1987 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerJim Schaaf
Head coachFrank Gansz
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record4–11
Division place5th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
4
AP All-ProsNone

The 1987 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 18th season in the National Football League and the 28th overall. Under new head coach Frank Gansz, the Chiefs split their first two games, 1-1. The 1987 NFL season featured games predominantly played by replacement players, as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) players went on strike from weeks four to six with week three being cancelled across the league. The replacement players went 0–3. After the regulars returned, the Chiefs continued to struggle. They lost their next five games to stand at 1–9 and finished the season with a 4–11 record a year after making the playoffs in 1986.

Offseason

One of the most tumultuous weeks in franchise history took place following the club's playoff loss against the Jets in the 1986 playoffs. Assistant head coach and special teams coach Frank Gansz, resigned his position on January 7 in order to pursue opportunities as an NFL offensive coordinator.[1] The following day, the Chiefs announced in an impromptu press conference that John Mackovic was relieved of his duties as head coach on January 8. A popular figure among Chiefs players, Gansz was reinstated on January 10 and was named the sixth head coach in franchise history.[1]

Former quarterback Len Dawson became the third Chiefs player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8,[1] while injuries forced the retirement of the club's all-time leading tackler Gary Spani.

NFL draft

Main article: 1987 NFL draft
1987 Kansas City Chiefs draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 19 Paul Palmer  Running back Temple
2 35 Christian Okoye *  Fullback Azusa Pacific
3 73 Todd Howard  Linebacker Texas A&M
5 128 Kitrick Taylor  Wide receiver Washington State
7 186 Doug Hudson  Quarterback Nicholls State
8 218 Michael Clemons  Running back William & Mary
9 244 Randy Watts  Defensive end Catawba
10 271 James Evans  Running back Southern
11 298 Craig Richardson  Wide receiver Eastern Washington
12 325 Bruce Holmes  Linebacker Minnesota
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Personnel

Staff

1987 Kansas City Chiefs staff

Front office

  • Founder – Lamar Hunt
  • President – Jack Steadman
  • Vice president/general manager – Jim Schaaf
  • Director of pro personnel – Whitey Dovell
  • Director of college scouting – Les Miller
  • Coordinator of college scouting – Greg Mohns

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator/linebackers – John Paul Young
  • Defensive line – Don Lawrence
  • Defensive backs – Dave Brazil
  • Defensive quality control/linebackers – Mark Hatley

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning coordinator – CT Hewgley

Replacement players

After the league decided to use replacement players during the NFLPA strike, the following team was assembled:

1987 Kansas City Chiefs replacement roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 21 Ralph Stockemer
  • 39 Steve Griffin
  • 40 Ken Lacy
  • 41 Woodie Pippens
  • 42 Lloyd Murray
  • 43 Robert Parker
  • 47 Chris Smith

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Roster

1987 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

Season summary

A duo of rookies made a splash in a 20–13 win on Opening Day against San Diego as running back Paul Palmer returned a kickoff for a TD and Christian Okoye dashed for 105 yards.[1] A 24-day players strike began on September 22, canceling the club's contest against Minnesota.[1] Replacement players participated in games for the next three weeks. Much like Marv Levy five years earlier, Gansz's grip on the club's coaching reins was crippled by the labor unrest.[1]

Kansas City's replacement squad consisted primarily of players cut in training camp. One of the few bright spots among the players was running back Jitter Fields, who remained on the active roster following the strike.[1] The Chiefs strike squad received an ominous welcome in Los Angeles when in the early morning hours of October 4, the day prior to a contest against the Raiders, an earthquake rattled Southern California. The shaken Chiefs lost a 35–17 decision later that day. The low point of the year came the following week at Miami in the first regular season game played at what then was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. Chiefs replacement QB Matt Stevens was injured early in the contest, forcing into duty backup quarterback Alex Espinoza, who had never taken an NFL snap. The result was a 42–0 Dolphins victory, setting the stage for an 0–3 performance by Kansas City's replacement unit, giving the Chiefs a 1–4 record before the club's regular roster returned at San Diego on October 25.[1] Five straight losses followed, giving the Chiefs a team-record nine-game losing skid. For the only time in team history, five different players started games at quarterback for the club.[1] Behind Kenney, Kansas City won two of its last three games to conclude the strike-shortened 4–11 campaign.

