15 Chiefs’ Fans Taken To Hospital In Fourth Coldest NFL Game Ever Recorded

Multiple Kansas City Chiefs fans were taken to the hospital due to hypothermia after the team’s 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs.

The game was the fourth coldest recorded game in NFL history, with temperatures at -4 degrees and a wind chill of around -20 degrees.

There were a total of 69 calls to the Kansas City Fire Department throughout the game, and 15 people were eventually taken to the hospital, half of which had symptoms related to hypothermia.

The NFL does have policies in place for cold weather games, but many of those have to do with snow removal and accessibility for fans, rather than address cold weather. During the same weekend, the NFL postponed the Bills-Steelers game in Buffalo due to 18 inches of snow falling in Buffalo before the game. The league was able to reschedule the game for the next day.

It has been suggested by some fans that the NFL should review their cold weather game policy to take into account weather similar to that seen in Kansas City on January 13. Many in attendance were able to bring in blankets and extra clothing to stay warm, as well as hot chocolate being sold in the stadium.

The NFL has been known for cold-weather games, specifically in the playoffs. Most notable was back in 1967 in the ‘Ice Bowl’ between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, with temperatures reaching around -13 degrees and wind chill of -48 degrees. More recently, in the 2016 Wild Card Round, the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings placed in another one of the coldest games in league history, with temperatures at about -6 degrees and wind chill at about -25 degrees.

Regardless of their two extreme weather games, both the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will play each other in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. That game will be hosted by the Bills, with temperatures expected at about 25 degrees during kickoff.