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Top 15 Kansas City Chief Of All Time. Who are the greatest players in Kansas City Chief team history. How do they compare to other franchise icons.
Top 15 Kansas City Chiefs Of All Time
In this ranking, we will rank the top 15 greatest players in Kansas City Chiefs team history. We will look at several factors, such as games played, statistics, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, and Super Bowls. Let’s dive in.
No. 15: Tyreek Hill, WR
Tyreek Hill began his career as a pure special teams player but eventually evolved into the deep threat of the offense. Across 91 games with Kansas City, Hills sits with the fifth-most receiving yards (6,630) and fourth-most touchdowns (56). He also posted the highest yards-per-game mark (72.9) and won a Super Bowl with Kansas City.
No. 14: Otis Taylor, WR
Otis Taylor tallied the fourth-most receiving yards in team history (7,306) and was a part of their Super Bowl IV winning roster. Across 130 games in Kansas City, he found the back of the end zone 57 times. He was named to two first-team All-Pro rosters and was nominated to three Pro Bowls. He also led the league in receiving yards in 1971.
No. 13: Jan Stenerud, K
The Hall of Fame kicker comes in at the No. 13 spot on the list. Stenerud began his 19-year NFL career with Kansas City and played for the Chiefs for 13 of those seasons. During this tenure, Stenerud led the league in field goals three times and led the league in longest field goals four times. He won Super Bowl IV and was named to five Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro roster.
No. 12: Chris Jones, DT
Chris Jones has played a critical role in Kansas City’s recent dynasty. After operating as a rotational piece during his first two seasons, Jones has become an elite defensive lineman over the past seven seasons. During this stretch, he has won three Super Bowls and been named to six Pro Bowls. He has also made three first-team All-Pros. Another Super Bowl victory could move him up on this list.
No. 11: Priest Holmes, RB
Despite Jamaal Charles leading the team in rushing, Priest Holmes will represent the backfield on this list. Holmes only spent seven (only played in six) of his 10 NFL seasons in Kansas City but was the more efficient runner. Holmes averaged an impressive 93.4 yards per game, much higher than Charles’ 70.5 yards per game mark. Holmes also punched in 76 scores, which is a team record.
No. 10: Buck Buchanan, DT
Buck Buchanan was a force in the interior during their early years. Buchanan spent his entire 13-year NFL career in Kansas City and was a part of their Super Bowl IV roster. Buchanan made eight straight Pro Bowls (1964-1971) and four straight first-team All-Pro teams (1966-1969). Buchanan finished his career with 70.5 sacks.
No. 9: Emmitt Thomas, DB
Emmitt Thomas sits alone in the team record books as he tallied the most interceptions (58) in team history. Thomas, a Hall of Famer, played all 13 years of his career with the Chiefs. He won Super Bowl IV with them and was named to five Pro Bowls. Thomas led the league in interceptions twice and was named to one first-team All-Pro roster.
No. 8: Willie Lanier, LB
Willie Lanier spent all 11 professional seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Lanier was a part of their Super Bowl IV roster and was named to eight Pro Bowls. The Hall of Famer was also nominated to three first-team All-Pro rosters. Lanier tallied an impressive 27 interceptions and earned at least three in five seasons.
No. 7: Will Shields, OG
Will Shields played at a Hall of Fame level during his entire 14-year NFL career. The guard was nominated to the Pro Bowl in each of his final 12 seasons. Shields was named to two first-team All-Pro teams and four second-team All-Pro teams during this stretch. He only missed one game during his entire career, which is a remarkable feat.
No. 6: Bobby Bell, LB
Bobby Bell played a critical role during their Super Bowl IV victory. Bell spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pros. In addition, he won two AFL Champions (before the Super Bowl era) and was named to the Hall of Fame 1970s team.
No. 5: Len Dawson, QB
After beginning his career with the Steelers and Browns, Len Dawson found a home in Kansas City. He led to their first Super Bowl victory (IV) and finished his career with 28,507 passing yards, which is only behind Patrick Mahomes. He threw 237 TDs, which was only surpassed by Mahomes this past season as he only has 245 TDs. Dawson was named to seven Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro rosters.
No. 4: Tony Gonzalez, TE
Tony Gonzalez comes in at the No. 4 spot on our list. The tight end began his 17-year Hall of Fame career with the Kansas City Chiefs and played 12 seasons with them. During his time there, he tallied the second-most receiving yards in team history (10,940) and second-most touchdowns (76). He was nominated to five first-team All-Pro rosters and 10 Pro Bowls as a Chief.
No. 3: Travis Kelce, TE
Travis Kelce stands at the top of the team’s receiving records. The tight end has tallied 12,151 receiving yards and 77 touchdowns, both being the most in team history. Kelce has been a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams and could be on his way to his fourth on Sunday evening. Kelce qualified for 10 Pro Bowls and was named to four first-team All-Pro rosters.
No. 2: Derrick Thomas, LB
The nine-time Pro Bowler owns the No. 2 spot on this list. Derrick Thomas tallied the most tackles in team history (641) during his 11-year tenure with the Chiefs. The Hall of Famer was named to two first-team All-Pro rosters and won AP Rookie of the Year during the 1989 season. The longtime Chief tallied double-digit sacks in seven of his 11 seasons.
No. 1: Patrick Mahomes, QB
Patrick Mahomes is the top player in Chiefs history and could continue to build his resume on Sunday evening. Through his first seven seasons as a full-time starter, Mahomes has made six Pro Bowls, two MVPs, and two first-team All-Pro teams. He has won three Lombardi Trophies and has led the league in passing TDs twice. He can lead the first team in Super Bowl history to a three-peat on Sunday evening against the Eagles.
