1997 Kansas City Chiefs season

{{Infobox NFL team season

| logo =

| team = Kansas City Chiefs

| year = 1997

| 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. Broncos) 10–14

| pro bowlers = {{Collapsible list

| title = 6

| 1 = FB Kimble Anders

| 2 = WR Andre Rison

| 3 = G Will Shields

| 4 = LB Derrick Thomas

| 5 = CB Dale Carter

| 6 = CB James Hasty

}}

| AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list

| title = 3

| 1 = G Dave Szott (1st team)

| 2 = G Will Shields (2nd team)

| 3 = CB James Hasty (2nd team)

}}

| shortnavlink = Chiefs seasons

}}

The 1997 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 28th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 38th overall. The Chiefs improved on their 9–7 record from 1996, and finished with a 13–3 record and as AFC West division champions. The Rich Gannon–Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy was a focal point of the team's season.Gretz, Bob. [http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/11/01/gretz_quarterbacks__controversy/ Quarterbacks and controversy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200842/http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2006/11/01/gretz_quarterbacks__controversy/ |date=September 30, 2007 }} KCChiefs.com, November 1, 2006 It brewed throughout the entire season and arguably cost the Chiefs a victory in the playoffs. The Chiefs were defeated by division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion, Denver Broncos, in the 1997 playoffs. 1997 was the final season the Chiefs appeared in the playoffs during the 1990s and for the next several seasons, they fell into futility. They did not return to the playoffs until 2003.

This was the last season that head coach Marty Schottenheimer would coach the team into the playoffs, with the loss to Denver in the divisional round 14–10 capping off many years of disappointing playoff struggles. This was also the final season for future Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.

Offseason

=NFL draft=

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1997

| teamname = Kansas City Chiefs

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 13

| player = Tony Gonzalez

| position = Tight end

| college = California

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

| hof = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 47

| player = Kevin Lockett

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Kansas State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 110

| player = Pat Barnes

| position = Quarterback

| college = California

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 163

| player = June Henley

| position = Running back

| college = Kansas

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 195

| player = Isaac Byrd

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Kansas

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 214

| player = Nathan Parks

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Stanford

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = yes

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1997_draft.htm |title=1997 Kansas City Chiefs draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=December 5, 2014 }}

Personnel

=Staff=

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1997

| team = Kansas City Chiefs

| front_office =

Founder – Lamar Hunt
Chairman of the Board – Jack Steadman
President/General Manager/Chief Executive Officer – Carl Peterson
Executive Vice President/Assistant General Manager – Dennis Thum
Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach – Russ Ball

| 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 – Mike Solari

| defensive =

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Gunther Cunningham
Defensive Line – Bob Karmelowicz
Defensive Backs – Kurt Schottenheimer
Defensive Assistant/Special Teams – Woodrow Lowe
Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Darvin Wallis

| special_teams =

Special Teams – Mike Stock

| strength =

Strength and Conditioning – Dave Redding
Strength and Conditioning – Matt Schiotz
Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Roberto Parker

}}

=Roster=

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1997

| 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, 2 inactive, 5 practice squad

}}

Preseason

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

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1997|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| {{dow tooltip|August 2, 1997}}

| Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 14–28

| 0–1

| Arrowhead Stadium

| 72,726

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1997nflkc.html Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| {{dow tooltip|August 9, 1997}}

| at New Orleans Saints

| L 7–26

| 0–2

| Louisiana Superdome

| 55,211

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1997nflkc.html Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|August 14, 1997}}

| Carolina Panthers

| W 30–10

| 1–2

| Arrowhead Stadium

| 76,972

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1997nflkc.html Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| {{dow tooltip|August 22, 1997}}

| at St. Louis Rams

| L 13–14

| 1–3

| Trans World Dome

| 63,936

| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1997nflkc.html Recap]

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Week !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Kansas City Chiefs\|year=1997\|border=2}}"\| Recap
style="background:#fcc" ! 1 \| August 31 \| at Denver Broncos \| L 3–19 \| 0–1 \| Mile High Stadium \| 75,600 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199708310den.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 2 \| {{dow tooltip\|September 8, 1997}} \| at Oakland Raiders \| W 28–27 \| 1–1 \| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum \| 61,523 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709080rai.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 3 \| September 14 \| Buffalo Bills \| W 22–16 \| 2–1 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 78,169 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709140kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 4 \| September 21 \| at Carolina Panthers \| W 35–14 \| 3–1 \| Ericsson Stadium \| 67,402 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709210car.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 5 \| September 28 \| Seattle Seahawks \| W 20–17 {{small\|(OT)}} \| 4–1 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,877 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199709280kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#fcc" ! 6 \| October 5 \| at Miami Dolphins \| L 14–17 \| 4–2 \| Pro Player Stadium \| 71,794 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710050mia.htm Recap]
7 \| colspan="7" \|Bye
style="background:#cfc" ! 8 \| {{dow tooltip\|October 16, 1997}} \| San Diego Chargers \| W 31–3 \| 5–2 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,196 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710160kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 9 \| October 26 \| at St. Louis Rams \| W 28–20 \| 6–2 \| Trans World Dome \| 64,864 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199710260ram.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 10 \| {{dow tooltip\|November 3, 1997}} \| Pittsburgh Steelers \| W 13–10 \| 7–2 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 78,301 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711030kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#fcc" ! 11 \| November 9 \| at Jacksonville Jaguars \| L 10–24 \| 7–3 \| Alltel Stadium \| 70,444 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711090jax.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 12 \| November 16 \| Denver Broncos \| W 24–22 \| 8–3 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,963 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711160kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 13 \| November 23 \| at Seattle Seahawks \| W 19–14 \| 9–3 \| Kingdome \| 66,264 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711230sea.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 14 \| November 30 \| San Francisco 49ers \| W 44–9 \| 10–3 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 77,535 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199711300kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 15 \| December 7 \| Oakland Raiders \| W 30–0 \| 11–3 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 76,379 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712070kan.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 16 \| December 14 \| at San Diego Chargers \| W 29–7 \| 12–3 \| Qualcomm Stadium \| 54,594 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712140sdg.htm Recap]
style="background:#cfc" ! 17 \| December 21 \| New Orleans Saints \| W 25–13 \| 13–3 \| Arrowhead Stadium \| 66,772 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199712210kan.htm Recap]