The Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday announced that Denny Thum has stepped down as team president.

Thum was with the organization for 36 years. The move is effective immediately.

"Denny has been an integral part of the Chiefs family and this community for nearly four decades, and we thank him for his dedication and commitment to our organization," chairman Clark Hunt said. "We appreciate the many contributions he has made to the Chiefs and wish Denny and his family the best in their future endeavors."

Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson prides himself on being a playmaker. His only problem has been convincing head coach Todd Haley to let him on the field to make plays.

Johnson, who spent most of 2009 in Haley’s doghouse, won the starting weak-side linebacker spot this season in a mild surprise over Demorrio Williams, who had a team-leading three sacks in the preseason.

And Johnson justified Haley’s decision to start him on Monday night when he made a team-leading 12 tackles and came up with the first big play on defense in Monday night’s season-opening 21-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

With the score tied 7-7 midway through the second quarter, San Diego rookie Ryan Mathews burst through a hole for a 15-yard gain. But Johnson, coming from the back side, ripped the ball from Mathews’ grasp, and cornerback Brandon Carr scooped up the ball and returned it 23 yards to the Chargers’ 12.

Philip Rivers stands in front of 11 Chiefs defenders and a stadium full of fans, and he screams and stomps his feet. He wants the snap. Get this play started! But nothing happens. The play clock ticks down.

Four, three, two, one … whistle. Delay of game.

Arrowhead Stadium is rocking. Rivers screams more, this time in the face of Chargers center Nick Hardwick and at some point realizes this is the first time Hardwick can hear, and this is the first time Arrowhead has felt like this since … when?

“This is how I visualize Arrowhead,” coach Todd Haley says. “It’s because of those people out there.”

Take a bow, Chiefs fans. For one night, at least, you turned Arrowhead into a time machine, a warp back to the mid-1990s when this place earned the title of the NFL’s Loudest Stadium. A 21-14 win over the Chargers reminded a national TV audience on “Monday Night Football” what Arrowhead Stadium can be.