Canton Reporter

This week in Greater Canton history.

Len Dawson, born June 20, 1935, in Alliance

Len Dawson was born on June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio. He attended Alliance High School, where he excelled in football and basketball. Dawson played college football at Purdue University. He was selected fifth overall in the 1957 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After brief stints with the Steelers and Cleveland Browns, he joined the Dallas Texans in 1962. The team later became the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led the Chiefs to three AFL championships and a victory in Super Bowl IV, where he was named MVP. He was a six-time AFL All-Star and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987. After retiring from football in 1975, Dawson worked as a sports broadcaster. His legacy remains significant in both Alliance and the broader football community.