On Thursday night, Patrick Mahomes looked over the Chiefs’ first-team offense, lined up before him as if members of a choir, and together the Chiefs took a poignant tearful to honor Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson.
Then they beat the Green Bay Packers 17-10 in what was otherwise a forgettable preseason finale.
3rd string quarterback Shane Buechele outplayed Chiefs backup Chad Henne, throwing for 166 yards with a pair of TD tosses to journeyman tight end Matt Bushman. Isaih Pacheco capped a strong rookie camp for Kansas City with 52 yards rushing, while veteran Ronald ran for 43 yards in a last-ditch effort at securing a job.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers Jordan Love threw for 148 yards with an interception in his final work before Aaron Rodgers takes over for the regular season. Trent ran for 28 yards and a score as he tries to win the No. 3 running back job.
The penalty to honor Len Dawson, who died this week at the age of 87, remains the most memorable.
It came after the first-team Chiefs defense forced the green bay Packers, playing their starting offensive line with Love and a host of backups, to a 3-and-out to start the game.
Patrick Mahomes headed onto the field with most of Kansas City’s starting offense and lined them up in the old-fashioned style of huddle favored by Len Dawson in the 1960s and ’70s.
“We all wanted to do something for Dawson,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, we’re praying for his family, but he did so much to the Kansas City community and this organization. We wanted to do something, a little memento to show our appreciation.”
As Patrick Mahomes high-fived his teammates, the delay-of-game foul was announced not on his No. 15 and number 16, the number Dawson wore during his playing days. Green Bay Packers declined it.
There were plenty of other tributes to “Lenny the Cool” Thursday night, who led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title before becoming a Hall of Fame broadcaster. On his helmet, there was a sticker with No. 16 and a moment of silence was held before the game.
“It’s kind of a difficult time for us having a game Thursday and having cuts on Tuesday,” said Packers coach Matt, who hopes to squeeze in two more practices before making those decisions.
About Len Dawson
Leonard Ray Dawson Was born on June 20, 1935, and died on 24 August 2022. He Played 19 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL), primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs.
College carrier
Leonard Ray Dawson was the 9th of 11 children of Ohio native James and Annie Dawson. He attended Alliance High School in Ohio. International News Service named him outstanding Ohio back of the year and MVP of the football team.
A three-sport athlete, Len Dawson set school records in football and in basketball and was the first athlete in thirteen years to be named 1st team all-state in both sports during the same year.
Personal Life
In 1954, he married his high school sweetheart Jackie, who died in 1978. He had two children. Later, he remarried and remained married until his death.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991.
His family announced on August 12, 2022, that he had entered hospice care at the University of Kansas Medical Center. At the age of 87, he passed away on August 24, 2022.