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#1. The 1970 Super Bowl Caused The Two Leagues To Merge
The 1970 Super Bowl would be the last big game where the two leagues would be separated. The 1969 Super Bowl was seen as a fluke, and most of the media did not believe that the AFL was in the same class as the NFL; however, that would change.
The Minnesota Vikings came into the game as huge favorites. They had gone 12 - 2 on the season and had led their league in defensive as well as offensive stats.
The Chiefs had been to the big game before when they appeared in the inaugural Super Bowl and lost to the Green Bay Packers. This time, Hank Stram came in with a better team and was ready to prove they were legit.
They annihilated the Vikings 23 - 7. The blowout win made everything take notice of the AFL. The two leagues would merge the following year.
#2. Jan Stenerud Would Set A Super Bowl Record
After the Vikings failed to score on the first drive of the game, they punted, and the Chiefs drove down the field to put themselves into field goal range.
The Vikings could not believe that the Chiefs would attempt a field goal at this distance, which was 48 yards. Stenerud waited for the snap and then unloaded a kick that could have easily gone over 50 yards.
Stenerud was one of the first soccer-style kickers in the league. This meant that they used the side of their foot while most in the league still used their toes.
His record would last until Steve Christie
#3. The Vikings Had Five Turnovers
Five turnovers plagued the Vikings in the 1970 Super Bowl. It is extremely hard to come back from that many turnovers unless your opponent can not take advantage of them, which Kansas City did.
Kapp threw 2 interceptions, and his backup Cuozzo threw 1 another at the end of the game.
The Vikings also had 2 fumbles, which contributed to the Chiefs building a lead that could not be overcome.
#4. The Chiefs Were Unique
Offensively, the Chiefs employed innovative formations and strategies designed by Stram to disrupt the timing and positioning of the defense. Besides Len Dawson, the Chief's main offensive weapon was running back Mike Garrett, who rushed for 732 yards and 6 touchdowns.
He also recorded 43 receptions for 432 yards and another 2 touchdowns. Running back Robert Holmes had 612 rushing yards, 266 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns. Running back Warren McVea rushed for 500 yards and 7 touchdowns while adding another 318 yards returning kickoffs.
In the passing game, wide receiver Otis Taylor caught 41 passes for 696 yards and 7 touchdowns. The offensive line was anchored by AFL All-Stars Ed Budde and Jim Tyrer.
According to Len Dawson, placekicker Jan Stenerud and punter Jerrel Wilson were the best kickers in football. The offensive line was led by tackle Jim Tyrer, who was selected to his 6th AFL Pro Bowl.
#5. Hank Stram Was Wired
The night before the game, Ed Sabol of NFL Films met with Hank Stram and convinced Stram to wear a hidden microphone during the game so his comments could be recorded for the NFL Films Super Bowl IV film. They agreed the microphone would be kept secret.
This would be the first time that a head coach had worn a microphone during a Super Bowl. This has led to one of the best-known and most popular of the NFL Films Super Bowl films due to the constant chatter and wisecracking of Stram.
Ed Sabol had his number one soundman, Jack Newman – who also wired Vince Lombardi in a previous playoff game – place the microphone on Stram.
Newman, a multiple Emmy award-winning soundman and cameraman, shot Stram for the entire game as well as monitored the sound to make sure it continued to work.
The success and popularity of this first Super Bowl wiring of a winning head coach led to 24 years of Newman continuing to wire players and coaches for NFL Films.
#6. The Vikings Would End Hank Stram's Career
The only Super Bowl victory for Hank Stram came in the 1970 Super Bowl when his Chiefs crushed the Vikings. His team had made the AFL reputable and showed that they could compete with the older NFL.
This would be Stram's last appearance in a Super Bowl, and ironically, his last game before he was fired in 1974 was against this Minnesota Vikings team when they beat his Chiefs 35 - 15.
The Vikings gave Stram the highest point of his career and probably the lowest.