The much anticipated sporting event is set to happen on Feb 11th with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the San Francisco 49ers, a rematch of 2020, in this year’s edition of the super bowl. So whats a sporting event got to do with graphic design you ask? Well, rumor has it that the current logo of the KC had infact drew inspiration from the 49ers logo.
The story traces back to the 1960s when the team was known as the Dallas Texans. Cartoonist Bob Taylor crafted a mascot-style logo depicting a Texan running with a football. When the team relocated to Kansas City, Taylor made adjustments while preserving the essence. The Texan transformed into a Native American, but the dynamic running style remained. Texas in the background morphed into Missouri and its neighboring states, yet the team’s distinctive red and gold color scheme persisted with subtle shade variations.
In 1972, the logo underwent another transformation, this time personally designed by the team’s owner. Drawing inspiration from the 49ers logo, the revamped design featured interlocked letters within a distinctive shape. The letters K and C, abbreviated for the city, just like SF, are interlocked, with the first one placed diagonally above the second with a black outline around it. While the SF in the 49ers’ logo is enclosed in an oval, the KC in the Chiefs’ logo is enclosed in an arrowhead, paying homage to the Native American motif from the previous design and subtly referencing the Arrowhead Stadium, the team’s home.
Both logos share the block-lettered inscriptions of the respective team names, emphasizing continuity and identity. The Kansas City Chiefs’ 6 decades old logo stands as a testament to the team’s enduring history, evolving into a recognizable symbol. This distinctive emblem not only reflects the team’s journey but also serves as a visual narrative of its legacy.
The Kansas City Chiefs logo encapsulates more than just a visual identity—it symbolizes the team’s resilience, evolution, and a storied history woven into the fabric of each design iteration. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Chiefs, ready to make their mark on yet another chapter in the Super Bowl saga. Now the question is – which team is going to win it?
