1995 Kansas City Chiefs season

{{Infobox NFL team season

| logo =

| team = Kansas City Chiefs

| year = 1995

| record = 13–3

| division_place = 1st AFC West

| coach = Marty Schottenheimer

| general manager = Carl Peterson

| owner = Lamar Hunt

| stadium = Arrowhead Stadium

| playoffs = Lost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Colts) 7–10

| pro bowlers = {{Collapsible list

| title = 7

| 1 = QB Steve Bono

| 2 = FB Kimble Anders

| 3 = G Will Shields

| 4 = DE Neil Smith

| 5 = DT Dan Saleaumua

| 6 = LB Derrick Thomas

| 7 = CB Dale Carter

}}

| AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list

| title = 3

| 1 = DE Neil Smith (2nd team)

| 2 = CB Dale Carter (2nd team)

| 3 = P Louie Aguiar (2nd team)

}}

| shortnavlink = Chiefs seasons

}}

The 1995 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 26th in the National Football League (NFL), their 33rd in Kansas City and their 36th overall. The team improved on their 9–7 record from 1994 and finished the regular season with a 13–3 record and the AFC West division championship. However, the Chiefs suffered a devastating loss in the divisional round of the 1995–96 AFC playoffs when placekicker Lin Elliott missed three crucial field goals, allowing the Indianapolis Colts to win 10–7. Due to the retirement of Joe Montana, the Chiefs made a change at the quarterback position, by starting Steve Bono, who started two games in 1994 while Montana was injured.

Offseason

=Draft=

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1995

| teamname = Kansas City Chiefs

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 31

| player = Trezelle Jenkins

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Michigan

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 81

| player = Tamarick Vanover

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Florida State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 97

| player = Troy Dumas

| position = Linebacker

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 134

| player = Steve Stenstrom

| position = Quarterback

| college = Stanford

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 155

| player = Mike Pelton

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = Auburn

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 164

| player = Jerrott Willard

| position = Linebacker

| college = California

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 202

| player = Bryan Proby

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = Arizona State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 207

| player = Tom Barndt

| position = Center

| college = Pittsburgh

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| probowl = no

| hof = no

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1995_draft.htm |title=1995 Kansas City Chiefs draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=December 5, 2014 }}

=1995 expansion draft=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Kansas City Chiefs selected during the Expansion Draft
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|border=2}}" \| Round !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|border=2}}" \| Overall !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|border=2}}" \| Name !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|border=2}}" \| Position !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|border=2}}" \| Expansion Team
9	18	Greg Kragen	NT	Carolina Panthers
20	39	Monty Grow	DB	Jacksonville Jaguars

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Kansas City Chiefs selected during the Expansion Draft

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|border=2}}" | Round

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|border=2}}" | Overall

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|border=2}}" | Name

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|border=2}}" | Position

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|border=2}}" | Expansion Team

Personnel

=Staff=

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1995

| team = Kansas City Chiefs

| front_office =

Founder – Lamar Hunt
Chairman of the board – Jack Steadman
President/general manager/chief executive officer – Carl Peterson
Assistant general manager – Dennis Thum
Vice-president of player personnel – Lynn Stiles
Director of pro personnel – Mark Hatley
Director of college scouting – Terry Bradway

| head_coach =

Head coach – Marty Schottenheimer
Assistant head coach/Wide Receivers – Al Saunders

| offensive =

Offensive coordinator – Paul Hackett
Quarterbacks – Mike McCarthy
Running backs – Jimmy Raye
Tight ends/offensive Assistant – Jim Erkenbeck
Offensive line – Art Shell
Offensive quality control – Jimmy Raye III

| defensive =

Defensive coordinator – Gunther Cunningham
Defensive line – Carl Hairston
Linebackers – John Bunting
Defensive backs – Kurt Schottenheimer
Defensive backs – Herman Edwards
Defensive assistant/Special Teams – Woodrow Lowe
Defensive assistant/quality control – Darvin Wallis

| special_teams =

Special teams – Mike Stock
Assistant special teams – Woodrow Lowe

| strength =

Strength and conditioning – Dave Redding
Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Russ Ball

}}

=Roster=

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1995

| team = Kansas City Chiefs

| quarterbacks =

| running_backs =

| wide_receivers =

| tight_ends =

| offensive_linemen =

| defensive_linemen =

| linebackers =

| defensive_back =

| special_teams =

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

53 active, 4 inactive, 5 practice squad

}}

Season summary

The season began promisingly on September 3 with a convincing 34–10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. New Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono passed for 3,121 yards and 21 touchdowns. Fullback Kimble Anders led the team in pass receptions with 55.

In Week Two, the Chiefs battled back from a two-touchdown deficit to defeat the New York Giants in overtime, 20–17 on September 10. A costly interception, penalties, and struggles on third down all led to a 17–3 Giants lead. The Chiefs didn't score a touchdown until 5:03 remained in the game. On the Chiefs' following possession, Bono completed to Danan Hughes with the game-tying score after a 67-yard, 14-play drive that took just 2 minutes and 32 seconds. Lin Elliott booted the game-winning field goal with 7:11 remaining in overtime to give the Chiefs the win. Marcus Allen led the Chiefs with 86 yards rushing and Bono passed for 187 yards.

