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Gannon's Chiefs Snub: "Kicked Me to the Curb"
4 Oct
Summary
- Gannon felt unvalued by Chiefs leadership during his tenure.
- He was benched in favor of a younger quarterback despite winning.
- Gannon later excelled with the Raiders, impacting the Chiefs.
Former NFL MVP Rich Gannon recently spoke out about his difficult departure from the Kansas City Chiefs, describing it as being "kicked to the curb." Gannon, who played four seasons with the Chiefs before a neck injury ended his career in 2004, stated that key figures within the organization, including Carl Peterson and Marty Schottenheimer, lacked faith in him.
During the 1997 season, Gannon demonstrated his capability by winning five out of six starts as a fill-in. However, head coach Marty Schottenheimer opted to start a younger quarterback, Elvis Grbac, in the playoff opener. Schottenheimer later admitted this decision was influenced by an organizational preference for a younger player.
After leaving Kansas City in free agency, Gannon signed with the Oakland Raiders in 1999. He experienced a career resurgence, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and playing a pivotal role in the Raiders' offense under coach Jon Gruden. In a notable 1999 game, Gannon led a comeback victory over his former team, the Chiefs, eliminating them from playoff contention.
