June 10, 2023
By Fred Liggett
sports.lstribune08@gmail.com
Since arriving in Kansas City in 1990 Tim Grunhard has been attracting a lot of attention and Tim was at the center of it at the recently held Downtown Days Festival in Lee’s Summit. Grunhard, a Kansas City Chiefs hall of famer, came to the Festival’s Sports Booth for an appearance on Sunday, June 4th. Grunny, as he is called by many friends and fans, was also there selling copies of his book “View from the Center.”
For two hours on that Sunday afternoon Grunhard visited with many fans in Chiefs Kingdom. Lots of questions was asked about his playing days back in the 1990s and the current Super Bowl Champions. During Tim’s time as a Chief from 1990-2001 The Chiefs were a perennial playoff participant under head coach Marty Schottenheimer. On the sustained the success the current team is having Grunhard notes “It’s a QB driven league, with Mahomes you feel you always have the opportunity for success.”
Tim is one of many former Chiefs players that make up an alumni group called the Chiefs Ambassadors. Another member of the Ambassadors, Tim Barnett, appeared at the Sports Booth for two hours on Saturday, June 3rd. Grunhard says, “feel proud of the organization and raise money for charity.” Tim adds good to see “Keith Cash and Tim Barnett coming to events like Downtown Days.”
As any longtime Chiefs fan can tell you Grunhard’s position on the field was at center. The position has been a position of strength for the Chiefs for most of the franchise history. Currently the Chiefs have Creed Humphrey at center and Tim feels he “joins a long line of centers in Kansas City.” Grunhard states, “It started with Jack Rudnay, Mike Webster and then me.” Tim feels Creed will “carry on that tradition” and hopes the team will “keep him for a long time.”
In November 2021 Tim Grunhard’s name was permanently added to the Chiefs Ring of Honor inside the team’s home at Arrowhead Stadium. For a couple of hours area Chiefs fans were able to visit with the hall of famer in Lee’s Summit a place Tim called home for six years during the early part of his playing career
