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4.5k voters

The Best Kansas City Chiefs Of All Time

Updated April 25, 2020 48.6k votes 4.5k voters 80.5k views128 items

List RulesPlease rank the players based on their time with the Chiefs

This is a list of the best Kansas City Chiefs of all time. Founded by football pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Kansas City Chiefs were originally the Dallas Texans. The franchise started in 1960, but moved to KC in 1963. The Chiefs had some of the best players in the AFL during those early days. Many of the greatest players in Chiefs history were on these teams. Superstars like Len Dawson, Buck Buchanan, Abner Haynes and Otis Taylor were on the Chiefs during the formative days of the franchise. With the foundation of the team in place, the Chiefs won Super Bowl IV with a convincing 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.That Chiefs team is considered one of the best teams in franchise history.

After those initial glory years, the Chiefs wallowed in the NFL wilderness for years. The late '80s saw the Chiefs draft two of the greatest players in team history, including one of the best linebackers ever. Beginning with Neil Smith in 1988, the Chiefs hit the jackpot when they drafted superstar linebacker Derrick Thomas in 1989. Thomas was one of the most feared defensive players in the league and along with Buchanan, is considered one of the best Chiefs of all time.

This list of the best Kansas City Chiefs dates back to the team's formation in 1995. If you notice someone who is missing from this list of all time Chiefs, feel free to add him. Vote or rerank this list of the greatest Chiefs ever according to who you think should be considered the best in franchise history, then head over and check out the top Chiefs kickers ever and best Chiefs tight ends.

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Derrick Thomas
Linebacker
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Age: Dec. at 33 (1967-2000)
Teams: Alabama Crimson Tide Football, Kansas City Chiefs
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#2 of 91 The Best Alabama Crimson Tide Football Players of All Time#20 of 143 Athletes Whose Careers Ended Too Soon
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1,651
328
Tony Gonzalez
Tight end
Birthplace: Torrance, California, United States of America
Age: 39
Teams: California Golden Bears football, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs
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#1416 of 1,427 The Best Athletes Of All Time#17 of 322 People Who Should Be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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1,231
183
Travis Kelce
Tight end
Birthplace: Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Age: 26
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
4
867
247
Willie Lanier
Linebacker
Birthplace: Clover, Virginia, United States of America
Age: 75
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#232 of 1,323 The Best Football Players Ever#65 of 432 The Greatest Defenders in NFL History
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993
298
Will Shields
Guard
Birthplace: Fort Riley, Kansas
Age: 49
6
811
230
Bobby Bell
Defensive end, Linebacker
Birthplace: Shelby, North Carolina, United States of America
Age: 75
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#46 of 96 The Greatest Defensive Ends of All Time#17 of 59 The Best NFL Players From North Carolina
7
1,965
94
Patrick Mahomes
Quarterback
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
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#22 of 252 The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time#33 of 119 The Greatest College Football Quarterbacks of All Time
8
1,064
329
Len Dawson
Quarterback
Birthplace: Alliance, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 80
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs
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#17 of 39 The Best NFL Quarterbacks of the 1970s#18 of 63 Every Quarterback To Achieve A Perfect Passer Rating
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784
102
Tyreek Hill
Wide Receiver, Return specialist
Birthplace: Georgia
Age: 26
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
10
930
279
Christian Okoye
Running back
Birthplace: Enugu, Nigeria
Age: 59
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
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#20 of 80 The Best NFL Player Nicknames#16 of 36 The Best NFL Running Backs of the 90s
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973
307
Eric Berry
Cornerback, Safety
Birthplace: Fairburn, Georgia
Age: 31
Teams: Tennessee Volunteers football, Kansas City Chiefs
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#3 of 48 The Best University of Tennessee Football Players Ever#6 of 60 The Best NFL Players From Georgia
12
664
185
Buck Buchanan
Defensive tackle, Defensive lineman
Birthplace: Gainesville, Alabama
Age: Died at 52 (1940-1992)
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1,046
355
Priest Holmes
Running back
Birthplace: Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States of America
Age: 46
Teams: Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Texas Longhorns football
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#41 of 206 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time#43 of 95 The Best Baltimore Ravens of All Time

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1,063
363
Jamaal Charles
Running back
Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas
Age: 33
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Texas Longhorns football
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#19 of 106 The Fastest NFL Players of All Time#2 of 26 The Best Kansas City Chiefs Running Backs of All Time
15
458
84
Hank Stram
Running back
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Age: Died at 82 (1923-2005)
Teams: New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs
16
571
161
Emmitt Thomas
Cornerback
Birthplace: Angleton, Texas
Age: 77
17
786
258
Derrick Johnson
Linebacker
Birthplace: Waco, Texas
Age: 37
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
18
566
155
Otis Taylor
Wide receiver
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Age: 78
19
570
183
Neil Smith
Defensive end
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
Age: 49
Teams: Denver Broncos, Nebraska Cornhuskers football, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs
20
512
154
Willie Roaf
Tackle
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 50
21
630
211
Dante Hall
Return specialist, Punt returner
Birthplace: Lufkin, Texas
Age: 42
Teams: St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs
22
625
249
Justin Houston
Linebacker
Birthplace: Statesboro, Georgia
Age: 31
Teams: Georgia Bulldogs football team, Kansas City Chiefs
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#18 of 44 The Best University of Georgia Football Players of All Time#72 of 147 The Best Indianapolis Colts of All Time
23
539
209
Tamba Hali
Defensive end, Linebacker
Birthplace: Gbarnga, Liberia
Age: 36
Teams: Penn State Nittany Lions football, Kansas City Chiefs

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428
136
Jan Stenerud
Placekicker
Birthplace: Fetsund, Norway
Age: 77
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514
180
Marcus Allen
Running back
Birthplace: San Diego, California, United States of America
Age: 55
Teams: USC Trojans football, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs
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#7 of 83 The Best Heisman Trophy Winners of All Time#1 of 104 The Best USC Trojans Players of All Time