1977 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1977 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 8th season in the National Football League, the 15th as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 18th overall. This season was the worst in franchise history[1] until the 2008 season, with the Chiefs winning only two of fourteen games. After an 0–5 start, Head coach Paul Wiggin was fired following a 44–7 loss to Cleveland in week 7. Tom Bettis took over as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The team endured a six-game losing streak to conclude the season at 2–12.
1977 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Jim Schaaf |
Head coach | Paul Wiggin (fired Oct. 31, 1–6 record) Tom Bettis (interim, 1–6 record) |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 2–12 |
Division place | 5th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | None |
Off-season
1977 NFL Draft
Round | Selection | Overall | Player | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | 10 | Gary Green | Baylor |
2 | 9 | 37 | Tony Reed | University of Colorado |
3 | 11 | 67 | Thomas Howard | Texas Tech |
4 | 8 | 92 | Mark Bailey | Long Beach State |
4 | 11 | 95 | Darius Helton | North Carolina Central |
4 | 20 | 104 | Eric Harris | Memphis State |
6 | 11 | 150 | Rick Burleson | University of Texas |
6 | 28 | 167 | Andre Herrera | Southern Illinois |
7 | 10 | 177 | Chris Golub | Kansas |
8 | 9 | 204 | Ron Olsonoski | St. Thomas (MN) |
8 | 20 | 215 | Waddell Smith | Kansas |
9 | 3 | 226 | Derrick Glanton | Bishop |
9 | 11 | 234 | Dave Green | New Mexico |
10 | 10 | 261 | Mark Vitali | Purdue |
11 | 9 | 288 | Maurice Mitchell | Northern Michigan |
12 | 11 | 318 | Ray Burks | UCLA |
Roster
Season summary
An 0–5 start doomed the squad with a 44–7 loss at Cleveland (10/30) effectively sealing Wiggin's fate. Despite the club's record Wiggin was still a popular figure in Kansas City, but was nonetheless relieved of his duties on Halloween, marking the first in-season coaching switch in team history, and the last until 2011, when Todd Haley was fired with three games remaining. Wiggin concluded his tenure with an 11–24 record.[1]
Defensive backs coach Tom Bettis was named interim coach and claimed a 20–10 victory vs. Green Bay (11/6) in the franchise's initial contest under his direction, but it was the only victory of his brief head coaching tenure. The team endured a six-game losing streak to conclude the season at 2–12.[1] (Ironically, Haley's successor, Romeo Crennel, also won his first game in charge against the Packers at home; Green Bay entered that game 13–0.)
Bettis and the remainder of the coaching staff assembled by Wiggin were released on December 19, one day after a 21–20 loss at Oakland (12/18) in the regular season finale. Marv Levy, the former head coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on December 20.[1]
The heart and soul of the Chiefs once-vaunted defense departed when roommates Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, who both joined the club together as second-round draft picks in 1967, retired following the 1977 campaign. Baltimore later acquired Lanier's rights in a trade, but failed to lure him out of retirement.[1]
By managing to win only twice in the 1977 season, the team was given the second pick in the 1978 NFL Draft.
Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 6 | at Detroit Lions | L 0–17 | 0–1 | Pontiac Silverdome | 52,309 | Recap |
2 | August 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 23–21 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 28,584 | Recap |
3 | August 18 | at Washington Redskins | L 7–13 | 1–2 | RFK Stadium | 33,263 | Recap |
4 | August 27 | Los Angeles Rams | W 27–19 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 34,975 | Recap |
5 | September 5 | Atlanta Falcons | L 16–24 | 2–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 22,748 | Recap |
6 | September 10 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 37–20 | 3–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 38,480 | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 18 | at New England Patriots | L 17–21 | 0–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 58,185 | Recap |
2 | September 25 | San Diego Chargers | L 7–23 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 56,146 | Recap |
3 | October 3 | Oakland Raiders | L 28–37 | 0–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 60,684 | Recap |
4 | October 9 | at Denver Broncos | L 7–23 | 0–4 | Mile High Stadium | 74,878 | Recap |
5 | October 16 | Baltimore Colts | L 6–17 | 0–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 63,076 | Recap |
6 | October 23 | at San Diego Chargers | W 21–16 | 1–5 | San Diego Stadium | 33,010 | Recap |
7 | October 30 | at Cleveland Browns | L 7–44 | 1–6 | Cleveland Stadium | 60,381 | Recap |
8 | November 6 | Green Bay Packers | W 20–10 | 2–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 62,687 | Recap |
9 | November 13 | at Chicago Bears | L 27–28 | 2–7 | Soldier Field | 49,543 | Recap |
10 | November 20 | Denver Broncos | L 7–14 | 2–8 | Arrowhead Stadium | 54,050 | Recap |
11 | November 27 | at Houston Oilers | L 20–34 | 2–9 | Houston Astrodome | 42,934 | Recap |
12 | December 4 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 7–27 | 2–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 38,488 | Recap |
13 | December 11 | Seattle Seahawks | L 31–34 | 2–11 | Arrowhead Stadium | 22,262 | Recap |
14 | December 18 | at Oakland Raiders | L 20–21 | 2–12 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 50,304 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Week 1: at New England Patriots
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Hazy, warm, 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 58,185
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 2: vs. San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 56,146
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Stu Nahan and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 7 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 37 |
Chiefs | 0 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 3
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,684
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 4: at Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Broncos | 10 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 74,878
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 5: vs. Baltimore Colts
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,076
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
Chargers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Hazy, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 33,010
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 7: at Cleveland Browns
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Browns | 13 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Sunny, clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,381
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Chiefs | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Overcast, 58 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,687
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Chicago Bears
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 28 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy and cool, 38 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,543
- Referee: Don Wedge
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Adamle
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 52 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 54,050
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 11: at Houston Oilers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
Oilers | 7 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 34 |
at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 42,934
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 12: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 7 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Overcast, foggy, 30 °F (−1 °C)
- Game attendance: 38,488
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 14 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
Chiefs | 21 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 22,262
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Andy Russell
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 14: at Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
Raiders | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 21 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 54 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,304
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Stockton and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Standings
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Denver Broncos(1) | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 6–1 | 11–1 | 274 | 148 | L1 |
Oakland Raiders(4) | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 5–2 | 10–2 | 351 | 230 | W2 |
San Diego Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 3–4 | 6–6 | 222 | 205 | L2 |
Seattle Seahawks | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 1–3 | 4–9 | 282 | 373 | W2 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 1–6 | 1–11 | 225 | 349 | L6 |
References
- Chiefs History: 1970s Archived June 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Kansas City Chiefs, January 2, 2006.