Name: Len Dawson

Date of Birth: June 20, 1935

Hometown: Alliance, Ohio

Resides: Kansas City, Mo.

College: Purdue

One of the most prolific passers in NFL history, Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson played 19 years of professional football and was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IV as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following an outstanding college career at Purdue University, Dawson was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1957. After brief stints with the Steelers and Cleveland Browns, he signed with the Dallas Texans, who later became known as the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dawson enjoyed a record-setting career in Kansas City, leading the Chiefs to the franchise's first Super Bowl championship in 1970 against the Minnesota Vikings.

The five-time All-Pro passed for over 28,711 yards and 239 touchdowns and was invited to seven Pro Bowls. Dawson's jersey, number 16, was retired by the Kansas Chiefs, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

In 1991, Dawson's wife, Linda, read an article about Senator Bob Dole's bout with prostate cancer and arranged an appointment for her husband. It was following the visit that Dawson himself was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease and began treatment. Fortunately, the cancer was diagnosed in its early stages and Dawson overcame his battle with prostate cancer.

As a spokesperson for both the American Cancer Society and Depend^®, Dawson promotes prostate cancer awareness and the importance for men 40 and over to be proactive with their prostate health. He also enjoys staying active in the Kansas City community, raising money for children's charities and prostate cancer awareness.

The former host of HBO's Inside the NFL and former sports director for KMBC-TV in Kansas City, Dawson currently provides analysis on the Kansas City Chiefs' radio broadcast team.

Most recently, Dawson was honored by the NFL during Super Bowl XLIV as he delivered the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the commissioner at Sun Life Stadium after New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Miami, Fla.

Len Dawson's Story

Hall of Fame quarterback takes hit from prostate cancer, urges men to be proactive about their own prostate health

Len Dawson took hard hits for 19 years as a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. But the shots from the league's best linebackers paled in comparison with a hit he took long after his football career was over.

In 1991, Dawson was diagnosed with prostate cancer. As an athlete who always paid attention to his health and was physically fit even after his retirement from the game, the diagnosis was a shock.

"The doctor was really cheerful until after the examination, then his demeanor changed abruptly," Dawson recalled. "He said, 'I found something there that I think you need to look into. You need to have a biopsy and ultrasonic images to check out what it is'."

For men, prostate cancer can be a silent threat they prefer not to talk about. It is the second leading cause of male cancer-related deaths in the United States, and in 2009, an estimated 192,000 men will be diagnosed with the disease.

Despite his early objections, Dawson's wife, Linda, made an appointment for him to be screened for prostate cancer. "I owe my life to Linda," Dawson said. "She encouraged me to go, and it was the best decision because that doctor's visit saved my life."

Some men aren't as lucky. Dawson's brother, Ronald, died from prostate cancer, and many of his family members, including Len, didn't know he had the disease because he didn't want to talk about it.

"Ronald was a paratrooper in World War, and he was the type of individual that never really talked about the war, his health or anything to anyone," Dawson explained. "His symptoms had to show before he would take action and finally go to the doctor. The problem was that by that time, it was too late, and the cancer had spread throughout his body."

To help educate other men about the dangers of prostate cancer and the importance of seeing a doctor, Dawson has joined forces with Kimberly-Clark and several other sports legends in The Depend^® Campaign to End Prostate Cancer.

Dawson hopes that sharing his experience will inspire men to talk to other men about this serious issue and to be proactive about their own prostate health.

"My personal advice to men 40 years of age and older is to get tested every year, because if you stay on top of the situation, then you'll take care of the situation, and you won't die of prostate cancer. Go see a doctor, get tested."