Editing Super Bowl IV (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
The NFL awarded Super Bowl IV to [[New Orleans]] on March 19, 1969, at the owners' meetings held in [[Palm Springs, California]]. It marked the first of eleven (as of [[2024 NFL season|2024]]) Super Bowls to be held in New Orleans. Two cites were in consideration for the game, [[Miami]] being the other. After two consecutive Super Bowls played at the [[Miami Orange Bowl]] ([[Super Bowl II|II]] and [[Super Bowl III|III]]), owners by a roughly three-quarters vote, opted out of giving Miami the game for a third straight year.<ref name="TMH03-20-1969pg91">{{cite news|title=Miami Loses Super Bowl To New Orleans in 1970|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117729006/|newspaper=The Miami Herald|first1=Bill|last1=Braucher|page=91|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 20, 1969|accessdate=February 1, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> Some owners felt that since an [[American Football League|AFL]] town had hosted the game two years in a row, that an [[National Football League|NFL]] town should get another turn to balance out the hosting duties. New Orleans [[List of mayors of New Orleans|mayor]] [[Victor H. Schiro]] was joined by George W. Healy Jr. (editor of the ''[[The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate|Times-Picayune]]'') and [[Al Hirt]]. They highlighted the superior seating capacity (80,982) of [[Tulane Stadium]], as well as the local accommodations. Healy and Miami [[List of mayors of Miami|mayor]] [[Stephen P. Clark]] became locked in a debate during a press conference while the deliberation and voting was going on behind closed doors.<ref name="TPBP03-20-1969pg23">{{cite news|title=New Orleans Wins Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117728747/|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|page=23|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 20, 1969|accessdate=February 1, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

===Minnesota Vikings===
{{details|1969 Minnesota Vikings season}}

The Minnesota Vikings, led by head coach [[Bud Grant]], entered the game with an NFL best 12–2 regular season record, leading the older league in total points scored (379) and fewest points allowed (133). They had scored 50 or greater points in three different games. They lost their first and last games of the season, but in between had 12 straight victories, the longest single-season winning streak in 35 years.<ref>"Super Bowl IV," ''Super Bowl I-X Collector's Set.'' NFL Productions, LLC, 2003</ref> The Vikings broke the previous record of 11 consecutive wins set by the [[1964 Baltimore Colts season|1964 Colts]]. Their defense, considered the most intimidating in the NFL, was anchored by a defensive line nicknamed the "[[Purple People Eaters]]", consisting of defensive tackles [[Gary Larsen]] and [[Alan Page]], and defensive ends [[Carl Eller]] and [[Jim Marshall (defensive end)|Jim Marshall]]. The secondary was led by [[Bobby Bryant]] (8 interceptions, 97 return yards), [[Earsell Mackbee]] (6 interceptions, 100 return yards), and [[Paul Krause]] (5 interceptions, 82 return yards, 1 touchdown).

On offense, quarterback [[Joe Kapp]] was known for his superb leadership and his running ability, both throwing on the run and running for extra yards. And when Kapp did take off and run, instead of sliding when he was about to be tackled like most quarterbacks, he lowered his shoulder and went right at the tackler. This style of play earned him the nickname "Indestructible". In the NFL Championship Game against the [[1969 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]], he collided with linebacker [[Jim Houston]] while running for a first down, and Houston had to be helped off the field after the play ended. Also, Kapp was known for being an extremely unselfish leader: when he was voted the Vikings Most Valuable Player, he turned the award down and said that every player on the team was equally valuable: "There is no one most valuable Viking. There are 40 most valuable Vikings."<ref name="Joe Kapp, NFL Quarterback">{{cite web | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1025444/index.htm | access-date = April 8, 2002 | title = Joe Kapp, NFL Quarterback | publisher = sportsillustrated.cnn.com | archive-date = February 4, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100204080602/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1025444/index.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Running back [[Dave Osborn]] was the team's top rusher with 643 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 236 yards and another touchdown. In the passing game, [[Pro Bowl]] wide receiver [[Gene Washington (American football, born 1944)|Gene Washington]] averaged 21.1 yards per catch by recording 821 yards and nine touchdowns from 39 receptions. Wide receiver [[John Henderson (wide receiver)|John Henderson]] caught 34 passes for 553 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Vikings' offensive line was anchored by Pro Bowlers [[Grady Alderman]] and [[Mick Tingelhoff]].

By winning the 1969 NFL Championship, the Vikings became the last possessors of the [[Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy]].

