Chiefs Who Missed Out

Louis Christifano
By Louis Christifano
5 Chiefs who should’ve been on this year’s Super Bowl team.
The weather is awfully fair in Kansas City right now when it comes to NFL football, which has drawn many fans to hop aboard the bandwagon in the midst of the Chiefs Super Bowl LIV victory. It’s been an unforgettable time for all Chiefs fans, however for those who remember the days of Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn, Larry Johnson, Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, and Herman Edwards, this title means something more. Fans like this know that while everyone on this roster deserves a ring, there were some recent former Chiefs that this celebration doesn’t feel right without. Here are my top 5 former Chiefs who deserved this victory. 

My first pick is Safety Eric Berry. Berry comes to mind immediately. His story staggers the imagination. He spent 2010-2018 with the team and was a 5x Pro Bowler, 3x First-team All-Pro selection, but his most impressive award was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year of 2015. He won this award because he survived cancer, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and returned to the field as a Kansas City Chief only nine months after his diagnosis. It’s a story that’s hard to believe, especially considering how well Berry played after surviving cancer. Unfortunately, Berry tore his achilles tendon during the 2017-18 season and could never quite get back healthy last year. For this reason, and to also improve his mental health, he decided to take this year off, but at only 31 years old a potential return to the NFL is possible. If he returned to Kansas City, Eric Berry aside Tyran Mathieu would make for a scary Chiefs secondary. 

Coming in second is Middle Linebacker Derrick “DJ” Johnson. Johnson was a staple in the middle of the Chiefs defense from 2005-2017. Chiefs fans fell in love with him for his grit, wit, and leadership on the field. He was a 4x Pro Bowler, 1x First-team All-Pro selection, and 1x Second-team All-Pro selection. He’s one of the best Chiefs of all time and was often one of the bright spots on some underperforming Chiefs’ teams over the years. Johnson retired after the 2018 season with the Raiders. Considering Johnson is 37 years old and retired, it’s unlikely he’ll ever wear the red and gold ever again. It’s a shame he couldn’t have stuck around for a couple more years.

Third place goes to Outside Linebacker Tamba Hali. Hali was a key edge rusher for the Chiefs from 2006-2017. Much like Johnson, Hali was often the best part of some struggling Chiefs’ teams. Hali was a 5x Pro Bowler and 2x Second-team All-Pro selection. What Hali brought was consistency. The Chiefs could always count on him to be in the back of the minds of opposing starting quarterbacks. He rushed the quarterback with authority and became known for knocking the ball loose once he got there. Hali never suited up for another NFL team, which makes him all the more deserving of a Super Bowl victory for Kansas City. 

Sliding in the fourth slot is Running Back Jamaal Charles. Charles was possibly the greatest running back in the history of the Chiefs and certainly one of the greatest running backs of all time. He spent 2008-2016 with Kansas City. The speedster was a 4x Pro Bowler, 2x First-team All-Pro selection, 1x Second-team All-Pro selection, the NFL rushing touchdowns leader in 2013, and currently holds all-time NFL records for most career yards per carry (5.4) and most rushing yards in a quarter (165). Chiefs fans will never forget the life and electricity Charles brought to the Kansas City offense. He had the power to do big play damage every time he touched the ball. Jamaal signed a one day contract with the team this year so he could retire as a Chief. Although he never played with Mahomes, he took a final handoff from him at practice on this one day contract. If defenses had to prepare for Mahomes and Charles together, they would have better luck stapling water to a tree than stopping these two. 

Finally, there is Outside Linebacker Justin Houston. Houston was a Chief from 2011-2018 and currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Houston is a strong and physical pass rusher and run stuffer off the edge. He’s a 4x Pro-Bowler, 1x First-team All-Pro selection, and led the NFL in sacks in 2014 with 22, which earned him the Deacon Jones Award. From early on in his career, Houston became close friends with his teammate Eric Berry. When Berry was out with cancer and unable to play, Justin Houston stepped up and took on a big leadership role for the Chiefs. He always made sure to honor Berry in some way during the games he missed and also made sure Berry was always on the minds of the Chiefs as they took the field. Houston plays with a passion for the game and hunger for success, as was seen in his years in Kansas City and in his return to Kansas City as a Colt this year where he beat his former team. Chiefs fans know a Super Bowl title would’ve meant so much to this man.
Back