Before Jet Chip Wasp, before Corn Dog, and before Tom & Jerry, 65 Toss Power Trap stood alone as the most iconic play in Kansas City Chiefs franchise history. During the Chiefs’ 32-29 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, Andy Reid gave an ultimate tip of the hat to the play, calling their specific twist on 65 Toss Power Trap in the fourth quarter against the Bills.
When Hank Stram called the play against the Minnesota Vikings back in Super Bowl IV, it was a game-changing decision. Mike Garrett took the handoff from Len Dawson and walked virtually untouched into the endzone, helping the Chiefs to their first-ever Super Bowl title.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters on Thursday that they ran 65 Toss Power Trap for the first time in the AFC title game against the Bills.
“We did last week,” Reid said. “Yeah, last week, yeah. The one that (Isiah) Pacheco caught. Tried to score. We didn’t quite score, though. It wasn’t as good as the one they ran.”
The play wasn’t as successful and certainly looks a little different than when Stram, Dawson, and Garrett ran it. Dawson lined up under center, and the play wasn’t a direct snap to the running back. However, the concept is virtually the same, with Pacheco following the pulling right guard in Trey Smith. Even with the extra window-dressing, the Chiefs still call the play 65 Toss Power Trap.
“Yeah, that’s what we call it,” Reid said. “So, a tribute to the old guys.”
“Yeah, for sure, I wish we scored it,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said. “It got close. But yeah, the history of that play, the history of this organization, it runs through this entire team. I mean, just like last week, getting that Lamar Hunt trophy back at home. I mean, it’s special for us, and that’s one of our goals, is to get that trophy and to win it at Arrowhead. It’s a special moment. So being able to run that play, one that I’ve watched, and one that we have a room named after. Next time, we’ll try to find a way to get it in the end zone.”
Mahomes has a deep appreciation for the organization’s history. Although this play happened decades before he was born, he knows just how important it is, especially to the legacy of success they’re currently building for themselves.
“I know what’s cool about this organization is that we, we always go back and look at the history of it,” Mahomes said. “And if you look at Hank Stram and Lenn Dawson and all the Hall of Famers, things like six or seven Hall of Famers on that football team, it’s we go, and we have museums, and we learn, and I talk to other guys on our quarterbacks, whenever they come, whenever they come in our room, like Carson (Wentz) or Chris (Oladokun), or whoever that is, about the history of the Chiefs. I think that’s the cool thing about the NFL, is that you can look back at these special moments in organizations and really what defines organizations. And so, that was a huge moment for this organization.”
Where did that appreciation for the Chiefs’ history come from? He says it all starts at the top and trickles down throughout the organization.
“It starts with Clark (Hunt),” Mahomes said. “I mean, we talk about it before every single training camp. Then it goes down through the line. And, I mean, when you’re with Coach Reid, you hear the best stories of all time. So, I meet with them every single Friday and we talk about the game plan. But that becomes kind of like a storytime where I hear these stories, great, untold stories of the history of the NFL.
“One day, he’s about to write a book, because there are some great ones.”
As they march told this particular team’s date with history in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs are clearly thinking about the successful plays and the history that got them there.