The Kansas City Chiefs will have six players at the 2016 Pro Bowl, with the addition of inside linebacker Derrick Johnson to the roster. Johnson should have been there to begin with, and is now taking the place of Carolina Panthers’ star Luke Kuechly, who is ineligible because he’s playing in the Super Bowl.
Johnson, 33, put forth one of the more amazing seasons in recent team history. After being carted off the field in a Week 1 loss last year against the Tennessee Titans, it was confirmed that Johnson sustained a torn Achilles tendon. It was Johnson’s fifth 100-tackle season, as the former All-Pro notched 116 along with four sacks, only a half-sack off his career best.
Between Johnson and Eric Berry making the Pro Bowl, you can’t have a better story on a personal level. Berry was able to come back from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while Johnson was counted out by legions after his devastating injury. Yet, here both are, going to the Pro Bowl after helping to vanquish Kansas City’s playoff drought.
Next: Aqib Talib rips the Chiefs
While the ultimate goal was not reached in 2015, you have to feel very good about the future. The Chiefs have a boatload of talent and the leadership to go along with it.