From buzz cuts to Mahomes’ mohawk: The evolution of Kansas City Chiefs players’ hairstyles

There was a time when few people paid attention to the hairstyles of professional football players. The focus was on the game, not the grooming.

But in today’s NFL, a player’s hair is as much a part of his brand as his jersey number, with kids across the country asking barbers for cuts inspired by Patrick Mahomes and other Kansas City Chiefs stars.

Speaking of Mahomes, the star quarterback is kicking off the post-Super Bowl LIX era with a fresh look. The Chiefs quarterback recently swapped his signature mohawk for a shorter cut, as seen in photos from a family event.

A photo gallery from The Kansas City Star’s archive highlights the changing styles of Chiefs players from the 1960s through today, reflecting broader cultural trends and personal branding.

In the early days, most Chiefs players kept their hair short and tidy, with crew cuts and buzz cuts dominating the field. By the 1970s, longer hair, mustaches, and sideburns reflected the era. The 1980s and 1990s brought more variety, from mullets to afros, while the 2000s saw a return to cleaner, more conservative styles.

Today, Chiefs players use their hairstyles as self-expression, from bold colors and intricate designs to long curls and braids becoming part of their public persona. Patrick Mahomes’ signature curls and high fade are as recognizable as his passing skills.

With social media and game-day fashion coverage, Chiefs player hairstyles are now under the spotlight like never before. The accompanying photo gallery offers a visual journey through decades of the franchise’s most iconic looks, showing how personal style has become a defining feature of the modern athlete.

Monty Davis

The Kansas City Star

Monty Davis is a video producer and has been with The Kansas City Star for 20 years. He specializes in telling human interest video stories using mobile gear such as his iPhone 13 Pro. Recently he took up an interest in deltiology which is the study and collection of postcards. From that came a new series for The Star called Past | Present. When he’s not working, he’s spending time with family, his pugs, kayaking and reading historical biographies about the American Revolution and the Civil War.