Drafted in the seventh round (180th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Dave Szott entered the professional ranks as a long shot. Leveraging the technical discipline instilled by legendary Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno, the rookie guard forced his way onto the field almost immediately, earning six starts in his inaugural season before locking down the left guard position as a full-time starter in 1991.

Szott quickly grew into one of the most reliable and technically sound interior linemen in the National Football League. Flanked by center Tim Grunhard and tackle John Alt, he formed a bruising left side of the offensive front that defined Marty Schottenheimer's physical brand of football. His pulling mobility and leverage in the run game cleared massive lanes for Christian Okoye, Barry Word, and Marcus Allen, while his anchor in pass protection gave Joe Montana a clean pocket during Kansas City’s playoff runs in the early 1990s.

Szott’s peak year came in 1997. Playing at an elite, flawless level, he anchored an offensive line that helped propel the Chiefs to a 13–3 record and the top seed in the AFC. His dominance at left guard earned him consensus AP First-Team All-Pro honors, cementing his status among the elite interior linemen of his era.

Beyond his performance between the lines, Szott’s tenure in Missouri was defined by extraordinary community leadership. Inspired by his son Shane, who was born with severe cerebral palsy, Szott became a tireless advocate for families facing developmental challenges, earning the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination multiple times for his charitable efforts across the metropolitan area.

Szott departed Kansas City following the 2000 season to complete the final three years of his 14-year NFL career with Washington and the New York Jets, retiring with 173 total games played. In 2024, Szott was chosen for the Chiefs Hall of Fame.