The best Kansas City Chiefs to ever wear the uniform: No. 7

In this special offseason series, we analyze the best players in Kansas City Chiefs history to wear every single uniform number. Here’s No. 7.

I was in first grade when I first met someone with a super cool name.

Lavar St. Germain was his name. He started attending the private elementary school I began at the previous year in kindergarten and instantly I thought he was the coolest guy in the room.

Somehow, lots of couples were having sex and then deciding that “Matthew” was the perfect name for the ensuing pregnancy back in the late ’70s. By the time I hit school, Matts were ubiquitous. Four of them were in my class alone. There was even another Matt C. in Mrs. Schwartz’s class.

Then I met Lavar. He was as cool as his three-part name. Three parts! It even flowed. I’d never met a Lavar before, and St. Germain just sounded royal, or at least religious. I’m pretty sure Lavar left after that single year, but I hope he’s well. And I hope his name has opened doors for him.

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All of this is very important because the single greatest name in Kansas City Chiefs history wore No. 7 overall: Zenon Andrusyshyn.

Zenon sounds like an ’80s arcade classic on its own, but pair it with that repetitive Soviet sounding name and you have an imposingly cool way to introduce yourself for the better part of the 20th century.

Before we get on with things, it’s important to tell Zenon’s story because it’s really interesting. Unfortunately I can’t make Zenon a winner or runner-up here because he only punted for a single season in the NFL and that came with the Chiefs in ’78. It wasn’t even a memorable year, so he’s an NFL footnote.

But if you look at football outside the NFL, Zenon had an incredible career. He was drafted by the Cowboys out of UCLA in 1970 and punted/kicked for over 15 years in the USFL, NFL and CFL. Get this: he holds the record for longest punt ever anywhere in an official football game of 108 yards. One Oh Eight! He also set the record for longest field goal twice—in the same game (with kicks of 57 and then 62 yards)!

The same man held the record for longest punt AND field goal in the CFL. And his name is Zenon!

Oh, wait! He met his wife on a dating TV show back in 1969 (when such shows were’t on every channel) called The Dating Game. Also, Zenon wasn’t just some diminutive specialist. He was 6’2, 210 lbs., a punter to be reckoned with.

I think all things Zenon are cool. I thought the same with Lavar. All the best to both men.

Now on with the others who have worn No. 7 for the Chiefs

The Others

It’s sad that Ron Jaworski pinned such a poor final season on the end of his career in Kansas City (2 touchdowns, 5 interceptions in 3 starts). So there’s some name recognition on this list but it doesn’t mean what you think.

A couple other names warrant a mention here in Aaron Murray and Justin Medlock. Murray is now out of football but was the first quarterback drafted by John Dorsey for the Chiefs. Medlock was supposed to be a great rookie kicker for the Chiefs as a fifth round choice by Scott Pioli, but he flaked out and landed in the CFL where he’s now a heralded veteran.

The Runner-up: Harrison Butker

Buttkicker!

Not-so-special teams is one of the most frustrating things to watch as a fan. (Just say Lin Elliot and watch every Chiefs fan instinctively shrivel up within a country mile.) So when Cairo Santos went down with a groin injury a few weeks into the 2017 regular season, it was cause for serious concern. Without a steady, accurate kicker, the Chiefs would bring in an unknown element.

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned in five years, it’s that Dave Toub knows what he’s doing. Brett Veach raided the Carolina Panthers practice squad for a rookie kicker named Harrison Butker who was as automatic as any player that’s ever stepped on the field at Arrowhead. It wasn’t long until fans were loving the rookie, loving his Twitter handle (@buttkicker7) and loving his consistency.

Veach made it clear that after Santos went down, he asked Toub about potential replacements and the Chiefs special teams coach said Butker was his favorite rookie in 2017. Turns out he knows what he’s doing.

The Winner: Matt Cassel

What a letdown.

I’ll admit it. I’ve been stoked to tell you about Zenon and then Butker is another fun subject. Now I have to write about Matt Cassel. Yep.

Maybe Cassel isn’t the right choice here. I have to admit I’m mixed. But Cassel did lead the Chiefs to the playoffs in 2010 with a 10-5 record as a starter and did so in the midst of some serious turmoil. It can’t be an easy thing when the coaching staff hates the front office and vice versa. He also wrestled with various injuries during his tenure, from an MCL in 2009 to a hand injury in 2011.

Then again, Cassel finished his career in Kansas City with only 19 wins and 28 losses in four years. His tenure ended with banners flying overhead calling for him to be benched. In his fourth year, he went 1-7 as a starter with a 66.7 passer rating.

Now I’m depressed after a perfectly good column. At least we had Vrabel for a while, too.

Congratulations to Matt Cassel for being the greatest Chiefs player to ever wear the No. 7 on his uniform!

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