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
HOF August 8 vs. San Francisco 49ers L 7–20 0–1 Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio) 23,826 Recap
1 August 13 at Houston Oilers W 32–20 1–1 Houston Astrodome 30,147 Recap
2 August 22 Atlanta Falcons W 13–10 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 39,164 Recap
3 August 29 Buffalo Bills W 34–14 3–1 Arrowhead Stadium 43,887 Recap
4 September 6 vs. St. Louis Cardinals W 13–10 (OT) 4–1 Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN) 62,353 Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 13 San Diego Chargers W 20–13 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 56,940 Recap
2 September 20 at Seattle Seahawks L 14–43 1–1 Kingdome 61,667 Recap
3 September 27 Minnesota Vikings Cancelled due to players' strike
4 October 4 at Los Angeles Raiders L 17–35 1–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 10,708 Recap
5 October 11 at Miami Dolphins L 0–42 1–3 Joe Robbie Stadium 25,867 Recap
6 October 18 Denver Broncos L 17–26 1–4 Arrowhead Stadium 20,296 Recap
7 October 25 at San Diego Chargers L 21–42 1–5 Jack Murphy Stadium 47,972 Recap
8 November 1 at Chicago Bears L 28–31 1–6 Soldier Field 63,498 Recap
9 November 8 Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–17 1–7 Arrowhead Stadium 45,249 Recap
10 November 15 New York Jets L 9–16 1–8 Arrowhead Stadium 40,718 Recap
11 November 22 Green Bay Packers L 3–23 1–9 Arrowhead Stadium 34,611 Recap
12 November 26 at Detroit Lions W 27–20 2–9 Pontiac Silverdome 43,820 Recap
13 December 6 at Cincinnati Bengals L 27–30 (OT) 2–10 Riverfront Stadium 46,489 Recap
14 December 13 Los Angeles Raiders W 16–10 3–10 Arrowhead Stadium 63,834 Recap
15 December 19 at Denver Broncos L 17–20 3–11 Mile High Stadium 75,053 Recap
16 December 27 Seattle Seahawks W 41–20 4–11 Arrowhead Stadium 20,370 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 1: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 0 31013
Chiefs 3 7 01020

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 0714
Seahawks 3 14 20643

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 4: at Los Angeles Raiders

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 14317
Raiders 14 7 7735

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Week 5: at Miami Dolphins

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 000
Dolphins 7 7 21742

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 25,867
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 6: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 9 10 0726
Chiefs 7 7 3017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 7: at San Diego Chargers

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 14 7021
Chargers 14 21 0742

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,972
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Dave Casper
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 14 7 7028
Bears 7 7 31431

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Fog, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,498
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Paul Maguire
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 9: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 9: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 7 7317
Chiefs 7 3 0616

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 10: vs. New York Jets

Week 10: New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jets 3 0 31016
Chiefs 0 3 609

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 40,718
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Paul Maguire
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 7 0 13323
Chiefs 0 0 303

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 12: at Detroit Lions

Thanksgiving Day games

Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 17 3027
Lions 0 10 3720

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 43,820
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
  • Recap
Game information

Week 13: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Chiefs 0 3 1410027
Bengals 10 7 37330

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 38 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 46,489
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mel Proctor and Reggie Rucker
  • Recap
Game information

Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

Week 14: Los Angeles Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 3 7010
Chiefs 0 7 3616

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 13
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 41 °F (5 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,834
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at Denver Broncos

Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 7717
Broncos 7 10 3020

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 19
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 75,053
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 13 0020
Chiefs 17 10 7741

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 27
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast and Drizzle, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 20,370
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Gayle Sierens and Dave Rowe
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Denver Broncos(1) 10 4 1 .700 7–1 8–3 379 288 W2
Seattle Seahawks(5) 9 6 0 .600 4–3 5–6 371 314 L1
San Diego Chargers 8 7 0 .533 3–4 6–7 253 317 L6
Los Angeles Raiders 5 10 0 .333 2–6 3–8 301 289 L3
Kansas City Chiefs 4 11 0 .267 3–5 3–9 273 388 W1

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's". Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  2. ^ "1987 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 12, 2014.

External links

Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs seasons
1987 NFL season
Categories