The Story Behind How The Kansas City Chiefs Got Their Name

Los Angeles Chargers v Kansas City Chiefs

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Whether it be in the stadium or at home, dutiful fans cheer on their favorite teams every week. However, not everyone knows the story behind the monikers and nicknames they're chanting at the top of their lungs. Luckily, Stacker recently dived into the story behind every NFL football team's name to give fans a little bit of insight.

There are 32 teams in the National Football League (NFL), and each one has a unique story as to how they got their name. Some were chosen by fans, while others have ties to former professional sports teams and beloved athletes.

Here's how the Kansas City Chief's founded in 1960, got their name:

"Kansas City's new football team in 1960 was definitely in need of a name change–the franchise's previous name, the Texans, was not going to fly in Missouri. Former Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle was nicknamed "Chief" and, as a nod to his efforts to bring the formerly Dallas Texans to his city, team ownership named the team Chiefs. The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV in January 1970 to complete their 1969 season. In 2020, led by young quarterback Pat Mahomes, they would win their second world championship, beating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV."

Curious about how the rest of the teams in the NFL got their names? Check out their stories on Stacker.


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