignment for the club’s first playoff contest since 1971, a 35–15 loss at New York.

Mackovic was fired after the season.

NFL Draft
Main article: 1986 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Position School
1 7 Brian Jozwiak Guard West Virginia
2 35 Dino Hackett Linebacker Appalachian State
3 63 Leonard Griffin Defensive end Grambling State
4 87 Tom Baugh Center Southern Illinois
90 Chas Fox Wide receiver Furman
6 141 Kent Hagood Running back South Carolina
8 196 Lewis Colbert Punter Auburn
9 229 Gary Baldinger Defensive end Wake Forest
10 257 Ike Readon Nose tackle Hampton
11 285 Aaron Pearson Linebacker Mississippi State

Personnel

Staff
1986 Kansas City Chiefs staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – CT Hewgley

Roster
1986 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 7, 1986 Cincinnati Bengals W 24–14
43,430
2 September 14, 1986 at Seattle Seahawks L 23–17
61,068
3 September 21, 1986 Houston Oilers W 27–13
43,699
4 September 28, 1986 at Buffalo Bills W 20–17
67,555
5 October 5, 1986 Los Angeles Raiders L 24–17
74,430
6 October 12, 1986 at Cleveland Browns L 20–7
71,278
7 October 19, 1986 San Diego Chargers W 42–41
55,767
8 October 26, 1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–20
36,230
9 November 2, 1986 at San Diego Chargers W 24–23
48,518
10 November 9, 1986 Seattle Seahawks W 27–7
53,268
11 November 16, 1986 at Denver Broncos L 38–17
75,745
12 November 23, 1986 at St. Louis Cardinals L 23–14
29,680
13 November 30, 1986 Buffalo Bills L 17–14
31,492
14 December 7, 1986 Denver Broncos W 37–10
47,019
15 December 14, 1986 at Los Angeles Raiders W 20–17
60,952
16 December 21, 1986 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–19
47,150

Standings
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Denver Broncos(2) 11 5 0 .688 5–3 8–4 378 327 L1
Kansas City Chiefs(5) 10 6 0 .625 5–3 9–5 358 326 W3
Seattle Seahawks 10 6 0 .625 5–3 7–5 366 293 W5
Los Angeles Raiders 8 8 0 .500 4–4 7–5 323 346 L4
San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 1–7 4–8 335 396 L2

Playoffs

AFC Wild Card Playoffs
1 2 34Total
Chiefs 6 0 0915
Jets 7 14 7735

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Quarterback Pat Ryan led the Jets to the victory with 3 touchdown passes. The Chiefs scored first on a 67-yard drive capped by running back Jeff Smith. On their ensuing possession, the Jets faced fourth down and 6 on the Kansas City 33-yard line. Rather than attempt a long field goal, Ryan faked a handoff and rushed for a 24 yard gain. Two plays later, running back Freeman McNeil scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. In the second period, Ryan completed two touchdown pass: a 1-yarder to McNeil and an 11-yarder to wide receiver Al Toon. On the first play of the second half, Jets linebacker Kevin McArthur returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Ryan later clinched the victory in the fourth period with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Griggs. The Chiefs' only scores in the second half was a blocked punt recovery in the end zone, and an intentional safety by the Jets.

McNeil finished the game with 135 rushing yards, 3 receptions for 16 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

  • Scoring
    • KC – Smith 1 run (kick failed)
    • NYJ – McNeil 4 run (Leahy kick)
    • NYJ – McNeil 1 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
    • NYJ – Toon 11 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
    • NYJ – McArthur 21 interception return (Leahy kick)
    • KC – Lewis recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lowery kick)
    • NYJ – Griggs 6 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
    • KC – Safety, Jennings ran out of end zone

References
  1. "Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's". Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
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