1994 Kansas City Chiefs season

1994 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head coach	Marty Schottenheimer
Home field	Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	2nd AFC West
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Wild Card round (Dolphins)
Pro Bowlers	DE Neil Smith LB Derrick Thomas CB Dale Carter

The 1994 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 9–7 record and Wild Card spot in the 1995 playoffs. The Chiefs lost to the Miami Dolphins 27–17 in the Wild Card round. Alongside celebrating the NFL's 75th anniversary season, the Chiefs also honored their 35th season as a franchise. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana retired following the season.

Offseason

NFL draft

1994 Kansas City Chiefs draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	25	Greg Hill	Running back	Texas A&M
2	58	Donnell Bennett	Running back	Miami (FL)
3	92	Lake Dawson	Wide receiver	Notre Dame
3	96	Chris Penn	Wide receiver	Tulsa
4	127	Bracy Walker	Defensive back	North Carolina
5	151	James Burton	Defensive back	Fresno State
5	156	Rob Waldrop	Defensive tackle	Arizona
6	185	Anthony Daigle	Running back	Fresno State
7	199	Steve Matthews	Quarterback	Memphis
7	219	Tracy Greene	Tight end	Grambling State
Made roster

^[1]

Personnel

Staff

1994 Kansas City Chiefs staff
	Front office Founder – Lamar Hunt Chairman of the Board – Jack Steadman President/General Manager/Chief Executive Officer – Carl Peterson Assistant General Manager – Dennis Thum Vice President of Player Personnel – Lynn Stiles Director of Pro Personnel – Mark Hatley Director of College Scouting – Terry Bradway Head coaches Head Coach – Marty Schottenheimer Assistant Head Coach – Al Saunders Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Paul Hackett Running Backs – Jimmy Raye Receivers – Al Saunders Tight Ends – Kurt Schottenheimer Offensive Line – Alex Gibbs Offensive Assistant/Quality Control – Mike McCarthy			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Dave Adolph Defensive Line – Tom Pratt Defensive Backs – Herman Edwards Defensive Assistant – John Bunting Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Darvin Wallis Special teams coaches Special Teams – Kurt Schottenheimer Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Dave Redding Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Russ Ball

Regular season

After an opening day win over the New Orleans Saints, the Chiefs faced the San Francisco 49ers on September 11. Facing his old team, Joe Montana led the Chiefs to a 24–17 win at Arrowhead. But after opening the season at 3–0, the Chiefs dropped 2 in a row to the Rams and Chargers.

On October 17, a 6-yard pass and a tightrope run into the end zone ended the Chiefs' 11-year drought in Mile High Stadium. Joe Montana and the Chiefs faced a 4-point deficit on Monday Night Football. The final drive in the final 82 seconds took nine plays, all of them Montana passes except one run of 10 yards by Marcus Allen; Montana's final pass was a five-yard score to Willie Davis for the 31–28 Kansas City win. For the game, Montana hit 34 of 54 pass attempts for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns and the Chiefs, now 4–2, had now thrust themselves back into the playoff hunt. The game was tied 14–14 at the half. Lin Elliott's field goal with 4:08 left in the game temporarily put the Chiefs ahead 24–21. A Marcus Allen fumble set up the Broncos' final touchdown, but Montana and his inspiring confidence resulted in the comeback.

Montana would have another great season passing for 3,283 yards. The rushing game improved from 1993 as the Chiefs rushed for 1,732 yards and twelve touchdowns (up from the previous year's 1,655 yards). Allen's game trailed off form 1993 as he gained 709 yards to lead the team (to 764 the previous year), while rookie Greg Hill managed only 574 yards for the season. Fullback Kimble Anders was the leading receiver with 67 receptions. The defense showed flashes of brilliance as it improved to seventh in fewest points allowed from 1993's ninth, and as had become the standard, was led by perennial Pro Bowlers Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith. Defensive back Dale Carter had a superb year and was also chosen for the Pro Bowl.

On December 24, Marcus Allen gained 132 yards rushing as the Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Raiders 19–9. The win secured a fifth-straight playoff spot for the Chiefs.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 4, 1994	at New Orleans Saints	W 30–17	69,362
2	September 11, 1994	San Francisco 49ers	W 24–17	79,907
3	September 18, 1994	at Atlanta Falcons	W 30–10	67,357
4	September 25, 1994	Los Angeles Rams	L 16–0	78,184
5	Bye
6	October 9, 1994	at San Diego Chargers	L 20–6	62,923
7	October 17, 1994	at Denver Broncos	W 31–28	75,151
8	October 23, 1994	Seattle Seahawks	W 38–23	78,847
9	October 30, 1994	at Buffalo Bills	L 44–10	79,501
10	November 6, 1994	Los Angeles Raiders	W 13–3	78,709
11	November 13, 1994	San Diego Chargers	L 14–13	76,997
12	November 20, 1994	Cleveland Browns	W 20–13	69,121
13	November 27, 1994	at Seattle Seahawks	L 10–9	54,120
14	December 4, 1994	Denver Broncos	L 20–17	77,631
15	December 12, 1994	at Miami Dolphins	L 45–28	71,578
16	December 18, 1994	Houston Oilers	W 31–9	74,474
17	December 24, 1994	at Los Angeles Raiders	W 19–9	64,130

Standings

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
^(2) San Diego Chargers	11	5	0	.688	381	306	W2
^(6) Kansas City Chiefs	9	7	0	.563	319	298	W2
Los Angeles Raiders	9	7	0	.563	303	327	L1
Denver Broncos	7	9	0	.438	347	396	L3
Seattle Seahawks	6	10	0	.375	287	323	L2

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Wildcard	December 31, 1994	at Miami Dolphins	L 27–17	69,757

References

1. "1994 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.