Len Dawson’s death at age 87 on Aug. 24 had the sports world paying tribute to the Kansas City Chiefs’ rock-solid, reliable quarterback. But let’s face it: Even though he’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dawson has been flying under the radar among gridiron collectors.
As a player, he was overshadowed during his career by Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Sonny Jurgensen and Fran Tarkenton — although he most definitely belongs in any conversation about the NFL’s best quarterbacks. In the hobby, the shadows loom even larger. Collectors flock first to earlier-era quarterbacks like Sammy Baugh and Otto Graham along with a growing list of later QBs, from Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and John Elway to Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Dawson’s effectiveness as a leader was never
