The Kansas City Chiefs, two-time Super Bowl champions, presently have 10 numbers officially retired by the franchise. Of those players, seven are enshrined in Canton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Here are the esteemed people to be formally and forever immortalized by the Chiefs organization.
No. 3: Jan Stenerud
The lowest number of the list of No. 3 for kicker Jan Stenerud. The Norwegian-born placekicker was the first of his position to be elected into the Hall of Fame (in 1991) and he spent 19 immaculate seasons competing in the NFL, mostly with the Chiefs.
Stenerud joined the Chiefs in the then-AFL, pre-merger era in 1967 and he would spend 13 years in Kansas City, later kicking for the Green Bay Packers and (fittingly) Minnesota Vikings. Stenerud was a champion on the Super Bowl IV winning squad and overall four-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro First Team member, three of which occurred with the Chiefs.
The kicker had his number retired by the franchise in 1992 shortly after Stenerud's enshrinement.
No. 16: Len Dawson
Another member of the Super Bowl IV team was legendary Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson, who has his No. 16 jersey retired by the organization and joined the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Dawson joined the then-Dallas Texans as an already five-year NFL vet in 1962; however, the Chiefs' early years would be their best with Dawson under center. Dawson led the league in completion percentage in six consecutive seasons and guided the Chiefs' to their first Super Bowl victory.
A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Dawson still possesses the most passing yards and touchdowns in franchise history.
No. 18: Emmitt Thomas
One of the greatest cornerbacks in the history of the NFL, Hall of Fame defensive back Emmitt Thomas had his No. 18 jersey retired by the Chiefs in 2008.
Thomas was a member of the Super Bowl IV team and spent his entire 13-year playing career with the Chiefs, earning five Pro Bowl selections.
Thomas was inducted to the Hall of Fame the same year his number was immortalized by Kansas City and he owns the ninth-most interceptions in league history.
No. 28: Abner Haynes
Running back Abner Haynes was an AFL Rookie of the Year and MVP with the Chiefs, spending five years with the franchise (three when they still played in Dallas) before playing for three more teams when his career ended in 1967.
Haynes isn't a Hall of Famer, but he was an early star for the Chiefs and then-Texans.
No. 33: Stone Johnson
A dignified nod here from the Chiefs goes to Stone Johnson, who was an Olympic sprinter and running back/kick returner selected with the 105th overall pick in the 1963 AFL Draft out of Grambling State.
Johnson hurt his neck in a preseason game, an injury so rough it cost him his life not two weeks later. While he never played in an official game for the Chiefs, the organization retired No. 33 for the tragically deceased sprinter.
No. 36: Mack Lee Hill
Another tragic figure in Chiefs history was fullback Mack Lee Hill. A one-time Pro Bowler out of Southern University, Hill suffered a bad knee injury in a game in Dec. 1965 during his second season with the Chiefs.
After undergoing knee surgery, the 25-year-old died from a likely sudden embolism. Following his death, Kansas City honored his legacy by retiring his number and establishing the Mack Lee Hill Award, given to the team's best rookie every year.
No. 58 Derrick Thomas
Continuing on the unintentional sad route, Derrick Thomas—one of the game's greatest edge rushers—had his number retired by the Chiefs in Dec. 2009, the same year he joined the Hall of Fame.
Thomas was an elite linebacker and nine-time Pro Bowler who spent his entire 11-year career with the Chiefs. A Defensive Rookie of the Year winner and Walter Payton Man of the Year honoree, Thomas was paralyzed in a car accident in Jan. 2000, later perishing from a blood clot.
No. 63: Willie Lanier
Another Hall of Fame linebacker, Willie Lanier spent 11 seasons with the Chiefs, going from the AFL to the merger era with the organization and winning Super Bowl IV.
A six-time Pro Bowler, Lanier had his number retired by the franchise in Aug. 1992 along with a teammate. He joined Canton in 1986.
No. 78: Bobby Bell
The first Chiefs player to enter the Hall, linebacker/defensive end Bobby Bell spent 12 seasons with Kansas City—his entire professional career.
Bell won a Super Bowl with the franchise and was a pure athlete on the field for the Chiefs. He was enshrined in 1983 and had his number retired the next year.
No. 86: Buck Buchanan
Lastly is Lanier's jersey retirement ceremony co-member, Buck Buchanan, the sixth player on this list to play for the Super Bowl IV winning Chiefs.
Buchanan was the first overall pick in the 1963 AFL Draft by the Chiefs, later competing for the franchise for 13 years at defensive tackle. A two-time Pro Bowler, Buchanan won two AFL titles with the Chiefs before the Super Bowl victory and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
Two years later Buchanan saw his number retired by the Chiefs.
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