The Kansas City Chiefs have a rich history filled with many successful seasons. One of the big reasons that the Chiefs have had that success is because of their quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes has turned the franchise into one of the NFL's best at the current time, but is he the best quarterback the team has ever had?

Let's take a look at the five best quarterbacks in Chiefs history.

5. Joe Montana

Joe Montana was best-known for his time with the San Francisco 49ers, but his last two seasons were played in Kansas City. Even though Montana only played two seasons with the Chiefs, he led the team to success.

Montana was injured for part of the 1993 season but he still had an 8-3 record in his 11 starts. The Chiefs won the division and Montana made the Pro Bowl. Montana ultimately led Kansas City to two playoff wins, and an appearance in the AFC Championship game.

During the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills, Montana was knocked out with a concussion, costing them the game. If he hadn't been injured, maybe Montana would have led the team to a Super Bowl. Even though he didn't win the ultimate prize in Kansas City, he still deserves a spot on this list.

4. Trent Green

Trent Green improved the Chiefs when he came to the team in 2001. Reuniting Green with his former coach, Dick Vermeil, helped turned things around for Kansas City. Although the Chiefs overall weren't always the most successful with him in charge, his stats were quite impressive. Green completed 62 percent of his passes for 20,117 yards and 111 touchdowns.

His best season in terms of team success was in 2003, when he led the Chiefs to a 13-3 record. During that season, Green threw for 4,039 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Despite his achievements during the regular season, Green wasn't able to win a playoff game while in Kansas City.

3. Alex Smith

Alex Smith sometimes received heat for being a “game manager,” but that discredits everything he brought to the Chiefs. Smith was the man under center for five years following his time with the San Francisco 49ers and lead the team to 50 wins.

After Green, the team had trouble finding a reliable quarterback until Smith came on board. In 2015, he led the Chiefs to an 11-5 regular-season record, throwing for 3,486 yards and 20 touchdowns. One thing that is often overlooked too for Smith is how willing he was to help Patrick Mahomes adjust to the NFL, even though he knew Mahomes would eventually take his job, which makes him not just a talented player but also a quality teammate.

2. Patrick Mahomes

There are many who probably believe Mahomes should be No. 1 on this list, and in a few years that could be the case. But for right now, he sits behind that as the second-best quarterback in Chiefs history.

Mahomes has only started 31 regular-season games, but he has a lot in a short time. During the 2019 playoffs, the Chiefs fell behind in each game, and Mahomes led them back. That culminated in a victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, and the is hope that it was the first of many.

1. Len Dawson

Len Dawson actually got off to a rough start in his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Dawson's first year with the Chiefs was actually as a member of the Dallas Texans before the team moved to Kansas City in 1963. Three times, Dawson led the team to 11 regular-season wins and he stuck with the team for 14 years.

Dawson was the quarterback for three AFC Championships and one Super Bowl victory. Without him, chances are strong that the Chiefs would have only one Super Bowl title.