Steadman retired as Vice Chairman of the Chiefs on January 31, 2007 after being in the organization for over four decades, dating to their days as the American Football League's Dallas Texans. Steadman – the franchise’s first general manager – also served as executive vice president, president, vice chairman and chairman in his 47 years with the Chiefs. He won four championships as general manager including the team’s Super Bowl IV title. Steadman and Lamar Hunt were at the forefront of the move to merge the AFL into the NFL.