Len Dawson’s infamous cigarette photo is going viral on the internet after the announcement of the football legend’s death news. The photo, which was taken in 1967 remained off the public eye for decades before becoming public in 2013.
Len Dawson was a former American footballer who played professionally from 1957 to 1976.
He was primarily affiliated with the Kansas City Chiefs for most of his career during which he played 19 NFL seasons. Post his retirement from football, Len got into broadcasting and worked as a broadcaster for Kansas-based KMBC-TV. There, he actively hosted a nightly show for years before quitting in 2009. In his later days, Len only reported during the Chiefs’ game or when he was called to cover for another reporter.
The football icon recently passed away at the age of 87. He leaves behind a loving wife Linda Louise and two children. The exact cause of Dawson’s death is not available yet; however, considering his age, netizens suspect he died of natural causes.
Len Dawson Infamous Cigarette Photo During 1967 Super Bowl Explained
Recently, an old photo of Len Dawson is getting viral on social media where the former quarterback is seen smoking a cigarette during the halftime of Super Bowl I in 1967.
In the photo, Len is seated in a folding chair smoking a cigarette with a bottle of Fresca below his legs,
Photographer Bill Ray captured the image on January 15, 1967, the image remained hidden for decades after Life magazine refused to publish it.
The initial agreement suggested that the image could be published only if Len’s team Kansas City Chiefs won the game against Green Bay Packers. However, after the Chiefs lost the Superbowl in 1967, the photo remained only as a part of Bill Ray’s personal gallery
The photo was finally published in 2013 and is currently available on Ray’s website. It is considered one of the iconic pictures in NFL history as it shows how lenient the rules were in the past. Also, it remains immensely popular on the internet as such a scene could never take in the 21st century due to heavy restrictions in the field.
Len Dawson Net Worth At Death: How Rich Was The NFL Legend?
As of 2022, Len Dawson’s net worth is valued at around $10 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
The former footballer had an extended career in sports and broadcasting that brought him a reasonable paycheck.
During his NFL days, Len played for three teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1957-1959), Cleveland Browns (1960-1961), and Kansas City Chiefs (1962-1975). Even after his retirement from football, Dawson continued working as a sportscaster for Kansas-based KMBC-TV.
Coming back to his finances, Len has left behind a multi-million dollar fortune to his wife and children. He was a loyal husband to Linda Louise and a caring father to his two kids, son Len Dawson Jr and daughter Lisa Anne Dawson.