RIP Lamar Hunt

Lamar Hunt, 1932-2006

Lamar Hunt, pioneering businessman and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs died last night of complications from cancer. Lamar lobbied the NFL for years to acquire a new or existing franchise and was rebuffed. Unimpressed by the emerging NFL juggernaut, Lamar and seven other owners founded the American Football League in 1960, and for three years, Lamar's Dallas Texans went head to head with the then-new Dallas Cowboys for the hearts and minds of Texas. The Texans moved to Kansas City in 1963 and became the Chiefs. Throughout Lamar's stewardship, his franchise has been a model for NFL success.

He was the driving force between the AFL-NFL merger three years later in 1966 and coined the name 'Super Bowl' for the championship of the combined league. The trophy for the winner of the AFC Championship is named for Lamar Hunt. Lamar Hunt was 74.

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Lamar Hunt: Shel Hershorn / Hulton Archive, via Getty Images