Chiefs And Dolphins Played The Longest NFL Game Ever On Christmas Day 1971

by Chris Thorman on Dec 25, 2010 9:08 AM CST in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

You can watch much more of this game here.

39-years ago, the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins met on Christmas Day at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, MO, to play the first game of the '71-72 divisional playoffs. It was notable not only because it was one of the first NFL games played on Christmas but also because it turned out to be the longest NFL game ever.

The Chiefs and Dolphins were tied at the end of regulation; tied at the end of the first overtime; and because it was a playoff game, they went into a second overtime.

7 minutes and 40 seconds into the second overtime period, Miami kicker Garo Yepremian made a 37-yard field goal to end the game.

The Chiefs lost but in the process KC running back Ed Podalak had a day that still looms large in playoff history. Podolak compiled 350 total yards, which is still a playoff record. He caught eight passes for 110 yards and a TD, rushed 17 times for 85 yards and a TD, and returned three kickoffs for 154 yards.

Check out the link above to view more of this historic game. I hope everyone is having a great Christmas. Stay safe and make sure you tell your family you love 'em.

Merry Christmas Chiefs fans!

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Comments

I remember this like it was yesterday!

It was so heartbreaking, but a great game nonetheless.

Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!

I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.

by Lanier63 on Dec 25, 2010 9:12 AM CST reply actions

One of the worst days of my life

I remember listening to it on the radio, which can be even more frustrating with a game like this! I don’t think it was televised locally or I would have been watching it, but who knows. I was a young kid and was in my room, alone with the agony of defeat.

by MGDog on Dec 25, 2010 9:47 AM CST up reply actions

same here, Lanier

listened to every single minute of it on the radio … mom yelling at me “dinner’s ready!” … my reply was “ok, I’ll be RIGHT there” … right there took a bit longer than expected, and by the time I was right there, I didn’t have much of an appetite

ah the glory days

Winner: 2009 Nostradamus of Arrowhead Pride Award (I'd like to thank my producer, my director, all of my wonderful fans ... )
"I shall conquer untruth by truth" - Mahatma Gandhi
"It's always easier to sell 'em some shit than it is to give 'em the truth" - Shel Silverstein, The Perfect High
Come back, Jason!
hi, Mo! 5 minutes!!!

by upamtn on Dec 25, 2010 9:48 AM CST up reply actions

I watched every minute of every play of that game as well

I was 13 yrs old at my uncles house in Garden City, Mo.. My whole family was there for Xmas. But only my dad & I was riveted to the TV watching the game (in color) . Stenerud missed a chip shot field goal (by his, our standards) which eventually led to the Chiefs demise. Everybody in my family that night (there was 6 of us) were on our way back home was joyful, laughing etc. except my dad & me. We were stone cold silent for 30 minutes. Little did I know that, that would be the last time the Chiefs would be knocking on Superbowls door for 2 generations.

Now you young ones (newbies) will have to spare us old guys the meaning of the word patience. You have no idea of what it really feels like.

Scott Pioli's star will shine in 2010.
Win or lose, the Chiefs scare the bejesus of all opponents in 2010

by ChiefsChance on Dec 25, 2010 8:59 PM CST up reply actions

IDK...

;)

I’d say going your ENTIRE life (31 years) rooting for a team that has never even been to a Super Bowl except on NFL historical documents shows MORE patience than for someone like my dad who was around to be a part of the Super Bowl win. (Which interesting story was the first time he ever watched a color TV)

So don’t talk to me about patience! You’ve seen the glory days, to me they are still just a dream!

(Please note this as a lighthearted post and not some generation gap argument)

by UNIPanther on Dec 26, 2010 12:45 AM CST up reply actions

Was this game on TV in the KC metro area?

I remember listening to it on the radio. Don’t know why I wouldn’t have watched it.

by MGDog on Dec 28, 2010 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

/obligatory

PARADEBULATE!

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Dec 25, 2010 9:52 AM CST reply actions

nice

by upamtn on Dec 25, 2010 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Podolak had a big day

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Dec 25, 2010 9:53 AM CST reply actions

Fast Eddie had a MONSTER game, beginning to end

carried the team on his back the whole game, a guy who said “I refuse to lose!” … the only thing I’ve seen like it is George Brett, 1983 vs Toronto … a game where he hit 3 HRs and 1 Double (that went off the top of the center field fence) … the Blue Jays could have pitched him 3 feet off the plate that day and he’d still have hit the damn ball

by upamtn on Dec 25, 2010 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

Merry Christmas to all my AP friends!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bJvAU3RZWU

And for my Jewish friends:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP1gNYU27Tk

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Dec 25, 2010 11:08 AM CST reply actions

thank you, Tark ...

I was born and raised Jewish, so I was rather “stuck” with the Xmas holiday as a kid (way back when) and it wasn’t a “politically correct” era at the time … things are a bit different now

myself, I just include the whole shebang and say …

Happy KwanzaAnnukahMas to One and All!

btw, most excellent choices … thank you for both of those lovely videos! :-)

by upamtn on Dec 25, 2010 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

So you didn't go around

telling everyone that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th and that they were all really celebrating the Winter Solstice festivals of Pagan tradition mixed with a Christian message by the expanding Christian church during the late stages of the Roman Empire?

I figured everyone would have enjoyed the history lesson! ;)

by UNIPanther on Dec 26, 2010 12:52 AM CST up reply actions

Future Hall of Famers from that game ...

Dolphins
Nick Buoniconti (LB), Larry Csonka (RB), Bob Griese, (QB), Jim Langer ©, Larry Little (RG), Don Shula (coach), Paul Warfield (WR)

Chiefs
Bobby Bell (LOLB), Buck Buchanan (RDT), Len Dawson (QB), Lamar Hunt (owner), Willie Lanier (MLB), Jan Stenerud (K), Hank Stram (coach), Emmitt Thomas (CB)

and for those who’d like to see it, the box score from that fateful day

by upamtn on Dec 25, 2010 1:49 PM CST reply actions

Man, those were the days.

Those helmets with the little two bar face masks.
The goal posts at the goal line instead of the end line.
Stickum instead of gloves.

Message to Todd Haley:
Please watch this old Chiefs clip so you can get a clue as how to execute the screen pass. Lenny was the master.

by BCRavenJHawkfan on Dec 25, 2010 3:30 PM CST reply actions

Nice old footage

Even though I was a diehard Chiefs fan, I had a Larry Csonka poster as a kid.

by Supersport on Dec 25, 2010 4:33 PM CST reply actions

The origins

This game is the reason I became a Chiefs Fan. Family Xmas at my aunt and uncle’s house. I was 7 and watching my what I remember it to be my first NFL game/.. I picked the team in Red because I thought the helmets looked cool. Be a fan ever since. Moved from CT to Fla as a kid and no one could understand how I could be a Chief fan….repeated this story hundreds of times. Glad I could share it with my Chief family…..

Let’s finish the job the next 2 weeks

by MacDaddy Chief Fan on Dec 25, 2010 7:31 PM CST reply actions