===Kansas City Chiefs===
{{details|1969 Kansas City Chiefs season}}
[[File:TenYearAFLPatchPhoto.jpg|thumb|160px|[[Ten-year AFL patch]] worn by the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV]]

Meanwhile, it seemed that the Chiefs, led by head coach [[Hank Stram]], and especially quarterback [[Len Dawson]], were [[jinx]]ed throughout the year. In the second game of the regular season, Dawson suffered a knee injury that kept him from playing the next six games.  Then in the following week, second string quarterback [[Jacky Lee]] went down for the season with a broken ankle in a loss to the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. However, third string quarterback [[Mike Livingston]] engineered five wins of the next six starts, with Dawson coming off the bench in the second half of the sixth to clinch the win. The Chiefs (11–3) managed to finish in second place behind the [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] (12–1–1) in the AFL's Western Division, after suffering a tough 10–6 loss to Oakland in the final game of the regular season.<ref name=tbrwchf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_ClPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2504%2C957717 |work=Toledo Blade |location=(Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |title=Raiders whip Chiefs 10-6, clinch AFL Western title |date=December 14, 1969 |page=E1 |access-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503024610/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_ClPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9AEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2504%2C957717 |url-status=live }}</ref> After that game, many sports writers and fans heavily criticized the team and Dawson for the poor play calling (Dawson called between 80 and 90 percent of the plays during the season).<ref name=Dawson>Len Dawson, "Super Bowl IV," ''Super Bowl: The Game of Their Lives,'' Danny Peary, editor. Macmillan, 1997. {{ISBN|0-02-860841-0}}</ref>

After a 34–16 road win over the New York Jets on November 16, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot at 9–1 with four games remaining.<!--after Raiders, other three teams in division had only four wins each--><ref name=redeagcl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r8QtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OaAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5807%2C5374608 |work=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=Associated Press |last=Bryson |first=Mike |title=Chiefs' Taylor played with pain, but Jets suffered most |date=November 17, 1969 |page=22 |access-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503024613/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r8QtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OaAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5807%2C5374608 |url-status=live }}</ref> Wanting to set itself up more like the NFL right before the merger, the AFL expanded its [[1969 American Football League playoffs|1969 playoffs]] to four teams, with the second place teams from each division traveling to play the first place teams from the other division (Western champion vs. Eastern runner-up, and vice versa). As a result of the new playoff format, many critics thought the Chiefs entered the playoffs through a "back-door" as the runner-up in the Western division. However, Dawson silenced the critics and led Kansas City to a strong finish with two road wins in the playoffs, defeating the defending champion Jets 13–6, and the Raiders (who had beaten them 41–6 in the [[1968 American Football League playoffs|previous year's postseason]] and won seven of the last eight meetings, including twice in the 1969 season) 17–7 in the AFL Championship Game. This essentially made the Chiefs the first [[wild card (sports)|wild card]] team to play in the Super Bowl. (Dawson said he thought both the Jets and the Raiders could have beaten the Vikings.)<ref name=Dawson/>

Still, many people felt that Dawson's level of play in the AFL was not comparable to the NFL. Dawson himself had spent five seasons in the NFL as a backup before going to the AFL and becoming one of its top quarterbacks. "The AFL saved my career," said Dawson.<ref name=Dawson/> In his 8 AFL seasons, he had thrown more touchdown passes (182) than any other professional football quarterback during that time. But because many still viewed the AFL as being inferior to the NFL, his records were not considered significant. Dawson's first chance to prove himself against an NFL team ended in failure, with his [[1966 Kansas City Chiefs season|Chiefs]] losing 35–10 to the [[1966 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] in [[Super Bowl I]], reinforcing the notion that his success was only due to playing in the "inferior league".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl I - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers - January 15th, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196701150gnb.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

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Offensively, the Chiefs employed innovative formations and strategies designed by Stram to disrupt the timing and positioning of the defense. Besides Dawson, the Chiefs main offensive weapon was running back [[Mike Garrett]] (1965 [[Heisman Trophy]] winner), who rushed for 732 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also recorded 43 receptions for 432 yards and another 2 touchdowns. Running back [[Robert Holmes (American football)|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 (American football)|Otis Taylor]] caught 41 passes for 696 yards and 7 touchdowns.  The offensive line was anchored by [[American Football League All-Star games|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.<ref name=Dawson/>  The offensive line was led by tackle [[Jim Tyrer]], who was selected to his 6th AFL pro bowl.

The Chiefs defense led the AFL in fewest points allowed (177), as all 11 players started all 14 games.  Like the Vikings, the Chiefs also had an outstanding defensive line, which was led by defensive tackles [[Buck Buchanan]] and [[Curley Culp]], and defensive ends [[Jerry Mays (defensive lineman)|Jerry Mays]] and [[Aaron Brown (defensive lineman)|Aaron Brown]]. The Chiefs also had AFL All-Star linebacker [[Willie Lanier]], who recorded 4 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery during the season. The Kansas City secondary was led by defensive backs [[Emmitt Thomas]] (9 interceptions for 146 return yards and a touchdown), [[Jim Kearney (American football)|Jim Kearney]] (5 interceptions for 154 return yards and a touchdown) and [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]] (8 interceptions for 158 return yards). Six members of the Chiefs' defense have been inducted into the Hall of Fame: Culp, Buchanan, Lanier, Thomas, [[Bobby Bell]], and [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]].

