With the start of the NFL season in question, the Kansas City Chiefs have been leading all headlines. Well, the good ones at least. The reigning Super Bowl champions signed two of their superstar players to long term contracts this offseason. Star defensive tackle Chris Jones signed a four year $85 million contract, with $60 million guaranteed.
Meanwhile, Kansas City signed Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes to a record breaking contract. Mahomes' extension which kicks in at the start of the 2023 season, is worth $447 million over 10 years. Combine that with the two years left on his rookie deal and Mahomes is spending the next 12 years of his career in Kansas City.
With Mahomes locked under contract for the prime of his career, there is a lot of excitement in Kansas City. Stars like him, Jones, and Tyreek Hill are hoping to turn the Chiefs to the NFL's next dynasty.
.@cheetah wants to build a dynasty in KC
(via @FirstTake) pic.twitter.com/kzqJu5DKas
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 23, 2020
For a Chiefs team with so much promise in the years to come, we must not forget about the players who helped build the franchise. Not players like Tony Gonzalez or Derrick Thomas who went on to be hall of famers, the other forgotten players who actually starred on the Chiefs but aren't as heralded as the stars of today.
Dwanye Bowe
One thing that's highlighted about today's Chiefs is how many weapons they have at Mahomes' disposal. Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelce, Hill and Mecole Hardman as a collective might be the best receiving core in the NFL. However, from 2007-2012 Dwanye Bowe was the only elite wide receiver Kansas City had.
Bowe, who was drafted 23rd in the 2007 by the Chiefs, had immediate success. In his rookie year Bowe had 70 receptions for 995 yards. The following season Bowe surpassed 1000 yards receiving and caught a career high seven touchdowns. If Gonzalez wasn't around Bowe would've led the Chiefs in receiving yards in his first five seasons.
Due to some off the field issues, Bowe's prime was cut short. Yet, in his time in Kansas City Bowe was on 1st team all rookie in 2007 and 2nd team all pro in 2010. Bowe currently stands in second for receptions in Chiefs history and third in receiving yards.
Dante Hall
Dante Hall is known for his highlight reel plays on special teams. The fifth round pick for the Chiefs in 2000 quickly became a fan favorite. Hall was the original speedster in Kansas City and eventually garnered the nickname “The Human Joystick.”
What Devin Hester was to the NFC, is what Hall was to the AFC. Whether it was a punt return or a kickoff return, Hall was bound to take one to the house. For his career Hall has over 10000 yards on kickoff returns. From 2002-2006 Hall went over 1000 yards on kickoff returns.
Hall's explosiveness was used on offense as well. Hall would also go and play receiver and also get some carries out the backfield. If there was any way possible to get the ball in Hall's hands with a running start, the Chiefs did just that. Hall ended his seven year Chiefs career with 11 total touchdowns in the return game.
Priest Holmes
Before the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs were always a team led by the running game. Throughout, the past two decades the Chiefs have had great talent at RB who had primes that were shorter than they should've been. The first of these running backs was Priest Holmes.
Holmes started his career for the Baltimore Ravens before eventually losing his starting spot to Jamal Lewis. Nonetheless, once Holmes arrived in Kansas City at the start of the 2001, he put up the best numbers of his career. For the next three seasons, Holmes surpassed 2000 scrimmage yards.
During the 2003 season, Holmes had 27 rushing touchdowns which is still tied for second for the most rushing touchdowns scored in a season. Also, in the 2002 season Holmes had a career high 1615 rushing yards.
In those three seasons from 2001-2003 Holmes was first team all pro for all three seasons. Not to mention the 2002 offensive player of the year, the first ever Chiefs player to win such an award.
Larry Johnson
Immediately after Holmes' three successful years in Kansas City entered Larry Johnson. The first round pick by the Chiefs in 2003 was a backup to Holmes his first two seasons in the NFL. After gaining the starting position Johnson proved to be a young superstar.
Johnson from 2005-2006 had an unprecedented amount of carries and rushing yards. In 2005 when Johnson was first team all pro he had 336 carries, 1750 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.
Afterward, in the 2006 season Johnson had 1789 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns. In addition, Johnson's 457 total touches in 2006 ranks second all time behind James Wilder.
Johnson's production dropped after the 2006 season, most likely due to the amount of carries he had throughout the previous two seasons. Nonetheless, Johnson's two seasons at his peak still are the best in Chiefs history if we're talking about single season rushing yards.
Tamba Hali
Much like the Chiefs of today, the great defensive players in Chiefs history don't get talked about much. However, the Chiefs have had some great defensive players in their team history. Especially when it came to pass rushers, Kansas City has had the likes of Derrick Thomas, Jared Allen and Justin Houston. But the most underrated pass rusher in Chiefs history is Tamba Hali.
Hali was the 20th pick in the 2006 draft for the Chiefs. The five time pro bowler would end up spending all 12 years of his career in Kansas City. Once Hali reached his primed the Chiefs were able to pair him with another elite pass rusher in Houston. That duo coming off the edge caused trouble for opposing teams, as in 2013 the duo combined for 22 sacks.
Hali's 89.5 career sacks and 33 forced fumbles ranks second in Chiefs history behind only the legendary Derrick Thomas. A premier pass rusher and a Chiefs' loyalist, Hali will forever be a fan favorite in Kansas City.
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