Ty Law, Leslie O’Neal among 2018 Chiefs semi-finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame
By Matt Conner
Cornerback Ty Law and defensive lineman Leslie O’Neal are among former Chiefs listed as semi-finalists for this year’s class into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Kansas City Chiefs have two former players among the numerous hopeful entrants vying for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Class of 2018 will soon be curated and right now both cornerback Ty Law and defensive end Leslie O’Neal are among the semi-finalists announced from Canton on Wednesday.
Ty Law
Law played for the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons, from 2006-2007, in a career that spanned well over a full decade from 1995-2009. In that time, he was known as a lockdown cornerback who was one of the best overall pass defenders in the NFL.
Law twice led the NFL in interceptions and returned 7 in his career for touchdowns. He was named to five Pro Bowls and two First-Team All-Pro units. He also won three Super Bowl titles in his career during his years with the New England Patriots, and his career total of 53 interceptions ranks in the top 25 all-time in the NFL.
During his two seasons with the Chiefs, Law started all 32 games for Herm Edwards’ defense and totaled 6 interceptions during that span. He also forced a career-high 3 fumbles in his first season in K.C.
Leslie O’Neal
O’Neal is another strong defender who, like Law, played in Kansas City for two seasons after playing the majority of his career elsewhere. For O’Neal, that elsewhere was with the Chiefs’ division rivals: the San Diego Chargers. O’Neal was the Chargers first round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft (No. 8 overall) and he had the skill and stamina to play an incredible 13 years along the defensive front.
From the very beginning it was clear that O’Neal was a special player. He won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in ’86 after a devastating year with 12.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (including a return for a touchdown) and 3 forced fumbles. From there, he was named to 6 total Pro Bowls and posted 8 seasons with double digit sack totals.
In his career, O’Neal started 178 games and he finished with a career total of 132.5 sacks, which ranks No. 13 overall in NFL history. He also forced 21 fumbles in that span.
O’Neal played in all 32 games over his two years in Kansas City, starting 23 of them, in 1998-99. They were his final two seasons in the NFL. O’Neal totaled 10 sacks and had 2 forced fumbles in that time in the twilight of his career.
The complete list of semi-finalists can be found here, and the list will be pared down to a final 15 in January. Then the final class will not be revealed until it is announced the night before the upcoming Super Bowl, and the results will be broadcast on NBC on a special NFL Honors show.