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Soda and Cigarettes: Behind-the-Scenes Photos of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I

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As the Kansas City Chiefs gather in their locker room to take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LXIII on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas, Patrick Mahomes won't be smoking any cigarettes. At halftime, you're unlikely to spot Travis Kelce guzzling Fresca. Sports nutrition habits have changed considerably since Super Bowl I, played on Jan. 15, 1967, in Los Angeles.

On that day, LIFE photographer Bill Ray—who during his tenure at the magazine photographed the Vietnam War, Private Elvis Presley shipping off to a military tour of duty, Marilyn Monroe singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy, and other iconic celebrities and moments—got behind-the-scenes access to the Kansas City Chiefs, who were taking on the Green Bay Packers in what was then called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. (A few years later, it was renamed Super Bowl I.) The Chiefs locker room was stuffed with soda. The starting quarterback was indeed smoking. Players and coaches were weary and dejected after Green Bay trounced KC, 35-10, in a contest seen by more than 50 million combined viewers on CBS and NBC, which both broadcast the game. Super Sunday hooked America from the start.

Below is sampling of the photos Ray captured that day. It would be easy to attribute the lopsided score to the bad habits of the Chiefs players. Except that Green Bay's Max McGee, the wide receiver who caught seven passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, played the game hungover, after returning to this hotel room at 6:30 a.m. that morning.

kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
In the locker room, Chiefs players are massaged and stretched before the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
Chiefs linebacker E. J. Holub drinks from a ladle on the sidelines. Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
Quarterback Len Dawson smokes a cigarette in the locker room.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
A quiet moment in the locker room during Super Bowl I.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
A record player during the game.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
Defensive end Jerry Mays drinks a soda during halftime.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
A football fan uses a broom on the roof of his house to try to improve reception in Los Angeles. The league's governing body required the game to blacked out in the local market, so residents attempted to access the broadcast from other cities.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
An unhappy moment behind the scenes after the Chiefs lost to the Green Bay Packers. Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
kansas city chiefs first super bowl photos
The Packers' Herb Adderley and Kansas City's tight end Fred Arbanas head to the lockers after Green Bay's 35-10 victory.Bill Ray—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

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Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com