Hank Stram and RB Marcus Allen were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 2nd. “Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs” Mitch Holthus broadcast his 151st game as the club’s play-by-play announcer at Houston (9/21), breaking Kevin Harlan’s previous record (150). The Kansas City Chiefs started the regular season with a 9-0 record for the first time in team history, becoming just the ninth team since the AFL-NFL merger to accomplish that feat. That hot start to the season was sparked by Hall, who tied an NFL single-season record by registering four kick return TDs over that span. Hall also became the first player in league annals to accomplish that feat in four consecutive games. The Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit for the first time in team history, pulling out an improbable 40-34 OT win at Green Bay (10/12). The Kansas City Chief’'s winning streak came to an end in a 24-19 loss at Cincinnati (11/16).

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched their first AFC West title since ‘97 with a 45-17 win vs. Detroit (12/14) as QB Trent Green became the first player in team history to register a “perfect” 158.3 passer rating in a game. The Kansas City Chiefs concluded its 13-3 regular season with a 31-3 victory vs. Chicago (12/28), marking a perfect 8-0 record at home and the club’s 13th consecutive regular season victory at Arrowhead Stadium. In that win, Holmes set a trio of TD records. He finished the season with 27 rushing scores, establishing NFL single-season records for both rushing TDs and total TDs. Holmes (61) also bypassed WR Otis Taylor (60) for the most career TDs scored by a player in Kansas City Chiefs history. The Kansas City Chiefs five-game improvement in the win column from the previous season tied as the best mark in franchise history. The Kansas City Chiefs became the first AFC team to lead the NFL in scoring in consecutive seasons since San Diego in ‘81-82 as the club produced a franchise-best 484 points. The team also led the NFL with a +19 turnover differential. Nine Kansas City Chiefs players received Pro Bowl recognition, the third-highest total in team history, while the club’s six offensive Pro Bowlers marked the most in club annals. G Will Shields earned his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl berth and extended his franchise-record string of starts to 175 consecutive games.

The Kansas City Chiefs hosted an AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Indianapolis (1/11) in which neither team was forced to punt. Sensational performances by Holmes (176 rushing yards, two TDs) and Hall (208 kickoff return yards, 1 TD) weren’t enough as the Colts recorded a 38-31 victory. Defensive coordinator Greg Robinson resigned on January 13th. Vermeil agreed to a two-year contract extension on January 16th. On January 20th, Vermeil hired Gunther Cunningham, who returned to the Kansas City Chiefs as the club’s defensive coordinator. On January 30th, Shields was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, becoming the fourth Kansas City player to win that prestigious accolade.