Norma Hunt, wife of the Kansas City Chiefs founder, dies at 85

By Ayana Archie

Published June 5, 2023 at 4:12 AM CDT

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poses with Norma Hunt, the widow of longtime Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, after a 2016 news conference. Hunt, the second wife of the late Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and the only woman to attend every Super Bowl, has died.

Updated June 5, 2023 at 8:29 PM ET

Norma Hunt, the wife of the late Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and the only woman who had attended every Super Bowl, has died, the team announced Sunday.

The team and the National Football League said she was 85. The cause of death was not given.

"Kind, generous and unfailingly positive, mom was one of a kind," the Hunt family said in a statement. "Her joy and zeal for life were infectious. She loved caring for others, and she always had an encouraging word. She was a loyal friend, the consummate hostess and she had a rare ability to make everyone she encountered feel valued and at ease."

"Mom was steadfastly devoted to her family and fiercely passionate about her family's sports teams," the statement added. "She was by our father Lamar's side every step of the way – from the merger of the AFL and the NFL to the formation of Major League Soccer, World Championship Tennis, the North American Soccer League, and their founding investment in the Chicago Bulls. She was the only person we knew who rivaled his love of sports. The two of them found such joy together, whether at home, or in stadium stands around the world."

Lamar Hunt died in 2006.

In February, Norma Hunt was able to attend her 57th Super Bowl and watch the Chiefs take home the victory for the third time in franchise history. In May, the team announced it will visit the White House Monday.

"Mrs. Norma was the best. Glad to be a part of this special organization she help build. She will be missed! Prayers to the entire Hunt family," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said.

Mrs. Norma was the best. Glad to be a part of this special organization she help build. She will be missed! Prayers to the entire Hunt family. 🙏🏽💔 https://t.co/YOiDzVUK3j
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) June 4, 2023

"The entire NFL family is deeply saddened by the passing of Norma Hunt, who was a significant presence in the NFL for the last seven decades," NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell said.

"I was fortunate to know Norma for nearly 40 years and was always struck by her warmth and grace, her partnership with Lamar, and her pride in their family," he added. "Norma's sense of family extended to the Chiefs' organization which she greatly adored."

Corrected: June 4, 2023 at 11:00 PM CDT

A previous photo accompanying this story incorrectly identified the person depicted as Norma Hunt. In fact, the photo was of Tammy Reid, wife of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.