Leonard Ray Dawson
Position: QB
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 lbs.
Born: June 20, 1935 in Alliance , OH
College: Purdue
Career AV: 100 (132nd overall since 1950)
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1987
7-time Pro Bowler & 2-time First-Team All-Pro (fine print)
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 1957 NFL Draft.
Tom Theisen sponsor(s) this page.
Len Dawson, my childhood idol. The greatest AFL QB of all-time, the stats prove that. When the modern QB ratings 1st came out, he was rated #1 all-time. Super Bowl IV MVP, Chiefs hero, a 7th son of a 7th son and an all-around nice guy.
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | QBrec | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Lng | Sk | Yds | AV | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 22 | PIT | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 25 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 15 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 69.8 | 1 | ||||||
| 1958 | 23 | PIT | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 16.7 | 11 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 33.3 | 11 | 1.8 | -13.2 | 11.0 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 1 | |||||||
| 1959 | 24 | PIT | 16 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 60 | 1 | 14.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 32 | 8.6 | 11.4 | 20.0 | 5.0 | 113.1 | 1 | |||||||
| 1960 | 25 | CLE | 18 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 61.5 | 23 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 23 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 11.5 | 65.9 | 2 | |||||||
| 1961 | 26 | CLE | 18 | 7 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 7 | 15 | 46.7 | 85 | 1 | 6.7 | 3 | 20.0 | 17 | 5.7 | -2.0 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 47.2 | 1 | ||||||
| 1962*+ | 27 | DTX | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11-3-0 | 189 | 310 | 61.0 | 2759 | 29 | 9.4 | 17 | 5.5 | 92 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 14.6 | 197.1 | 98.3 | 12 | |||||
| 1963 | 28 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 5-7-1 | 190 | 352 | 54.0 | 2389 | 26 | 7.4 | 19 | 5.4 | 82 | 6.8 | 5.8 | 12.6 | 170.6 | 77.5 | 6 | |||||
| 1964* | 29 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 199 | 354 | 56.2 | 2879 | 30 | 8.5 | 18 | 5.1 | 72 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 14.5 | 205.6 | 89.9 | 10 | |||||
| 1965 | 30 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 6-4-2 | 163 | 305 | 53.4 | 2262 | 21 | 6.9 | 14 | 4.6 | 67 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 13.9 | 161.6 | 81.3 | 7 | |||||
| 1966*+ | 31 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11-2-1 | 159 | 284 | 56.0 | 2527 | 26 | 9.2 | 10 | 3.5 | 89 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 15.9 | 180.5 | 101.7 | 16 | |||||
| 1967* | 32 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 9-5-0 | 206 | 357 | 57.7 | 2651 | 24 | 6.7 | 17 | 4.8 | 71 | 7.4 | 6.6 | 12.9 | 189.4 | 83.7 | 13 | |||||
| 1968* | 33 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11-2-0 | 131 | 224 | 58.5 | 2109 | 17 | 7.6 | 9 | 4.0 | 92 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 16.1 | 150.6 | 98.6 | 14 | |||||
| 1969* | 34 | KAN | QB | 16 | 9 | 7 | 5-2-0 | 98 | 166 | 59.0 | 1323 | 9 | 5.4 | 13 | 7.8 | 55 | 8.0 | 5.5 | 13.5 | 147.0 | 69.9 | 13 | 89 | 6.9 | 4.6 | 7.3 | 10 |
| 1970 | 35 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 5-5-2 | 141 | 262 | 53.8 | 1876 | 13 | 5.0 | 14 | 5.3 | 61 | 7.2 | 5.7 | 13.3 | 134.0 | 71.0 | 34 | 277 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 11.5 | 9 |
| 1971* | 36 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 9-3-1 | 167 | 301 | 55.5 | 2504 | 15 | 5.0 | 13 | 4.3 | 82 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 15.0 | 178.9 | 81.6 | 30 | 303 | 6.6 | 5.8 | 9.1 | 13 |
| 1972 | 37 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 7-5-0 | 175 | 305 | 57.4 | 1835 | 13 | 4.3 | 12 | 3.9 | 44 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 10.5 | 131.1 | 72.8 | 28 | 255 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 8.4 | 8 |
| 1973 | 38 | KAN | qb | 16 | 8 | 6 | 3-2-1 | 66 | 101 | 65.3 | 725 | 2 | 2.0 | 5 | 5.0 | 48 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 11.0 | 90.6 | 72.4 | 14 | 104 | 5.4 | 3.8 | 12.2 | 3 |
| 1974 | 39 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 8 | 3-5-0 | 138 | 235 | 58.7 | 1573 | 7 | 3.0 | 13 | 5.5 | 84 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 11.4 | 112.4 | 65.8 | 25 | 199 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 9.6 | 6 |
| 1975 | 40 | KAN | qb | 16 | 12 | 5 | 1-4-0 | 93 | 140 | 66.4 | 1095 | 5 | 3.6 | 4 | 2.9 | 51 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 11.8 | 91.3 | 90.0 | 23 | 196 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 14.1 | 4 |
