The following lists provide an overview of notable groupings of Kansas City Chiefs players.
All-time roster
Current roster
Chiefs quarterbacks
Throughout the Chiefs' near five-decade existence, there have been twelve starting quarterbacks to lead the team. Among the most prolific include Hall of Famers Len Dawson and Joe Montana, as well as superb quarterbacks of their era like Trent Green.
In the past few decades, the Chiefs have relied on veteran quarterbacks to lead their team.Gretz, Bob. The quarterback myth KCChiefs.com, April 27, 2006. The last quarterback to be drafted by Kansas City that later went on to claim the starting position was Bill Kenney in 1980. Since Kenney's retirement in 1988. the Chiefs never drafted their own quarterback to develop until Brodie Croyle was drafted in 2006. When head coach Herman Edwards arrived in 2006, he stated that he was looking towards implementing younger players into his gameplan, and he was arguably looking to start at the quarterback position.
The Chiefs have also had a repeated history of backup quarterbacks that steal the spotlight.Gretz, Bob. Huard performing a tough act to follow KCChiefs.com, October 26, 2006. Mike Livingston led the Chiefs to the playoffs in their 1969 season after starting quarterback Len Dawson was injured for the majority of the year. Most recently, Rich Gannon took over for the injured Elvis Grbac in the 1997 season, but was revoked of the job in favor of Grbac's return for the playoffs. The Chiefs lost in the playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. A similar incident occurred in the 2006 season and playoffs when Trent Green and the Chiefs' offense failed to get a first down in the first forty-two minutes of the game. Backup quarterback Damon Huard, whom led the Chiefs on a 5–2 record in Green's absence, never played a down in the playoff loss to—coincidentally—the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.Gretz, Bob. Quarterbacks and controversy KCChiefs.com, November 1, 2006
Super Bowl IV (1969) champions Kansas City Chiefs 1969 final roster Quarterbacks Len Dawson Tom Flores Mike Livingston Jacky Lee
Running backs Mike Garrett HB Wendell Hayes Robert Holmes FB Paul Lowe Ed Podolak
Wide receivers Frank Pitts SE Noland Smith Gloster Richardson FL Otis Taylor FL
Tight ends Fred Arbanas Curtis McClinton Mickey McCarty Offensive linemen Ed Budde G (L) George Daney G Dave Hill T (R) E. J. Holub C Mo Moorman G (R) Remi Prudhomme C Jim Tyrer T (L)
Defensive linemen Aaron Brown DE (R) Buck Buchanan DT (R) Curley Culp DT (L) Ed Lothamer DT Jerry Mays DE (L) Gene Trosch DE Linebackers Bobby Bell OLB (L) Chuck Hurston Willie Lanier MLB Jim Lynch OLB (R) Bob Stein
Defensive backs Caesar Belser S Jim Kearney SS (L) Jim Marsalis CB (L) Johnny Robinson FS (R) Goldie Sellers CB Emmitt Thomas CB (R)
Special teams Jerrel Wilson P Jan Stenerud K Warren McVea HB/KR Willie Mitchell CB/PR Reserve List—Did not play Jack Rudnay C Morris Stroud TE
Complete team roster Rookies in italicsStarters in boldPositions in (parentheses)
Honored players
Pro Football Hall of Famers
Chiefs Hall of Fame
The Kansas City Chiefs feature forty-four former players and franchise contributors in their team hall of fame. Several of the team's names are featured at Arrowhead Stadium in a "ring of honor." A new member has been inducted in an annual ceremony, with the exception of the 1983 season.Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame , KCChiefs.com, Accessed June 22, 2008.
