This Week in Chiefs History

Jun 27, 2008, 8:56:19 AM by Brad Kuhbander

JUNE 22 – 28

During the 17-year history of NFL Europe (also known as the World League of American Football and NFL Europa) Kansas City sent multiple players to Europe to gain playing experience each season. While the goal was to develop the up and coming players, the teams still strived to make the Super Bowl of NFL Europe. On June 23rd four Chiefs were scheduled to start the World Bowl for Scotland in ‘96.

The Scottish Claymores could have been called the Kansas City Chiefs of Europe in ‘96. G Tom Brandt, WR Sean LaChapelle, QB Steve Matthews, DT Bryan Proby and TE Willy Tate all played for the Claymores. They were joined on the club by former Chiefs RB Ron Dickerson and LB Arnold Ale.

During the NFLEL regular season, LaChapelle caught 47 passes for a NFLEL single-season record 1,023 yards (21.8 avg.) with seven TDs and he added a two-point conversion. Matthews started the first eight games of the seasons for the Claymores. The Claymores posted a 32-27 victory vs. Frankfurt in the World Bowl as WR Yo Murphy caught three TD passes. LaChapelle was lost in the first half with a leg injury thrusting Murphy into the lineup.

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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A eight-year veteran of the Chiefs, Kuhbander is Kansas City's Manager of Football Information. As the club's in-house "stats guru," he coordinates statistical research for the club's coaching staff and executives, in addition to performing a variety of other functions for the Public Relations Department. Every week he contributes a "Stat of the Week" and a "This Week in Chiefs History" segment for kcchiefs.com.