The football world learned late Friday night that a beloved former player had been placed in hospice care.
Len Dawson, a Hall of Fame quarterback, has entered hospice care in Kansas City, according to his wife, who confirmed the news to a local Kansas City TV station where Dawson began his broadcasting career in 1966.
Dawson, 87, was the Kansas City Chiefs’ first Super Bowl champion in 1969. In the team’s 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, he was named Super Bowl IV MVP.
He also has one of the most iconic photos in football history, which is being shared all over social media in the aftermath of the news.
Dawson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the fifth overall pick in the 1957 draught. Unfortunately, he failed to make an impact in his three seasons with the team and was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
In 1962, he signed with the Dallas Texans of the American Football League, a move that would define his career.
Dawson moved to Kansas City with the team and helped them win a Super Bowl on their way to a historic career.
Dawson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, and in 2012, he received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.