| Career | 211 | 159 | 94-57-8 | 2136 | 3741 | 57.1 | 28711 | 239 | 6.4 | 183 | 4.9 | 92 | 7.7 | 6.8 | 13.4 | 136.1 | 82.6 | 167 | 1423 | 7.0 | 6.1 | 4.3 | 137 | ||||
| 14 yrs | KAN | 183 | 157 | 93-56-8 | 2115 | 3696 | 57.2 | 28507 | 237 | 6.4 | 178 | 4.8 | 92 | 7.7 | 6.8 | 13.5 | 155.8 | 83.2 | 167 | 1423 | 5.7 | 4.4 | 10.0 | 131 | |||
| 3 yrs | PIT | 19 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 6 | 17 | 35.3 | 96 | 1 | 5.9 | 2 | 11.8 | 32 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 16.0 | 5.1 | 35.0 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 yrs | CLE | 9 | 1 | 1-0-0 | 15 | 28 | 53.6 | 108 | 1 | 3.6 | 3 | 10.7 | 23 | 3.9 | -0.3 | 7.2 | 12.0 | 35.1 | 3 |
Playoff Record as Starting QB: 1962 (1-0), 1966 (1-1), 1968 (0-1), 1969 (3-0), 1971 (0-1)
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | QBrec | Att | Y/A+ | NY/A+ | AY/A+ | ANY/A+ | Cmp%+ | TD%+ | Int%+ | Sack%+ | Rate+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962*+ | 27 | DTX | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11-3-0 | 310 | 129 | 128 | 140 | 132 | 108 | 134 | |||
| 1963 | 28 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 5-7-1 | 352 | 96 | 107 | 117 | 120 | 110 | 115 | |||
| 1964* | 29 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 7-7-0 | 354 | 121 | 129 | 128 | 133 | 111 | 133 | |||
| 1965 | 30 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 6-4-2 | 305 | 109 | 115 | 120 | 117 | 112 | 119 | |||
| 1966*+ | 31 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11-2-1 | 284 | 131 | 138 | 127 | 138 | 129 | 138 | |||
| 1967* | 32 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 9-5-0 | 357 | 107 | 111 | 128 | 115 | 110 | 118 | |||
| 1968* | 33 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11-2-0 | 224 | 134 | 6 | 136 | 50 | 133 | 126 | 123 | 135 | 137 |
| 1969* | 34 | KAN | QB | 16 | 9 | 7 | 5-2-0 | 166 | 113 | 119 | 102 | 105 | 136 | 106 | 73 | 103 | 106 |
| 1970 | 35 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 5-5-2 | 262 | 107 | 97 | 105 | 100 | 107 | 105 | 100 | 80 | 105 |
| 1971* | 36 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 9-3-1 | 301 | 128 | 118 | 124 | 118 | 112 | 107 | 110 | 94 | 118 |
| 1972 | 37 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 7-5-0 | 305 | 88 | 88 | 100 | 99 | 117 | 100 | 114 | 98 | 109 |
| 1973 | 38 | KAN | qb | 16 | 8 | 6 | 3-2-1 | 101 | 111 | 100 | 103 | 97 | 141 | 80 | 103 | 80 | 108 |
| 1974 | 39 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 8 | 3-5-0 | 235 | 102 | 99 | 98 | 96 | 121 | 90 | 97 | 93 | 101 |
| 1975 | 40 | KAN | qb | 16 | 12 | 5 | 1-4-0 | 140 | 118 | 102 | 120 | 110 | 139 | 95 | 122 | 68 | 124 |
| Career | 211 | 159 | 94-57-8 | 3741 | 113 | 103 | 116 | 104 | 125 | 115 | 110 | 90 | 120 |
| Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Rec | Yds | TD | Lng | YScm | RRTD | Fmb | ||||||
| 1957 | 22 | PIT | 16 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 27 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 31 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| 1958 | 23 | PIT | 16 | 4 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | -0.5 | -0.3 | 0.5 | -1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 1959 | 24 | PIT | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 20 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| 1960 | 25 | CLE | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| 1961 | 26 | CLE | 18 | 7 | 1 | 1 | -10 | 0 | -10 | -10.0 | -1.4 | 0.1 | -10 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 1962*+ | 27 | DTX | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 38 | 252 | 3 | 22 | 6.6 | 18.0 | 2.7 | 252 | 3 | 11 | |||||||
| 1963 | 28 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 37 | 272 | 2 | 43 | 7.4 | 19.4 | 2.6 | 272 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
| 1964* | 29 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 40 | 89 | 2 | 18 | 2.2 | 6.4 | 2.9 | 89 | 2 | 15 | |||||||
| 1965 | 30 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 43 | 142 | 2 | 40 | 3.3 | 10.1 | 3.1 | 142 | 2 | 7 | |||||||
| 1966*+ | 31 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 167 | 0 | 18 | 7.0 | 11.9 | 1.7 | 167 | 0 | 5 | |||||||
| 1967* | 32 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 68 | 0 | 24 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 68 | 0 | 6 | |||||||
| 1968* | 33 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 20 | 40 | 0 | 22 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 40 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 1969* | 34 | KAN | QB | 16 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 1970 | 35 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 46 | 0 | 21 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 46 | 0 | 5 | |||||||
| 1971* | 36 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 8 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 24 | 0 | 8 | |||||||
