The Kansas City Chiefs season marked the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the 27th overall. The season concluded with a 10–6 record, representing the team's best performance since 1971. This successful run earned The Chiefs a wild card playoff berth, their first playoff appearance since the aforementioned 1971 season and only their second since the AFL-NFL merger, although their postseason journey was cut short by a 35-15 loss to the New York Jets.
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. 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, 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.
The defining moment of the season came in the regular season finale at Pittsburgh on December 21. Despite being outgained in total yardage by a 515–171 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. With a 10–6 record the Chiefs earned an AFC Wild Card berth, winning a tiebreaker with Seattle. Kenney was injured in the fourth quarter of the Steelers contest, meaning Blackledge drew the starting assignment for the club's first playoff contest since 1971, a 35–15 loss vs the New York Jets. Despite making the playoffs, Mackovic was fired after the season, allegedly due to a lack of chemistry with his players, according to owner Lamar Hunt. He was replaced by special teams coordinator Frank Gansz. The Chiefs would not make the playoffs again until 1990.
Offseason NFL draft
1986 Kansas City Chiefs draft Round Selection Player Position College17Brian JozwiakGuardWest Virginia235Dino HackettLinebackerAppalachian State363Leonard GriffinDefensive endGrambling State487Tom BaughCenterSouthern Illinois90Chas FoxWide receiverFurman6141Kent HagoodRunning backSouth Carolina8196Lewis ColbertPunterAuburn9229Gary BaldingerDefensive endWake Forest10257Ike ReadonNose tackleHampton11285Aaron PearsonLinebackerMississippi State
Undrafted free agents
+ 1986 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJohn AddisonTight endWilliam Jewell
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–0 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 30,067 Recap 2 at St. Louis Cardinals W 27–26 2–0 Busch Stadium 30,305 Recap 3 Buffalo Bills L 6–13 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 39,911 Recap 4 at New Orleans Saints L 10–13 2–2 Louisiana Superdome 47,945 Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 7 Cincinnati Bengals W 24–14 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 43,430 Recap 2 September 14 at Seattle Seahawks L 17–23 1–1 Kingdome 61,068 Recap 3 September 21 Houston Oilers W 27–13 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 43,699 Recap 4 September 28 at Buffalo Bills W 20–17 3–1 Rich Stadium 67,555 Recap 5 October 5 Los Angeles Raiders L 17–24 3–2 Arrowhead Stadium 74,430 Recap 6 October 12 at Cleveland Browns L 7–20 3–3 Cleveland Stadium 71,278 Recap 7 October 19 San Diego Chargers W 42–41 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium 55,767 Recap 8 October 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–20 5–3 Arrowhead Stadium 36,230 Recap 9 November 2 at San Diego Chargers W 24–23 6–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 48,518 Recap 10 November 9 Seattle Seahawks W 27–7 7–3 Arrowhead Stadium 53,268 Recap 11 November 16 at Denver Broncos L 17–38 7–4 Mile High Stadium 75,745 Recap 12 November 23 at St. Louis Cardinals L 14–23 7–5 Busch Stadium 29,680 Recap 13 November 30 Buffalo Bills L 14–17 7–6 Arrowhead Stadium 31,492 Recap 14 December 7 Denver Broncos W 37–10 8–6 Arrowhead Stadium 47,019 Recap 15 December 14 at Los Angeles Raiders W 20–17 9–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 60,952 Recap 16 December 21 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–19 10–6 Three Rivers Stadium 47,150 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 3: vs. Houston Oilers
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Raiders
Week 6: at Cleveland Browns
Week 7: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 9: at San Diego Chargers
Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Week 12: at St. Louis Cardinals
Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 15: at Los Angeles Raiders
Week 16: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Standings
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Wild Card December 28 at New York Jets (4) L 15–35 0–1 Giants Stadium 69,307 Recap
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) New York Jets
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.
References
External links 1986 Kansas City Chiefs at Pro-Football-Reference.com