Unique Kansas City Chiefs memorabilia in the Hall of Honor
It’s football season in Kansas City, which means thousands of Chiefs fans will be heading to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on their favorite team.
But amidst all the action on the field, there’s plenty to see off the field, especially for diehard Chiefs fans.
Step inside the newly remodeled Hall of Honor inside GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to learn about the history of the American Football League, Lamar Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans will also find unique Chiefs memorabilia you won’t see anywhere else.
It’s always open on gamedays and always free to every ticketed fan.
Can’t make it to a Chiefs game this season? You can still see the Hall of Honor—and much more—with a stadium tour.
Available as both private and public tours, fans can see the newly renovated Chiefs locker room, the press room, the broadcast area, club level and Founder’s Club. Book a stadium tour online here.
Here’s a glimpse at what you can see in the Hall of Honor:
Historic notes
Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt’s vision transformed professional football. When the NFL rejected Hunt’s bid to add a team to the league, he decided to create his own.
In the Hall of Honor, visitors can find his notes from 1959, written on American Airlines stationary, about forming the American Football League.
That same year, he gathered other leaders from across the country for the AFL’s first organizational meeting. Fans can find minutes from that meeting in an exhibit called The Foolish Club, the nickname for AFL owners who joked they were fools for taking on the NFL.
The games begin
The Chiefs’ origins actually trace back to Dallas where the franchise was first known as the Dallas Texans in 1960. In the Hall of Honor fans can find a Texans helmet, team photos and marketing materials to build fan support.
Exhibit space also includes stories of scouting and signing diverse talent from historically black colleges and universities, accelerating the integration of football.
In 1963, the Texans moved to Kansas City and rebranded as the Chiefs. Fans can find two seats from Kansas City’s old Municipal Stadium in one display.
But by 1966, the bidding war for players had both leagues losing money; neither the NFL nor AFL were thriving.
That year, the two leagues announced a merger. Fans can find Hunt’s notes from the merger inside the Hall of Honor.
Champions
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Hall of Honor without a chance to see a few Super Bowl trophies.
Chiefs Kingdom can find the Vince Lombardi Trophy for each of the Chiefs championships—Super Bowls IV, LIV, LVII and LVIII. Thankfully, there’s plenty of room for more.
The display also includes each of the team’s Super Bowl rings, including the small-by-comparison ring from 1970 and the massive rings from recent years.
And it’s no surprise that quarterback Patrick Mahomes joins the spotlight when we’re talking about Chiefs Super Bowl wins. His jersey is on display from Super Bowl LIV when he won MVP.
Fans can even learn how the Super Bowl got its name. The history traces back to 1966, Hunt and a small toy. It’s detailed in a letter from Hunt to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
The gold standard
Over 20 Chiefs players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
From quarterback Len Dawson to tight end Tony Gonzalez and more, fans can see the names and photos of these Chiefs greats. There are also two iconic gold jackets on display, a symbol of the “gold standard of football.”
Additionally, over 50 Chiefs stars have been inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Honor since 1971. Their busts are displayed throughout the hall, with space to add many more in the future.
Fans will find everyone from receiver Chris Burford in the ‘70s, coach Hank Stram in the late ‘80s, linebacker Derrick Thomas in the early 2000s and receiver Dante Hall in the 2020s.
There’s something for everybody, as Chiefs Team Historian Bob Moore says. That’s certainly true for the entire Chiefs Hall of Honor.