What Is 1987 Kansas City Chiefs football team

Overview

The 1987 Kansas City Chiefs season was one of struggle and transition, culminating in a disappointing 4-11 record. It was the team's first under head coach Frank Gansz, who replaced the fired John Mackovic after the 1986 season. The Chiefs played their home games at Arrowhead Stadium and competed in the AFC West division of the National Football League (NFL).

One of the defining aspects of the 1987 season was the NFL players' strike, which led to the cancellation of Week 3 and the use of replacement players for Weeks 4–6. The Chiefs participated in these replacement games, which counted in the official standings—a controversial decision that impacted final records across the league.

• Record: The team finished 4-11, the worst win-loss tally since their 3-13 season in 1978.
• Division standing: They placed last in the AFC West, ahead of only the expansion Seattle Seahawks in overall conference ranking.
• Offensive output: Scored 261 total points (17.4 per game), ranking 24th out of 28 NFL teams in scoring.
• Defensive performance: Allowed 383 points (25.5 per game), among the league's worst defensive units.
• Replacement games: Won 1 of 3 games with replacement players, defeating the Seattle Seahawks and losing to the Raiders and Chargers.

Season Highlights and Key Games

The 1987 season featured a mix of regular roster games and those with replacement players, creating a disjointed schedule. The Chiefs showed flashes of potential early but failed to maintain consistency, especially on defense.

• Week 1: Lost 24-17 to the Seattle Seahawks, setting a negative tone for the season.
• Week 2: Suffered a 38-10 blowout loss to the Denver Broncos, exposing defensive vulnerabilities.
• Replacement Week 4: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks 24-21 with a makeshift roster.
• Week 7: Won 20-17 against the Los Angeles Raiders, one of only two wins against division rivals.
• Week 11: Secured a 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, one of their better offensive performances.
• Final game: Ended the season with a 34-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers, highlighting ongoing struggles.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 1987 Chiefs compared to other seasons in franchise history and their division rivals:

The 1987 season stands out as a sharp decline from the Chiefs’ competitive years in the mid-1980s. While they had posted winning records in three of the previous four seasons, the 1987 campaign was marred by poor coaching decisions, defensive lapses, and the disruption of the strike. The team’s point differential of -122 was the worst in franchise history up to that point.

Why It Matters

The 1987 season is remembered as a low point in Chiefs history, marking the beginning of a prolonged rebuilding phase. It also highlighted the broader impact of labor disputes on professional sports, as the use of replacement players sparked controversy and affected team legacies.

• Coaching instability: Frank Gansz lasted only two seasons, finishing 6-23 overall, underscoring poor leadership decisions.
• Player development: The strike games gave unknown backups and replacements a rare chance to play, some of whom never returned to the NFL.
• Franchise direction: The poor performance led to major roster and coaching overhauls in the following years.
• Historical context: The 1987 strike season remains the only one in NFL history with official replacement games counted in standings.
• Fan morale: Attendance dipped slightly, and local media criticized the team’s lack of competitiveness and identity.
• Long-term impact: The struggles paved the way for the eventual hiring of Marty Schottenheimer in 1989, who stabilized the franchise.

Though largely forgotten, the 1987 Kansas City Chiefs season serves as a cautionary tale about the intersection of labor issues, team management, and on-field performance. It remains a notable chapter in the franchise’s journey toward future success.