Len Dawson Profile
Len Dawson is an American Sports Director working for KMBC-TV since 1966. He works as the sports director of KMBC 9 News. Also, he is part of the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Broadcast Team, where he serves as the color analyst. Additionally, he has been the host of “Inside The NFL” on Home Box Office(HBO) for the past 22 years. Dawson is an ex-American football quarterback who spent 19 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs franchise of the American Football League (AFL), and the National Football League (NFL).
Len Dawson Wiki
Full Name: Len Dawson
Profession: Sports Director
Nationality: American
Education: Alliance High School and Purdue University
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: June 20, 1935
Age / How Old is Len Dawson?: 89 years old as of 2024
Place of Birth: Alliance, Ohio
Country: United States Of America
Height / How tall is Len Dawson?: 6 feet 0 inches
Parents: James (dad) and Annie Dawson (mom)
Wife: Linda
Children: Len Jr. Dawson and Lisa Anne
Salary: $ 20,000 – $ 100,000
Net Worth: $1 Million – $5 Million
Len Dawson Career and Education
Dawson graduated from Alliance High School in Alliance, Ohio, and joined Purdue University in Indiana. At the university, he formed a connection with an assistant coach Hank Stram, which would last more than 50 years. He led the NCAA in pass efficiency, during his second year at the university, in 1954, his first season as a Purdue quarterback, while simultaneously playing defense and serving as the team’s kicker.
He threw 4 touchdown passes in a 31-0 win over Missouri behind a strong offensive line. Dawson then orchestrated a major upset of Notre Dame, who had a 13-game winning streak entering the game. Also at the university, Dawson became a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Dawson started his professional career in 1957 when he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, as well as the Cleveland Browns. In the year 1962, he resigned from the NFL to join the American Football League’s Chiefs (the Dallas Texans).
There he spent the final 14 seasons of his career before returning to the NFL following the AFL–NFL merger. He retired from the NFL after the 1975 season and began serving for the ABC-affiliated television station in Kansas City, Missouri, KMBC-TV, as well as the Chiefs Radio Network.
Even though he last played in 1975, the NFL expanded to 16 game seasons, and the NFL evolved into a pass-dominated league, he still holds the Chief’s career throwing yards, touchdowns, and victories records. In the year 1987, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Awards and Honors
Throughout Dawson’s career, he won several awards. In 1973, he was named “NFL Man Of The Year,” and in 1987, he was named the “Best Kansas City Sportscaster” by the Kansas City Magazine. He holds the NFL’s Order Of The Leather Helmet, which he received in the year 2000. While playing for the Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback i.e. from 1963 to 1975, he got an award, the Super Bowl IV, and was named MVP. In addition, Dawson was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in the year 1987.
Charity Work
Dawson actively volunteers in the community and devotes much of his time and effort to charitable causes. He has generated funds for a variety of philanthropic organizations, particularly those that assist underprivileged children. Dawson was found to be having prostate cancer in 1991, but he appears to be in good health now.
Len Dawson Personal Life, Family, Parents, and Wife
Dawson is 89 years old as of 2024. He was born on June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio, United States. He, therefore, celebrates his birthday on the 20th of June every year. Dawson stands at a height of approximately 6 feet 0 inches (1.83m). Dawson spent all of his youth and childhood with a family of 11 children (7 boys and 4 girls), him being the 9th and the 7th son of seven sons. The 11 siblings were born to their loving parents, Annie Dawson (their mother), born in England, and James (their father), born in Ohio.
Dawson is in a second marriage. His first marriage was in 1954 when he tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend, Jackie. The couple took pride in being “mom and dad” to their 2 children, Len Jr. Dawson and Lisa Anne, who currently are grown-ups. Unfortunately, Jackie passed away at the age of 42, i.e. in the year 1978, after suffering a stroke the year before. Dawson now has a second wife, Linda, with whom he lives in Kansas City.
Len Dawson Salary and Net Worth
Being one of the top journalists for KMBC 9 News, Dawson earns an annual salary ranging between $ 20,000 – $ 100,000. Dawson has an estimated net worth of between $1 Million – $5 Million which he has earned through his successful career as a Sports Director.
Len Dawson KMBC 9 News
At KMBC 9 News Dawson works alongside
- Larry Moore
- Rob Hughes
- Bryan Busby
- Kris Ketz
- Cody Holyoke
- Kelly Eckerman
- Haley Harrison
- Lara Moritz
- Donna Pitman
- Len Jennings
- Karen Kornacki
- Nick Bender
- Pete Grigsby
- Katie Horner
- Emily Holwick
- Neville Miller