1998 Kansas City Chiefs season


The Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League, and the 29th overall.
The season began with the team hoping to avenge the loss in the 1998 playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, but instead the Chiefs failed to succeed in the highly competitive AFC West.
The team finished with a 7–9 record and 4th place in the AFC West. Head coach Marty Schottenheimer announced his resignation following the season after ten seasons with the team and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham assumed coaching duties for 1999.

Offseason

On April 9, Marcus Allen announced his retirement.

NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

The Chiefs began the season well on September 6 with an impressive performance and easily defeated the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead 28–8. Kansas City sacked the Raiders quarterbacks 10 times, with Derrick Thomas collecting 6 by himself.
On September 13, Kansas City fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road, 21–16.
On September 27, the Chiefs visited the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time in franchise history.
On October 4, Kansas City conquered the Seattle Seahawks and the rain at Arrowhead, 17–6. Rich Gannon hit Andre Rison for an 80-yard touchdown pass after a 54-minute rain delay caused by a violent storm. The two teams combined for nine turnovers, five by Kansas City. The win improved the Chiefs' record to 4–1.
On November 16, against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs defense was penalized five times on one drive, three of the penalties coming from legendary linebacker Derrick Thomas. The game is known now by Chiefs fans as the "Monday Night Meltdown". After that it was all downhill as the Chiefs suffered their first losing season since 1988.

Schedule

Standings

Awards and records

The team was penalized 158 times for 1,304 yards. An NFL record that stood until the Oakland Raiders surpassed it in 2011.