The win improved the Chiefs record to 2–0. This was the first of three overtime wins for Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium during the 1995 season, and it set the tone for the team's ability to win tight, close games throughout the regular season.

On September 17, James Hasty picked off a Jeff Hostetler pass and returned it for a touchdown in overtime as the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders, 23–17 to go 3–0. The defense would play a key role in Kansas City's success. The team held its opponents to a league-best 241 points and recorded a third-best 47 sacks.[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1995/opp.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1995 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics] Cornerback Dale Carter led the team with 4 interceptions. Rookie kick returner Tamarick Vanover was also spectacular, returning two kickoffs and one punt for scores. Linebacker Derrick Thomas and defensive ends Neil Smith and Dan Saleaumua also shined for the Chiefs' defense.

On October 1, Quarterback Steve Bono ran for a 76-yard bootleg touchdown, accumulating more than 20% of his total career rushing yards in 1 play. The Chiefs won over the Cardinals 24–3.

On October 9, Tamarick Vanover returned a punt 86 yards in overtime to give the Chiefs a 29–23 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football. It was the Chiefs' third overtime win at Arrowhead Stadium during the 1995 season, and was the first time in NFL history that an overtime game had been won on a punt return for a touchdown.

On October 22, the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, 21–7. Marcus Allen was again a standout for the offense, gaining 890 yards rushing and scoring 5 touchdowns for the season.

On November 19, the Chiefs won their seventh game in a row, beating the Houston Oilers 20–13 at Arrowhead Stadium, to go 10–1.

On December 24, Tamarick Vanover ran the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, and the Chiefs defeated the Seahawks, 26–3. They won the AFC West title and finished the regular season with a 13–3 record.

Preseason

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1995|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| {{dow tooltip|August 5, 1995}}

| Washington Redskins

| W 37–21

| 1–0

| Arrowhead Stadium

| 70,807

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1995nflkc.html Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| {{dow tooltip|August 11, 1995}}

| at Arizona Cardinals

| L 17–22

| 1–1

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 44,690

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1995nflkc.html Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|August 19, 1995}}

| Buffalo Bills

| W 36–10

| 2–1

| Arrowhead Stadium

| 76,299

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1995nflkc.html Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| {{dow tooltip|August 26, 1995}}

| at Minnesota Vikings

| W 17–13

| 3–1

| Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

| 39,349

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1995nflkc.html Recap]

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Week !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1995\|border=2}}"\| Recap
style="background:#cfc" ! 1 \| September 3 \| at Seattle Seahawks \| W 34–10 \| 1–0 \| Kingdome \| 47,562 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199509030sea.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 2 \| September 10 \| New York Giants \| W 20–17 {{small\|(OT)}} \| 2–0 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,964 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199509100kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 3 \| September 17 \| Oakland Raiders \| W 23–17 {{small\|(OT)}} \| 3–0 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 78,696 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199509170kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#fcc" ! 4 \| September 24 \| at Cleveland Browns \| L 17–35 \| 3–1 \| Cleveland Stadium \| 74,280 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199509240cle.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 5 \| October 1 \| at Arizona Cardinals \| W 24–3 \| 4–1 \| Sun Devil Stadium \| 50,211 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199510010crd.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 6 \| {{dow tooltip\|October 9, 1995}} \| San Diego Chargers \| W 29–23 {{small\|(OT)}} \| 5–1 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 79,288 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199510090kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 7 \| October 15 \| New England Patriots \| W 31–26 \| 6–1 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,992 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199510150kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 8 \| October 22 \| at Denver Broncos \| W 21–7 \| 7–1 \| Mile High Stadium \| 71,044 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199510220den.htm Recap]
9 \| colspan="7" \|Bye
style="background:#cfc" ! 10 \| November 5 \| Washington Redskins \| W 24–3 \| 8–1 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,821 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199511050kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 11 \| November 12 \| at San Diego Chargers \| W 22–7 \| 9–1 \| Jack Murphy Stadium \| 59,285 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199511120sdg.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 12 \| November 19 \| Houston Oilers \| W 20–13 \| 10–1 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,576 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199511190kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#fcc" ! 13 \| November 23 \| at Dallas Cowboys \| L 12–24 \| 10–2 \| Texas Stadium \| 64,901 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199511230dal.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 14 \| December 3 \| at Oakland Raiders \| W 29–23 \| 11–2 \| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum \| 53,930 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199512030rai.htm Recap]
style="background:#fcc" ! 15 \| {{dow tooltip\|December 11, 1995}} \| at Miami Dolphins \| L 6–13 \| 11–3 \| Joe Robbie Stadium \| 70,321 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199512110mia.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 16 \| December 17 \| Denver Broncos \| W 20–17 \| 12–3 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 75,061 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199512170kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 17 \| December 24 \| Seattle Seahawks \| W 26–3 \| 13–3 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 75,784 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199512240kan.htm Recap]