Ever wonder what happened to the guys who played before the era of billion-dollar TV deals and social media highlights? I’m talking about the real "grind" era of the NFL. One name that often gets lost in the shuffle of the 1970s is Ted McKnight. Honestly, if you didn't grow up watching the Kansas City Chiefs in the late '70s, you might not realize just how explosive this guy was.
He wasn't some blue-chip recruit from a massive powerhouse. No. He came out of the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), a Division II school where most guys were lucky to get a scout's glance. Yet, by 1978, he was basically the most efficient runner in the entire National Football League.
From Duluth Docks to the Kansas City Backfield
Most people think NFL stars were born to play the game. Ted McKnight wasn't. He was a military kid. His dad was in the Air Force, meaning he spent part of his childhood in France before eventually landing in Duluth, Minnesota. He actually didn't even start playing running back until his senior year of high school.
He didn't go to UMD for a pro career. He went for an education.
"I was the first person in my family who had the opportunity to go to college," McKnight told the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame years later. He spent his summers laying blacktop on highways and working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. That's a different kind of "football strength." At UMD, he eventually became a monster on the field. In his senior year (1976), he led all of Division II with 1,482 rushing yards and scored 22 touchdowns.
The Strange Jump to the NFL
The Oakland Raiders took him in the second round of the 1977 draft. You’d think a second-round pick would be a lock for the roster. But Al Davis and John Madden had a crowded backfield.
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Madden called him into the office and gave him the news: "You're on your way to Kansas City." It’s kinda wild to think about today. One week he's in Raiders silver and black, and the next, he's lining up for their biggest rival.
The Year Ted McKnight Owned the Stats
If you look at the 1978 NFL season, one stat jumps off the page. Ted McKnight averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Let that sink in.
In an era of "three yards and a cloud of dust" football, McKnight was moving the chains twice as fast as the average back. He finished that year with 529 rushing yards on only 88 carries. He wasn't just a north-south runner either; the guy had serious wheels.
In 1979, he proved it wasn't a fluke.
- Leading Rusher: He led the Chiefs with 771 yards.
- Leading Receiver: Surprisingly, he also led the team in receptions with 38.
- The Long Bomb: He ripped off an 84-yard touchdown run against Seattle.
That 84-yarder? It stood as the Chiefs' franchise record for the longest run from scrimmage for 33 years. It wasn't until Jamaal Charles came along in 2012 that the record finally fell.
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The Car Wash Incident
Football players get hurt. It's part of the game. Usually, it's a blown ACL or a concussion. For McKnight, 1978 started with one of the weirdest injuries in league history. He actually got injured at a car wash.
Yeah, you read that right.
Details are a bit of a local legend now, but it involved a freak accident that sidelined him right as he was supposed to take over the starting role. It’s the kind of "only in the 70s" story that makes you appreciate the weirdness of that era's football history.
Why We Don't Talk About Him Enough
His career was short. Six seasons total—five with the Chiefs and one final year with the Buffalo Bills in 1982. He finished with 2,344 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. Those aren't Hall of Fame numbers in Canton, but in Kansas City? He’s a legend.
He played during a transition period for the Chiefs. They weren't the powerhouse they are now with Patrick Mahomes. They were finding their identity under coaches like Marv Levy, who loved McKnight’s versatility.
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Levy actually used a "Wing-T" style offense for a while, and McKnight was the perfect engine for it. He could catch, he could block, and he could absolutely fly if he found a crease.
Life After the Gridiron
A lot of guys struggle when the lights go out. McKnight didn't. Maybe it was that "military kid" discipline or the fact that he actually cared about his business degree. He became a fixture in the Kansas City community.
He helped found the Chiefs Ambassadors in 1988. This isn't just a "show up and wave" group. They do massive charity work around KC. Professionally, he spent over 25 years as a consultant and eventually became a Vice President at CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services.
It’s a success story that doesn’t involve a comeback or a tragedy. Just a guy who worked hard, played fast, and built a life.
Lessons from the "Touchdown Teddy" Era
If you’re looking to understand why older Chiefs fans still wear #22 or #33 jerseys (he wore both), it's about the grit. McKnight represented a bridge between the Super Bowl IV era and the modern age.
- Efficiency matters more than volume. His 6.0 yards-per-carry season is still a benchmark for how to be productive with limited touches.
- Versatility is a career-saver. Leading a team in both rushing and receiving in the same year was rare back then.
- Preparation for the "Next Phase" is vital. He went to college for a degree first, and it paid off with a 30-year career in business after football.
If you ever find yourself at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, look for his plaque. He was inducted in 2019, a well-deserved nod to a guy who didn't need a decade of stats to leave a permanent mark on the game.
Next steps for fans and researchers: Check out the Kansas City Chiefs "Ambassadors" official page to see the work McKnight and other alumni are doing in the community today. If you want to see his speed in action, vintage 1979 highlights of the Chiefs vs. Seahawks game show that record-breaking 84-yard burst in all its grainy, glorious 1970s detail.