1970s 1970 Lamar Hunt, team founder and owner 1971 #36 Mack Lee Hill, Running back 1972 #75 Jerry Mays, Defensive tackle 1973 #84 Fred Arbanas, Tight end 1974 #42 Johnny Robinson, Safety 1975 #88 Chris Burford, Wide receiver 1976 #55 E. J. Holub, Center/Linebacker 1977 #77 Jim Tyrer, Offensive tackle 1978 #21 Mike Garrett, Running back 1979 #16 Len Dawson, Quarterback
1980s 1980 #78 Bobby Bell, Linebacker 1981 #86 Buck Buchanan, Defensive tackle 1982 #89 Otis Taylor, Wide receiver 1983 No induction 1984 #71 Ed Budde, Guard 1985 #63 Willie Lanier, Linebacker 1986 #18 Emmitt Thomas, Cornerback 1987 Hank Stram, Coach 1988 #44 Jerrel Wilson, Punter 1989 #14 Ed Podolak, Running back
1990s 1990 #51 Jim Lynch, Linebacker 1991 #28 Abner Haynes, Running back 1992 #3 Jan Stenerud, Kicker 1993 #69 Sherrill Headrick, Linebacker 1994 #58 Jack Rudnay, Center 1995 #32 Curtis McClinton, Running back 1996 #20 Deron Cherry, Safety 1997 #73 Dave Hill, Offensive tackle 1998 #67 Art Still, Defensive end 1999 #34 Lloyd Burruss, Safety
2000s 2000 #35 Christian Okoye, Running back 2001 #58 Derrick Thomas, Linebacker 2002 #76 John Alt, Offensive tackle 2003 #59 Gary Spani, Linebacker 2004 #37 Joe Delaney, Running back 2005 Jack Steadman, team vice chairman and general manager 2006 #90 Neil Smith, Defensive end 2007 #29 Albert Lewis, Cornerback 2008 #61 Curley Culp, Defensive tackle 2009 #8 Nick Lowery, Place kicker
2010s 2010 Marty Schottenheimer, Coach 2011 #31 Kevin Ross, Cornerback 2012 #68 Will Shields, Guard 2013 #26 Gary Barbaro, Defensive back 2014 #31 Priest Holmes, Running back 2015 #24 Gary Green, Cornerback 2016 #49 Tony Richardson, Fullback 2017 #88 Carlos Carson, Wide Receiver 2018 #88 Tony Gonzalez, Tight End 2019 #54 Brian Waters, Guard 2023 #54 Dante Hall, Wide Receiver
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Lamar Hunt, team Founder and Owner Marty Schottenheimer, Coach Hank Stram, Coach Dick Vermeil, Coach #32 Marcus Allen, Running Back #84 Fred Arbanas, Tight End #78 Bobby Bell, Linebacker #71 Ed Budde, Guard #20 Deron Cherry, Safety #16 Len Dawson, Quarterback #31 Priest Holmes, Running Back #46 Jim Kearney, Safety #63 Willie Lanier, Linebacker #32 Curtis McClinton, Halfback #54 Curt Merz, Guard #76 Mo Moorman, Guard #35 Christian Okoye, Running Back #14 Ed Podolak, Running Back #49 Tony Richardson, Fullback #42 Johnny Robinson, Safety #70 Jerome Sally, Nose Tackle #68 Will Shields, Guard #90 Neil Smith, Defensive End #59 Gary Spani, Linebacker #3 Jan Stenerud, Kicker #67 Art Still, Defensive End #89 Otis Taylor, Wide Receiver #18 Emmitt Thomas, Cornerback
Other notable alumni #26 Gary Barbaro, DB #4 Steve Fuller, QB #24 Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, DB Bobby Hunt (1962 Dallas Texans - 1967 Kansas City Chiefs; Defensive Back, and a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.) #9 Bill Kenney, QB #99 Ernie Ladd (Defensive tackle; 1967–1968. Also played for the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Oilers, and a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.) #61 Curley Culp, DT #8 Nick Lowery, K #63 Bill Maas, DT #32 Curtis McClinton (scored a touchdown in Super Bowl I) #32 Tony Reed, RB #86 J. T. Smith, WR #83 Stephone Paige, WR #17 Elmo Wright and the Elmo Wright Touchdown Dance #10 Mike Livingston, QB (Led the Chiefs in their championship 1969 season while Len Dawson was injured) #31 Kevin Ross, DB #61 Tim Grunhard, C #38 Kimble Anders, RB #17 Steve DeBerg, QB #40 James Hasty, CB #49 Tony Richardson, FB (1995–2005, a major factor in the Chiefs' offensive success) #77 Willie Roaf, T (2002–2005, dubbed the "heart and soul" of Kansas City's offense by fans during the Dick Vermeil era) #12 Rich Gannon, QB (1995–1998, backup quarterback under Steve Bono and Elvis Grbac) #88 Morris Stroud, TE (1970–1974), second tallest person to ever play in the NFL. #68 Will Shields, G (1993–2006), never missed a game in his entire 14-year career all with the Chiefs and a major part of the Chiefs' offensive successes in the 1990s and early 2000s #88 Tony Gonzalez, TE, finished his career with the Atlanta Falcons
References