In this special offseason series, we analyze the best players in Kansas City Chiefs history to wear every single uniform number. Here’s No. 30.
LOL.
I don’t know how else to start this out. Just one number ago, I was forced to choose between Eric Berry (winner) over Albert Lewis (unfortunate loser) for the best Kansas City Chiefs player to ever wear No. 29. Today, I might as well pick a few of my toddler’s stuffed animals as first and second place.
Writing something dumb like “LOL” is the only way I know how to deal with this madness. Even the names of players who have worn No. 30 are weird. Cleophus Miller and Gloster Richardson are names I’ll mention here and never again.
By the end of this, you’ll be nodding along with me wondering how I even picked a winner.
The Others
Martin Bayless should be a familiar name for many of you, as he enjoyed a nice long NFL career—largely with the San Diego Chargers. However, Bayless did play four years in K.C. (two separate two-year stints) and started 28 games in the process. He had 3 sacks and 3 interceptions for the Chiefs in that time. And all of this makes Bayless one of the contenders for best ever.
Other names that could be thrown out include former halfback-slash-kicker Jack Spikes (great name!) and failed cornerbacks like Jalil Brown (Pioli era!) and Jamell Fleming (nope!). There’s also defensiveback Dewayne Washington (longtime Steeler), running back B.J. Sams, and last season’s veteran surprise Steven Terrell (who I liked a lot).
Also there’s a 2016 appearance from the ghost of Bishop Sankey. Let’s LOL together.
The Runner-up: Donnell Bennett
He should be the winner. That’s what you’ll tell me in such a passive voice because no one will really even care about this at all. However, I’m in control and in the most minor of victories, I am taking this in a personal direction with the winner—all for good reason.
I can’t write the words “The Winner: Donnell Bennett.”
That’s nothing personal against Bennett, really. I actually really liked him as a player and grew up watching him for most of my formative years. You might underestimate his career but he reeled off an impressive seven years in K.C. and another full season in Washington. He’s No. 17 on the Chiefs all-time rushing list with 1,902 yards and he added 18 total touchdowns on the ground and in the air.
But here’s the thing. Bennett, a bruising 240 lb. back, wasn’t even the second best fullback on the Chiefs when he played. Somehow the Chiefs had Kimble Anders and Tony Richardson on the roster for the majority of Donnell Bennett’s career. If you’re wondering what the GM was thinking, join the crowd.
Can I say that a power runner who averaged 272 rushing yards per season is the best to wear a uniform number? No. I can’t. That’s why…
The Winner: Mike Brown
Out of any of the players eligible to be crowned as the best to ever wear No. 30, I decided to go with a longtime personal favorite as well as the one who put up the single best season of any of them in a Chiefs uniform.
Mike Brown was always fun to watch in the Chicago Bears secondary, a smart, tough player who only went to a single Pro Bowl but had a much better career than most would think. Together with Brian Urlacher (they entered the league together), they rejuvenated the Bears defense for a decade, and the NFL is always better when Chicago fields a fearsome defense.
Unfortunately injuries took their toll in Chicago and the team finally moved on after the 2008 season. The Chiefs were moving forward with Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard, or so it seemed, but Scott Pioli signed Mike Brown to a one-year deal before training camp and surprised everyone by releasing Pollard in early September. Pollard had led the team in tackles the year before, so it was a shock that the team would rely on Mike Brown, who hadn’t started a full 16 games for six years.
However, Brown responded with one of his best seasons on record. He not only started every single game of the season for the Chiefs, but he was second on the team in tackles and had 3 passes defended, 3 interceptions and 2 sacks in a strong all-around performance. Most importantly, he helped the defense hold up behind Brandon Carr and Brandon Flowers when there was a serious lack of depth and talent on the depth chart.
Next: The Best to Wear It: No. 29
Congratulations to Mike Brown for being the greatest Chiefs player to ever wear the No. 30 on his uniform!