In this special offseason series, we analyze the best players in Kansas City Chiefs history to wear every single uniform number. Here’s No. 40.
The average tenure for a cornerback at the NFL level is 2.94 seasons.
That’s less than what a player receives for his rookie deal. When you take out taxes and realize that the player will receive a mere fraction of what even the minimum will get, for all of their time and preparation, it really doesn’t add up to much for what the player puts into the dream of playing professional football. Then in the end, many players are left wondering who they are and what to do after NFL teams quit calling.
This sort of stat is what makes players who remain the league so esteemed. Today is a celebration of such longevity as we profile the best Chiefs players to ever wear the No. 40.
The Others
Of all the names we could list here, Peyton Hillis will earn the biggest applause or recognition. Many Chiefs fans had very high hopes for Hillis in some sort of Lightning/Thunder running combination but that never really happened.
Others to wear No. 40 include one of Scott Pioli’s late round flyers in RB Javarris Williams, former tight end Mike Williams and a mid-’80s back named Boyce Green. I like that name.
Keith Reaser is the man currently wearing the number and Brett Veach has told us to watch out for him. We will, Brett. We will.
The Runner-up: Jim Marsalis
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It’s a beautiful thing when a player turns out just like you envisioned, and when the Chiefs turned in a draft card in 1969 with the name Jim Marsalis on it, they could only hope he would turn out to be the immediate starter that Marsalis ended up being for the Chiefs. From the first day, Marsalis suited up at corner and wouldn’t let go of his starting role.
That first year, Marsalis was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Weekly. He also made his first Pro Bowl (and All-Pro) that season in ’69 and again the following year (All-Pro, too). Perhaps his most memorable performance came when the Chiefs beat the Jets in the playoffs that first year and Marsalis picked off Joe Namath twice to seal the victory.
In his career, Marsalis would play in 78 games for the Chiefs over 7 seasons with 15 interceptions in that span.
The Winner: James Hasty
Here is what is so incredible about James Hasty: the cornerback played out his entire twenties with the New York Jets, yet we’re still giving him the best player to wear No. 40 for the Chiefs, because of what he accomplished in his thirties..
That’s incredible.
Hasty was originally a third round pick in the ’88 draft by the Jets and performed better than expected from the outset, grabbing 5 interceptions during a rookie season in which he also started 15 games. Hasty never let go of that starting role for the next seven full seasons.
In 1995, the Chiefs raided the Jets in free agency, signing Hasty on a four-year deal along with offensive lineman Jeff Criswell and safety Brian Washington. Hasty was every bit the big acquisition they hoped he would be and then some. Despite having 111 NFL starts already under his belt, Hasty would go on to start another 90 games in Kansas City. He also reached his only two Pro Bowls with the Chiefs in ’97 and ’99. In the latter season, he led the NFL in interceptions with 7 overall, returning two of them for a touchdown.
Hasty played a total of six full seasons in K.C. and finished with 21 interceptions and 6 sacks to show for his efforts. For his career, he had 201 total starts and 45 interceptions over 14 seasons played. An incredible career.
Next: The Best to Wear It: No. 39
Congratulations to James Hasty for being the greatest Chiefs player to ever wear the No. 40 on his uniform!