Clark Hunt

His father had founded the Chiefs in 1960 as the Dallas Texans, a charter member of the American Football League, and moved them to Kansas City two years before Clark was born.

Clark Knobel Hunt (born February 19, 1965) is an American billionaire and businessman who serves as chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer.

Hunt is chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of the Chiefs, FC Dallas and, formerly, the Columbus Crew of MLS.

He is the son of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and his second wife Norma Hunt, as well as being the grandson of oil tycoon H. L. Hunt.

As of 2023, he had an estimated net worth of $2 billion.

Hunt was born on February 19, 1965.

He is the son of Norma and Lamar Hunt and the grandson of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt.

After graduating from St. Mark's School of Texas, he graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1987, where he was a captain of SMU's nationally ranked soccer team and a two-time Academic All-American.

Hunt earned a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance.

Hunt worked for two years as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs.

He then returned to Dallas and worked with his father.

Hunt was named chairman of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005.

Following the death of his father in 2006, Hunt, his mother, and his siblings inherited legal ownership of the Chiefs.

However, as chairman and CEO, Clark is the public face of the ownership group and operating head of the franchise, representing the Chiefs at all owners meetings.

Prior to his mother's death in 2023, Hunt owned a 20.5 percent share of the franchise.

Under Hunt's leadership, the Chiefs have made the playoffs eleven times, won the AFC West nine times (eight consecutively), and appeared in four Super Bowls, winning three.

One of the driving forces behind the creation of Major League Soccer, Hunt helped his father run the Kansas City Wizards until the team, now known as Sporting Kansas City, was sold in 2006.

Following the death of his father in 2006, he, his sister, and two brothers inherited ownership of the Chiefs.

However, Hunt is the operating head of the franchise; he represents the Chiefs at owners' meetings and has the final say on personnel changes.

Prior to the decision, the Chiefs had a combined record of 9–24 under Hunt's leadership since December 23, 2006.

The official press release stated that Peterson resigned, but Hunt had said the conversation had been ongoing throughout the season.

Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22–21 by San Diego, dropping their record to 2–12 on the season.

He also said that the fate of head coach Herm Edwards would be settled after the season when a new general manager would be hired.

Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise.

Hunt had kept his search for a new general manager almost entirely leakproof, instructing subordinates that only he was to speak on the situation.

After the Chiefs' loss to the New York Jets in the 2007 season finale, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson announced that both he and head coach Herm Edwards would return to the Chiefs in 2008.

However, Hunt declined to immediately comment on Peterson's status.

Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his "No. 1 priority" and that "to have the best chance of success in 2008, having Carl here makes a lot of sense."

Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach, and starting from scratch again.

On December 15, 2008, Hunt announced the resignation of Peterson from his positions as general manager, president, and CEO of the franchise effective the end of the season.

Under Hunt, Columbus Crew won their first MLS Cup championship on November 23, 2008.

On January 13, 2009, Hunt hired New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli as the new Chiefs general manager.

On January 23 the Chiefs fired head coach Herman Edwards, and Todd Haley was hired as his replacement on February 6.

Haley's first season did not go well, but he did a lot better in his second season.

Hunt fired Haley on December 12, 2011, after the Chiefs had compiled a 5–8 record during the 2011 NFL season.

Even though the team won the AFC West the year before Haley was replaced by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel mid-season.

Crennel finished his stint as interim head coach with a 2–1 record, including a win over the previously undefeated, and defending Super Bowl Champions (2011 Green Bay Packers season).

On January 9, 2012, Hunt named Crennel the team's permanent head coach.

Hunt remains a member of the league's board of governors and owns the MLS club, FC Dallas, and previously owned the Columbus Crew until 2013.

In 2013, Hunt Sports Group sold the Columbus Crew to Precourt Sports Ventures, led by Anthony Precourt.