The 1974 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 5–9 record and third place finish in the AFC West, effectively costing head coach Hank Stram his job. While the club’s sparkling new facility at Arrowhead Stadium was drawing rave reviews, the Chiefs roster was beginning to show its age. The result was the team’s first losing season in 11 years as the club was unable to string together consecutive victories during the year, a first in franchise history. Many of the club’s key players were entering the twilight of their careers: Len Dawson was 39, Jim Tyrer was 35, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, and Ed Budde were 34, Dave Hill was 33 and Otis Taylor was 32.