The 5 biggest stomach punch player exits in Kansas City Chiefs history

With news that Derrick Johnson is now a member of the Oakland Raiders, we might as well stay miserable and count down the biggest stomach punches ever.

Father Time comes for us all.

There’s no way around it. Our favorite players, even the best of the best, all eventually fade, hitting a wall of age, fatigue and/or injuries that render them shadows of the athlete they once were. Perhaps an athlete will occasionally go out on top, as they say, but for the most part, we’re left watching our favorite players grow old with us.

That means that every team, over time, must also deal with this reality and make roster decisions based on such projections. Some teams like the New England Patriots show no loyalty and end up getting rid of players while there’s still some productivity left. Other teams will allow veterans to stick around a bit longer. Even John Dorsey, as the Kansas City Chiefs general manager, showed a penchant for letting some guys leave (a la Jeremy Maclin) yet letting other fan favorites stay a bit too long.

However it’s never easy seeing our favorite players leave. Whether it’s because they’re getting older or too expensive, watching your favorite player is always difficult. For the Chiefs, there have been a few serious stomach punches over the years. Here’s our countdown, starting with the absolute worst