| 1972 | 37 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 75 | 0 | 20 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 75 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 1973 | 38 | KAN | qb | 16 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 0 | 13 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 40 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| 1974 | 39 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 28 | 0 | 6 | |||||||
| 1975 | 40 | KAN | qb | 16 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 7 | 0 | 4 | |||||||
| Career | 211 | 159 | 294 | 1293 | 9 | 43 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 1293 | 9 | 84 | |||||||||||
| 14 yrs | KAN | 183 | 157 | 283 | 1253 | 9 | 43 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1253 | 9 | 81 | ||||||||||
| 3 yrs | PIT | 19 | 1 | 9 | 50 | 0 | 27 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 50 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2 yrs | CLE | 9 | 1 | 2 | -10 | 0 | 0 | -5.0 | -1.1 | 0.2 | -10 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Def Interceptions | Fumbles | Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Sk | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | Tkl | Ast | Sfty |
| 1957 | 22 | PIT | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1959 | 24 | PIT | 16 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1960 | 25 | CLE | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 1962*+ | 27 | DTX | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1963 | 28 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1964* | 29 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1965 | 30 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1966*+ | 31 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1967* | 32 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 4 | -6 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1968* | 33 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1970 | 35 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1971* | 36 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 3 | -14 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1972 | 37 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1973 | 38 | KAN | qb | 16 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 0 | -1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1974 | 39 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 2 | -2 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1975 | 40 | KAN | qb | 16 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Career | 211 | 159 | 84 | 15 | -23 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 14 yrs | KAN | 183 | 157 | 81 | 14 | -23 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 3 yrs | PIT | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 2 yrs | CLE | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 0-19 | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | Tot | PAT | Punting | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | FGA | FGM | XPA | XPM | Pnt | Yds | Lng | Blck | |||
| 1957 | 22 | PIT | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0.0% | 2 | 0.0% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career | 211 | 159 | 1 | 0.0% | 2 | 0.0% | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | RshTD | RecTD | PR TD | KR TD | FblTD | IntTD | OthTD | AllTD | 2PM | XPM | FGM | Sfty | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962*+ | 27 | DTX | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 18 | ||||||||||
| 1963 | 28 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1964* | 29 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 1965 | 30 | KAN | QB | 16 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||
| Career | 211 | 159 | 9 | 9 | 54 |
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Awards |
Passes Completed |
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Pass Attempts |
Passing Yds |
Passing TD |
Passer Rating |
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Long Pass |
Passes Intercepted |
Sacked |
Sacked Yds Lost |
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Passing Yds/Game |
Yds/Pass Att |
Yds/Pass Cmp |
Pass Attempts/Game |
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Rushing TD |
Games |
Fumbles |
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Adj Yds/Pass Att |
Passes Completed/Game |
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Pass Completion % |
Pass Intercept. % |
Passing TD % |
Sack % |
| 1962 | AFL: 1st Team All-AFL |
| Associated Press: 1st Team All-AFL | |
| UPI: 1st Team All-AFL | |
| 1964 | Associated Press: 2nd Team All-AFL |
| Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 2nd Team All-AFL | |
| NY Daily News: 2nd Team All-AFL | |
| UPI: 2nd Team All-AFL | |
| 1966 | AFL: 1st Team All-AFL |
| Associated Press: 1st Team All-AFL | |
| Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-AFL | |
| NY Daily News: 1st Team All-AFL | |
| UPI: 1st Team All-AFL | |
| 1968 | Associated Press: 2nd Team All-AFL |
| UPI: 2nd Team All-AFL | |
| 1971 | UPI: 2nd Team All-Conf. |