Kansas City's defense had shown their talent in the [[1969 American Football League Championship Game|AFL title game]] when they defeated the Raiders.  Raiders quarterback [[Daryle Lamonica]] had completed 13 of 17 passes for 276 yards and a record setting 6 touchdowns in a 56–7 divisional rout of the [[Houston Oilers]] in their previous game, and had shredded the Chiefs with 347 yards and 5 touchdowns in their 41–6 win in the previous season's playoffs.  But in the 1969 AFL Championship Game, the Chiefs defense held him to just 15 of 39 completions and intercepted him 3 times in the fourth quarter.<ref name=sivkpgbrn/>

===Playoffs===
{{Details|1969 NFL playoffs}}
{{Details|1969 American Football League playoffs}}
[[File:1986 Jeno's Pizza - 49 - Robert Holmes.jpg|thumb|The visiting Chiefs topped the [[1969 Oakland Raiders season|Raiders]] in the<br />[[1969 American Football League Championship Game|AFL championship game]]<!-- before facing the Vikings in Super Bowl IV-->]]

Kansas City advanced to the Super Bowl with wins over the two previous AFL champions.  First they defeated the [[1969 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] in a defensive struggle 13–6, with Dawson's 61-yard completion to Taylor setting up the game winning score on his 19-yard touchdown pass to [[Gloster Richardson]].  Kansas City held New York to just 234 yards and forced 4 turnovers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets - December 20th, 1969 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912200nyj.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>
The Chiefs then faced the Raiders, who took a 7–0 lead over them in the first quarter, but that was their only score of the game.  Meanwhile, Dawson's 41-yard completion to [[Frank Pitts]] in the second quarter set up a 1-yard touchdown run by [[Wendell Hayes]].  Then in the third quarter, Emmitt Thomas' clutch interception in the end zone and Dawson's long completion to Taylor sparked a 95-yard drive that ended with a touchdown run by [[Robert Holmes (American football)|Robert Holmes]].  Kansas City went into the fourth quarter with a 14–7 lead, and held on for the win by forcing four turnovers (3 interceptions and a turnover on downs) in the final period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders - January 4th, 1970 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197001040rai.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile, the ninth-year Vikings recorded their first postseason win in franchise history by defeating the [[1969 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] 23–20.  Though the Rams held the lead for most of the time in regulation, Kapp led a touchdown drive to give the team a 21–20 fourth quarter lead.  Eller made a key play to preserve the lead, sacking Rams quarterback (and 1969 [[National Football League Most Valuable Player|NFL MVP]]) [[Roman Gabriel]] in the end zone for a safety and [[Alan Page]] intercepted a pass with thirty seconds remaining.<ref name=sivpgrola/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings - December 27th, 1969 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912270min.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Then Minnesota quickly demolished the [[1969 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] in the [[1969 NFL Championship game|NFL championship game]], jumping to a 24–0 halftime lead and going on to win 27–7.<ref name=sivkpgbrn/> The Vikings offense gained 381 yards without turning the ball over, with Kapp passing for 169 yards and a touchdown, while Osborn rushed for 108 yards and Washington gained 125 yards on just 3 receptions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings - January 4th, 1970 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197001040min.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Super Bowl pregame news and notes===
Many sportswriters and fans expected that the Vikings would easily defeat the Chiefs. Although the AFL's [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] won [[Super Bowl III]] at the end of the previous season, many were convinced that it was a fluke. They continued to believe that all of the NFL teams were far and away superior to all of the AFL teams.  And regardless of the differences among the leagues, the Vikings simply appeared to be a superior team.  Minnesota had the NFL's best record and outscored their opponents by 246 points, while Kansas City had not even won their own division. The Chiefs also had played only five games in the regular season against teams who finished with winning records, and eight against teams who finished with losing records, while the Vikings played seven against teams with winning records and seven against teams with losing records. Including playoffs, Minnesota had not lost a game against a winning team.

Super Bowl IV provided another chance to show that Dawson belonged at the same level with all of the great NFL quarterbacks. But five days before the Super Bowl, news leaked that his name had been linked to a [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] federal gambling investigation. Although Dawson was eventually cleared of any charges, the controversy added to the pressure he was already under while preparing for the game, causing him to lose sleep and concentration. "It was, beyond a doubt, the toughest week of my life," said Dawson.<ref name=Strother>Shelby Strother, "Beyond an Unreasonable Doubt," ''The Super Bowl: Celebrating a Quarter-Century of America's Greatest Game''. Simon & Schuster, 1990 ISBN</ref>

Bud Grant became the first Super Bowl coach not to wear a tie. His counterpart, Hank Stram, wore a three-piece suit, with a red vest and a blazer with the Chiefs' helmet logo emblazoned on the breast pocket.

All seats for the game were priced at [[United States dollar|$]]15; the [[Super Bowl III|previous year's]] prices were $12, $8 and $6.<ref name=nowbs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q9oxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5824%2C2814960 |work=Reading Eagle |location=(Pennsylvania) |agency=Associated Press |last=Thomas |first=Ben |title=New Orleans will be site of three Super Bowl games |date=January 5, 1970 |page=20}}</ref> The attendance mark of 80,562 is the highest of the first four pre-merger Super Bowl games played.<ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl Winners|url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/superbowl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107102640/http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/results/superbowl|archive-date=January 7, 2019|publisher=NFL|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref>