The Kansas City Chiefs have become accustomed to Super Bowl victories in recent years, and as they enter 2024, Patrick Mahomes and the team are pursuing their third consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
The Chiefs have enjoyed a remarkable streak, reaching four Super Bowls since 2019 and securing three championships in the past five seasons. However, there was a significant gap where the franchise struggled to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Their last major playoff failure occurred in 1993, when they lost the AFC Championship game to the Buffalo Bills. Prior to their recent success, the Chiefs hadn’t won a Super Bowl since 1969, the year before the AFL-NFL merger.
In Super Bowl IV, they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 23-7, with Len Dawson earning MVP honors for his 142-yard, one-touchdown performance.
In that game, the Chiefs’ defense excelled under challenging conditions, restricting the Vikings to just 67 rushing yards, forcing three interceptions, and recovering two fumbles at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
Jim Kearney, a key defensive player during that Super Bowl, spent nine of his 12 NFL seasons with the Chiefs and never missed a start across 115 games.
In a 1981 interview, Kearney reflected on the constant effort required to maintain his position, saying, “Week in and week out you’ve got to prove yourself.”
Jim Kearney, the Super Bowl IV champion and a record-setting safety for the Chiefs, passed away on Monday at the age of 81.
His standout season was 1972, when he tied an NFL record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns and became the first Chiefs player to score twice on interceptions in a single game against the Denver Broncos.
Kearney’s career concluded with 23 interceptions, including one in the 1969 AFL Championship Game. Coach Hank Stram had referred to him as “the most underrated safety in the AFL” at that time.
An All-SWAC and NAIA All-America quarterback at Prairie View A&M, Kearney played alongside future Chiefs wide receiver Otis Taylor, with whom he connected for 12 touchdowns in 1964.
After retiring, Kearney taught science and coached at Washington High, finding great fulfillment in his educational role.
In 2022, Kearney made headlines when he misplaced his Super Bowl IV ring at Shoal Creek Golf Course in Kansas City, though it was later recovered in the parking lot.
Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of the Chiefs, paid tribute to Kearney, saying, “Jim was a key player in our AFL Championship team and contributed to our victory in Super Bowl IV. He joined the Chiefs in 1967 and played without missing a game for eight years. Beyond his athletic achievements, Jim’s most significant contributions were off the field, as he mentored countless children in the Kansas City area. Our deepest condolences go to Shirley and the Kearney family.”
