KC Chiefs great Len Dawson has bridge dedicated to him

Former Chiefs' great Len Dawson looked at the large green sign, the one that would soon be posted in front of the bridge that would bear his name, with a sense of gratitude.

This was Friday, and the Missouri Department of Transportation had just unveiled the sign — which reads “Len Dawson Bridge” — during a ceremony in the Penthouse Suite at Arrowhead Stadium.

The 79-year old NFL Hall of Famer and former Super Bowl champion has accomplished plenty in his life, but this was yet another thing he wouldn't have imagined as a kid growing up in Alliance, Ohio.

“I think we had a bridge there, I'm not sure,” Dawson said with a chuckle. “It sure wasn't named after anybody.”

But starting Friday, the bridge on East Stadium Drive over Interstate 435 will bear his name, thanks to the Missouri General Assembly. House Bill 1866, which was passed by Senator Paul LeVota, was part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s highway designation program to honor certain individuals, events, places or organizations on Missouri’s state highway system.

“I was at an event (a year ago) and someone said, 'We have the George Brett Bridge — we don't we have, on the other side, the Len Dawson Bridge,'” LeVota said. “I was like, 'That's a great idea.' This is my district, and as fans come into the stadium, they should see an example of someone who has done so much here on the field and given so much back since that time.”

LaVota said the nine-month process of getting the bill approved really wasn't that difficult.

“Because people in Jefferson City, especially in the Senate, knew it was the right thing to do,” LaVota said.

Dawson joined the Chiefs' franchise in 1962, and over the next 14 seasons, directed the franchise to three AFL Championships, two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl victory.

During his career, Dawson — who was selected to play in six AFL All-Star games and the 1972 Pro Bowl — completed 2,136 of 3,741 passes for 28,711 yards and 239 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,293 yards before retiring after the 1975 season.

“You think about completions, attempts, wins, touchdowns,” team president Mark Donovan said. “Most of the records in the history of our franchise are held by Len Dawson. But more important is what he represents and the way he carries himself; it's such a blessing for the organization that we have a (representative) like Lenny.”

Donovan then pointed out the Chiefs have been around, as a franchise, for 55 years. Dawson has been a part of the franchise for 45 of those years.

“There are very few people who can say that who aren't named Hunt,” Donovan joked.

Dawson also had an extensive broadcasting career, as he worked as an anchor for KMBC before joining NBC as a color analyst. He also worked as a color analyst for the Chiefs' Radio Network and spent 24 years on HBO's “Inside the NFL,” which was cable's longest-running series.

“Every time he was on that stage, people saw not only Len Dawson, but K.C.,” Chiefs' play-by-play man Mitch Holthus said. “And they knew you could be a champion in Kansas City.”

Now, every time someone drives past that bridge, they will see Dawson's name. And for that, Dawson is grateful.

“K.C. is home, and I can't think of anywhere else as (that),” Dawson said.

This story was originally published September 26, 2014 at 8:01 PM with the headline "KC Chiefs great Len Dawson has bridge dedicated to him."