Pro Bowl safety Gary Barbaro became the most notable Chiefs player to defect to the rival United States Football League, signing with the New Jersey Generals on February 2 after sitting out the entire 1983 campaign due to a contract dispute.
[1] Barbaro's departure and the trade of cornerback Gary Green began a youth movement that produced the most vaunted secondary in team history.
Cornerbacks Kevin Ross and Albert Lewis, and safeties Deron Cherry and Lloyd Burruss accounted for a combined 13 Pro Bowl appearances for the Chiefs[1] in the years to come.
Maas was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Alt eventually became the cornerstone of the club's offensive line later in the decade.
[1] Quarterback Bill Kenney suffered a broken thumb during the preseason and was sidelined until the season's seventh week.
Second-year backup Quarterback Todd Blackledge opened the first six contests of the season and had the club at 3–3.