Ed Podolak arrived in Kansas City as a second-round pick in 1969 out of Iowa, where he had already shown he could play both quarterback and running back. His rookie season coincided with the Chiefs’ Super Bowl IV championship, though he saw only limited snaps and played no major role in the offense that defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Over the next couple of years, he worked his way into a larger share of the workload under Hank Stram.

By 1971, he had become a regular contributor as a dual-threat back who could run, catch, and return kicks. That December, on Christmas Day, he turned in the performance that still defines his career. In a playoff loss to the Miami Dolphins that stretched into double overtime and remains the longest game in NFL history, Podolak piled up 350 all-purpose yards—85 rushing, 110 receiving, and 155 on returns—setting a playoff record that has yet to be broken. The afternoon captured the full range of what he offered: steady production between the tackles, reliable hands out of the backfield, and the athleticism to change field position on special teams.

Over nine seasons with the Chiefs, those same skills yielded 4,451 rushing yards, 288 receptions for 2,456 yards, and 40 total touchdowns. He led the team in rushing four times, receiving three times, and punt returns three times. In 1970, he led the entire league in all-purpose yards. Tough and hard-nosed rather than explosively fast, he contributed on nearly every down and became one of the franchise’s most durable all-purpose producers.

After retiring following the 1977 season, he moved into broadcasting, calling NFL games for NBC and later Iowa Hawkeyes football. The Chiefs inducted him into their Hall of Honor in 1989, recognizing a career built on consistent versatility rather than any single highlight, even if that Christmas Day game remains the one most often remembered.