Who is the Kansas City Chiefs’ owner? What do they do for a living?
The Kansas City Chiefs franchise was created by the same person who founded the American Football League, and the team continues to be owned by the same family.
The Kansas City Chiefs franchise was created by the person who also co-founded the American Football League, and more than sixty years later, the team continues to be owned by the same family.
Dallas entrepreneur Lamar Hunt was unable to obtain a franchise in the National Football League in 1969 despite the backing of the considerable wealth that he inherited from his father, oil tycoon H.L. Hunt.
A new league is born
In 1960, he initiated the founding of the AFL by talking to other entrepreneurs who had also failed to join the NFL. The new league launched with eight charter teams in 1960, including Hunt’s own, the Dallas Texans.
So as not to compete with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys for a share of the fans, Hunt moved his franchise to Kansas City, Missouri in 1963, where they came to be known as the Chiefs.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Lamar Hunt, former Chiefs owner who died in 2006, used to live across the street from each other on Preston Road in Dallas. Hunt made the Preston Road Trophy, which goes to the winner of the Cowboys vs. Chiefs game. Jones today on @1053thefan: pic.twitter.com/mU686i80dz
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 16, 2021
Today in 1963, the AFL’s Dallas Texans move to Kansas City and become the Chiefs.
— Texas Sports History (@TXSportsHistory) February 8, 2020
Owner Lamar Hunt decided on the move after having to split the market with the new NFL expansion franchise, the Dallas Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/fjeJvvtFID
Since then, the team has won Super Bowls IV and LIV. (Fun fact: Lamar Hunt was the person who coined the term “Super Bowl”.)
An avid sports enthusiast, Hunt also founded Major League Soccer and co-founded World Championship Tennis. Aside from the Chiefs, he also owned several soccer teams. The businessman also helped create theme parks in Kansas City.
Other NFL stories:
- How many Super Bowls have the Kansas City Chiefs won, and when was the last time?
- How did the Kansas City Chiefs get their name? Origin and meaning
The baton is passed
After he died in 2006, the ownership of the Chiefs fell to Hunt’s wife Norma and his children- Clark, Lamar Jr., Sharon, and Daniel. Clark was elected by his other siblings to take over the management of the team, and is currently its chair and CEO.
As the face of the Chiefs, Clark Hunt represents the team at owners’ meetings and takes care of its day-to-day operations.
Clark did not always work in the family business though. After graduating with a business degree, he worked for two years with Goldman Sachs as an investment banker. After that, he went back to Dallas and began to work for his father.
Managing a sports empire
Clark is a founding investor and owner of Major League Soccer, and was involved in the operations of the teams that his father owned. He helped his father manage the Kansas City Wizards until it was sold in 2006. He previously owned the Columbus Crew, and at present owns the FC Dallas franchise.
The Chiefs are the new Patriots. They have a great HC & QB & GM & every move they make is smart. Give Clark Hunt credit. Almost every owner has restricted team spending for now. Chiefs correctly saw the moment as an opportunity & kicked ass.This decade is theirs, multiple SB’s
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) July 17, 2020
Clark Hunt is a billionaire businessman who made full use of the advantages provided by the wealth and fame of his forebears, and has been able to make a name for himself. Under his leadership, the Chiefs have had a successful run, making the play-offs seven times and garnering two recent consecutive appearances at the Super Bowl.
Kansas City sits at the top of the AFC West standings at 6-4, and if they continue their winning streak, they are on track to win the AFC West for a sixth straight season.