1989 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1989 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 20th in the National Football League, their 30th overall and their first under head coach Marty Schottenheimer and general manager Carl Peterson. They improved on their 4–11–1 record from 1988 and finished with an 8–7–1 record. The Chiefs did not qualify for the playoffs in for the third straight year but did send four players to the Pro Bowl. The Chiefs Week 11 10–10 tie against the Cleveland Browns remains the most recent tie in Chiefs history.

1989 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerCarl Peterson
Head coachMarty Schottenheimer
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record8–7–1
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros
2
  • FB Christian Okoye (1st team)
  • CB Albert Lewis (1st team)

Background

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The Chiefs had changed coaches before, but never had the organization gone through the complete overhaul it did between the 1988 and 1989 seasons. On December 19, 1988, Lamar Hunt hired Carl Peterson as the team's new president/general manager. On January 5 Peterson fired head coach Frank Gansz, just two weeks after taking over. On January 24 he hired Marty Schottenheimer, who was fired by Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell. Schottenheimer also cleaned house and with Peterson's help by making several roster changes, including drafting future hall of famer Derrick Thomas. Thomas later became a key part to the Chiefs defense in 90s and became one of the most popular players with fans in franchise history.

Season summary

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The Chiefs started the season at Denver on September 10 but the Chiefs lost the opener, 34–20. The very next Sunday the Chiefs downed the Los Angeles Raiders 24–19, garnering Schottenheimer's first win as Chiefs' head coach.

The Chiefs would start the season 1–4, but soon turned things around. On October 22, Christian Okoye carried the ball 33 times for 170 yards as the Chiefs defeated the Dallas Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium, 36–28.

On November 26, Kansas City cruised past the Houston Oilers, 34–0 to start a 3-game winning streak to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.

On December 17, using a bruising running game and a smothering defense, the San Diego Chargers marched into Arrowhead Stadium and crushed the Chiefs' playoffs dreams. They bulldozed their way to 219 yards rushing, 176 by Marion Butts, and won 20–13. The all but eliminated the Chiefs from any chance of making the playoffs. Chiefs' quarterback Steve DeBerg was ineffective because of the chilling 18-degree weather and completed just 14 of 33 passes. Okoye constantly found his path blocked, holes jammed. The Chiefs had one final opportunity to tie the game, driving from their own 36 yard line to the San Diego 19. DeBerg's next pass into the end zone was intercepted, ending the Chiefs' chances and the game. The loss left the Chiefs needing a win at Miami on Christmas Eve, combined with losses by Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and the Raiders that day and Cincinnati on Christmas Day to make the playoffs.

The next week, the Chiefs did bounce back and defeated the Miami Dolphins for the second time in the season, 27–24 and had a winning record in the first Peterson-Schottenheimer season at 8-7-1. The Bengals, Colts and Raiders also lost that weekend; however, the Steelers won their game and final AFC Playoff spot, finishing 9-7 overall.

DeBerg passed for 2,529 yards in his second season with the team. Okoye led the NFL in rushing with 1,480 yards. Stephone Paige led the receivers with 44 receptions. Rookie linebacker Derrick Thomas recorded 10 sacks.

Okoye was named to the Pro Bowl along with defensive stars Albert Lewis, Kevin Ross and Thomas.

Offseason

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NFL draft

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1989 Kansas City Chiefs draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 4 Derrick Thomas *   Linebacker Alabama
2 32 Mike Elkins  Quarterback Wake Forest
3 60 Naz Worthen  Wide receiver North Carolina State
4 88 Stan Petry  Defensive back TCU
6 143 Robb Thomas  Wide receiver Oregon State
7 171 Ron Sancho  Linebacker LSU
8 199 Bryan Tobey  Running back Grambling State
8 220 Todd McNair  Running back Temple
9 227 Jack Phillips  Defensive back Alcorn State
10 255 Rob McGovern  Linebacker Holy Cross
11 283 Marcus Turner  Defensive back UCLA
12 311 Bill Jones  Running back Texas State
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[1]

Personnel

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Staff

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1989 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
  • Director of player personnel – Whitey Dovell

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


Roster

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1989 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad


47 active, 6 inactive, 5 practice squad Reserve


Rookies in italics

Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 August 12 vs. Minnesota Vikings L 13–23 0–1 Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN) 63,528 Recap
2 August 20 New York Giants L 7–45 0–2 Arrowhead Stadium 36,820 Recap
3 August 27 at Chicago Bears W 22–17 1–2 Soldier Field 56,343 Recap
4 September 1 New York Jets L 13–15 (OT) 1–3 Arrowhead Stadium 41,105 Recap

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 10 at Denver Broncos L 20–34 0–1 Mile High Stadium 74,284 Recap
2 September 17 Los Angeles Raiders W 24–19 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium 71,741 Recap
3 September 24 at San Diego Chargers L 6–21 1–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 40,128 Recap
4 October 1 Cincinnati Bengals L 17–21 1–3 Arrowhead Stadium 61,165 Recap
5 October 8 at Seattle Seahawks W 20–16 2–3 Kingdome 60,715 Recap
6 October 15 at Los Angeles Raiders L 14–20 2–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 40,453 Recap
7 October 22 Dallas Cowboys W 36–28 3–4 Arrowhead Stadium 76,841 Recap
8 October 29 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–23 3–5 Three Rivers Stadium 54,194 Recap
9 November 5 Seattle Seahawks W 20–10 4–5 Arrowhead Stadium 54,489 Recap
10 November 12 Denver Broncos L 13–16 4–6 Arrowhead Stadium 76,245 Recap
11 November 19 at Cleveland Browns T 10–10 (OT) 4–6–1 Cleveland Stadium 77,922 Recap
12 November 26 Houston Oilers W 34–0 5–6–1 Arrowhead Stadium 51,342 Recap
13 December 3 Miami Dolphins W 26–21 6–6–1 Arrowhead Stadium 54,610 Recap
14 December 10 at Green Bay Packers W 21–3 7–6–1 Lambeau Field 56,694 Recap
15 December 17 San Diego Chargers L 13–20 7–7–1 Arrowhead Stadium 40,623 Recap
16 December 24 at Miami Dolphins W 27–24 8–7–1 Joe Robbie Stadium 43,612 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Denver Broncos

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Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 10 3720
Broncos 17 0 71034

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

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Week 2: Los Angeles Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 6 10 3019
Chiefs 7 10 0724

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 3: at San Diego Chargers

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Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 3 006
Chargers 7 0 7721

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 14 0721
Chiefs 3 14 0017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 1
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 78 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 61,165
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Joe Namath
  • Recap
Game information

Week 5: at Seattle Seahawks

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Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 0 71020
Seahawks 7 9 0016

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 6: at Los Angeles Raiders

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Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 0 0714
Raiders 3 7 3720

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: October 15
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: Hazy, 70 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 40,453
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Joe Namath
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 7: vs. Dallas Cowboys

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Week 7: Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 7 7 01428
Chiefs 14 13 9036

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 8: at Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 14017
Steelers 10 6 7023

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 9: vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Week 9: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 7 3 0010
Chiefs 7 10 0320

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 5
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 54,489
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Jim Laslavic
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

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Week 10: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 7 3316
Chiefs 0 6 0713

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 12
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 76,245
  • Referee: Ben Dreith
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: at Cleveland Browns

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Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Chiefs 0 0 73010
Browns 0 3 70010

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,922
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: vs. Houston Oilers

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Week 12: Houston Oilers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 000
Chiefs 10 10 7734

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 51,342
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Miami Dolphins

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Week 13: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 0 71421
Chiefs 13 3 3726

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 3
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 23 °F (−5 °C)
  • Game attendance: 54,610
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Merlin Olsen
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

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Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 21 0021
Packers 0 3 003

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 23 °F (−5 °C)
  • Game attendance: 56,694
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers

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Week 15: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 7 31020
Chiefs 0 13 0013

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly Sunny, 18 °F (−8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 40,623
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Joel Meyers and Paul Maguire
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at Miami Dolphins

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Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 21 3327
Dolphins 7 7 01024

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 43,612
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Joe Namath
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

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AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Denver Broncos(1) 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 362 226 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 8 7 1 .531 3–5 6–7–1 307 286 W1
Los Angeles Raiders 8 8 0 .500 3–5 6–6 315 297 L2
Seattle Seahawks 7 9 0 .438 4–4 7–5 241 327 L1
San Diego Chargers 6 10 0 .375 4–4 4–8 266 290 W2

References

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  1. ^ "1989 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.