Canton Reporter

This week in Greater Canton history.

Len Dawson died August 24, 2022, at age 87

Len Dawson, born June 20, 1935, in Alliance, Ohio, passed away on August 24, 2022, at the age of 87. He had been battling prostate cancer for several years. Dawson was a standout athlete at Alliance High School and later played college football at Purdue University. In 1957, he was selected fifth overall in the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After brief stints with the Steelers and Browns, he joined the Dallas Texans in 1962, which later became the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson led the Chiefs to three AFL championships and a Super Bowl IV victory, earning the MVP award. 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 became a sports broadcaster. His death marked the loss of one of Alliance's most notable athletes.