The Relationship: Seahawks-Chiefs
The Relationship: Seahawks-Chiefs
All the ways that Kansas City and Seattle are connected: Seaside Joe 1389
Former Seahawks on the Chiefs right now include Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap, who have combined for nine sacks, 19 QB hits, and 11 TFL. They are second and third on the team in sacks, behind Chris Jones, who has 11. Ugo Amadi is on Kansas City’s practice squad, having made one appearance this season and making one tackle.
Former Seahawks linebacker (2000-2002) Tim Terry is Kansas City’s Director of Pro Personnel since 2017. Not a bad resume and potentially a future GM if that’s his goal.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy played nine seasons in the NFL as a running back and in his career he went 5-2 in games played against the Seahawks, mostly as a member of the Chargers. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spent three seasons as head coach of the Rams, twice losing at least 14 games, and he went 1-5 against Seattle.
Chiefs running backs coach Greg Lewis was once a receiver for Andy Reid on the Eagles. Lewis caught 1-of-6 targets for nine yards in a 42-0 loss to the 2005 Seahawks, one of the worst defeats in Philadelphia history.
Count Kansas City receivers coach Joe Bleymaier among the weirdly productive group of football coaches and players who are connected to the University of the Pacific: Bleymaier spent two years as an administrator at Pete Carroll’s former stomping grounds.
Former NFL left tackle Andy Heck was the Seahawks first round pick in 1989 out of Notre Dame, spending five seasons in Seattle before moving onto Chicago and Washington. He’s been the Chiefs offensive line coach since 2013 and his son Charlie is on the Texans.
Former Seattle defensive assistant Ken Flajole, a native of Seattle and a graduate of Seattle Prep before moving onto Pacific Luthern, is the outside linebackers coach for the Chiefs.
John Schneider was Kansas City’s Director of Pro Personnel from 1997-1999. The Chiefs went 13-3 in his first year there as Kansas City went 8-2 with veteran acquisition Elvis Grbac at quarterback; it was the final season of Marcus Allen’s career, which I bring up because holy shit, John Schneider is old enough to have worked with Marcus Allen??? The Chiefs also drafted Kevin Lockett that year, father of Tyler.
I couldn’t find any connections for Seattle coaches to the Chiefs, let me know in the comments if I’m wrong.
Schneider was reportedly very high on Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 draft. Not as high as Andy Reid though. Kansas City traded up from 27 to 10 to secure Mahomes as a future replacement for Alex Smith.
Austin Blythe was on the Chiefs last season, backing up Creed Humphrey, someone that many of us wish was on the Seahawks this season.
Seahawks practice squad back Darwin Thompson had 64 carries for 225 yards with the Chiefs from 2019-2020.
The Chiefs lead the all-time series 33-19, but 47 of those contests came prior to Seattle’s move to the NFC in 2002. Since then, the Seahawks are 2-3 against the Chiefs.
The two franchises first met on December 11, 1977, with head coaches Jack Patera and Tom Bettis leading their respective teams. Seattle was 3-9 heading into the second-to-last game, the Chiefs were 2-9. Bettis took over for Paul Wiggin after he was fired for a 1-6 start. At the time, the Chiefs hadn’t made the playoffs since 1971 and they wouldn’t get back until 1986. It took until 1991 for the Chiefs to win a playoff game.
The Chiefs had a 21-14 lead after the first quarter, but the Seahawks scored 21 unanswered in the second quarter, giving them a 34-21 lead at halftime following a 27-yard INT touchdown return from Dave Brown. Kansas City won the second half 14-0 but still lost 34-31.
In the same game, Gary Barbaro set a franchise record with a 102-yard pick-six off of Jim Zorn. And this past September, former WSU defensive back Jaylen Watson posted a 99-yard INT return, which really should be the longest possible INT return possible.
Kansas City ended up hiring Marv Levy as their next head coach in 1978, giving him five seasons to turn the team around but eventually parting ways following the 1982 season. Four years later, the Bills hired the 61-year-old Levy and he’d lead the to four straight Super Bowls from 1990-1993. That included two postseason wins over the Chiefs, including the 1993 AFC Championship game blowout.
Pete Carroll’s first ever game as a head coach was a 23-3 win over Levy that came directly after Buffalo’s last Super Bowl appearance. Which is really neither here nor there for this game, but something interesting that I did not know.
Speaking of Dave Brown and pick-six plays: Seattle beat the Chiefs 45-0 in 1984, setting an NFL record with four—yes, FOUR—pick-six plays off of three—yes, THREE—Chiefs quarterbacks that day. Dave Brown had two pick-six plays, Terry Taylor had two interceptions, Kenny Easley had a pick-six, and Keith Simpson had a pick-six.
The last time the Seahawks played the Chiefs was December 23, 2018, a 38-31 win for Seattle. A similar score this Saturday would be…surprising.
Not as surprising though as the Seahawks 51-48 win over the Chiefs on November 27, 1983. Curt Warner ran for 207 yards and three touchdowns as Seattle fell behind 21-7, then 28-14, then took a 31-28 lead, then were trailing 42-31 in the fourth quarter.
The Seahawks then took a 45-42 lead behind a touchdown pass by Dave Krieg, eventually going to overtime. Kicker Norm Johnson tied and then won the game with a pair of 42-yard field goals. It is tied as the sixth-highest scoring game in NFL history. Seattle’s 48-45 win over the Lions this year is not far behind, tied for the 13th-highest total ever. Andy Reid was involved in the third-highest total, as the Rams beat the Chiefs 54-51 in 2018.
They have never met in the playoffs.
Most passing yards in franchise history against K.C.: Matt Hasselbeck had 362 yards and 3 TD in a 39-32 win in 2002.
Most INTs: Dave Krieg and Jim Zorn each had games with five picks against K.C..
Rushing yards: Warner. It is also said to be the most “fantasy points” against the Chiefs by a Seahawks player. Receiving yards: Koren Robinson had 168 yards as Hasselbeck’s top target that day. The highest total of Robinson’s career.
The only KO or punt return TD by a Seattle player against Kansas City: James Jefferson during a 20-16 loss in 1989.
Most sacks: Jacob Green had three in 1988, and Michael Sinclair also had a three-sack game in 1996. Chad Brown, David Hawthorne, and Bobby Wagner lead the way with 12-tackle performances in their careers against the Chiefs.
Bonus points if you want to share any memories!
What Martin said... 1990 Krieg took them the length of the field on the last possession. 4th and goal. Last second, Krieg shrugs under eighth sack by Derrick forget his last name died too young awesome linebacker and hit Skansie in the end zone for TD. You had to be there (watching TV.) One of the best victories ever. That year, we were in a three-way tie for the wild card at the end of the season and despite having beaten both the other teams (Pittsburgh and somebody else), we didn't go because of stupid NFL structure for determining who goes in a three-way tie. Chuck Knox's second to last season, I think.
Hi Kenneth - Another interesting and enjoyable column. Thanks very much!
Kind of surprised that you didn't figure out a way to mention this game, though. Krieg sacked 7 times, and yet we didn't lose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmzJRZxuYfA