Chiefs Kingdom is joyous as the team has clinched a Super Bowl appearance, but there are a few former players we wish could share in this moment.
The Chiefs’ Super Bowll berth is a momentous occurrence. A lot of the players and coaches on this team will be immortalized into Chiefs’ history and rightly so.. However, as team owner Clark Hunt raised the Lamar Hunt trophy, I couldn’t help but think of some recent Chiefs players I wish could share such a profound moment.
There are incredible former Chiefs players that never got the chance to enjoy an opportunity to play or win a Super Bowl. These are players who played recently, for the Chiefs teams that were often playoff-bound, but never more. As such, these five players are all recent players whose tenure with the Chiefs didn’t align with this year’s Super Bowl run.
Here’s a list of players I wish could share this amazing moment, as members of the Chiefs.
1. Jamaal Charles
Charles was the undeniable workhouse, the playmaker, an offensive do-it-all piece for the Chiefs for years. He was in his prime, competing for rushing titles from 2009-14. He was a dual-threat running back who attained success despite playing for some very bad Chiefs teams.
Charles was more than his production, though. He was a constant presence through some of the darker moments in Chiefs history. He is an ardent advocate for the Special Olympics and special needs advocacy. He was also cursed by injury and suffered not one but two season-ending ACL tears.
Charles probably won’t be remembered as an all-time great throughout the NFL, as injury prevented him from reaching his full potential. He’s one of the players I wish could’ve shared this moment, because he was a tireless, magnetic star player for a lot of unsuccessful Chiefs teams.
2. Eric Berry
Once Juan Thornhill tore his ACL, there were clamors for the Chiefs to re-sign Eric Berry. This shows how beloved Berry is by Chiefs fans. He last played for the Chiefs in the 18-19 season but was a ball-hawking, dominant safety for much of the 2010s.
His battle with lymphoma and his ability to overcome the illness and return to the Chiefs will never be forgotten. He gave his all, and more, to Chiefs teams that didn’t quite have the tools to make a Super Bowl run (putting last season aside).
Berry’s commitment to the Chiefs and his leadership is undeniable. It would be awesome if he could share this incredible moment with the team he was so devoted to.
3. Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali was one of those players that was impossible not to love. He was a Chief for life, playing his entire 11-year career for Kansas City. He was dominant on the field and a strong community leader off of it. He finished his career with an impressive 89.5 sacks, a sign of the non-stop motor that draft analysts praised when the Chiefs first selected him in the first round of the NFL Draft.
How cool would it be to see Tamba and Frank Clark rushing the passer together? Tamba was the heart and soul of the Chiefs for as long as he played there. He’s one of those players I wish was a few years younger, so he could enjoy this potential super Bowl title in the twilight of his unforgettable career.
4. Justin Houston
I know that Justin Houston currently plays for the Colts, but I couldn’t help but think of him when making this list. I always thought he was incredibly underrated. He nearly broke the single-season sack record in 2014, posting 22 sacks. Houston, along with Hali and Berry, were the unquestioned leaders of the Chiefs defense for years.
When I think of Justin Houston, an image comes to mind. In the 2015 season, Jamaal Charles tore his ACL in a game against the Chicago Bears. When it was clear that Charles was hurt badly, I’ll never forget the way Houston helped him up and walked him over to the sideline. Jamaal was in a ton of pain, and Houston had his head down, trying to console him quietly.
I would love to see Justin Houston, with his faithful service to the Chiefs, get the chance to bask in today’s win.
5. Alex Smith
Alex Smith was the quarterback who could get the Chiefs close but never all the way, but he deserves all the love in the world from Chiefs fans. Once the Chiefs drafted Mahomes, it was clear that Smith’s days were numbered. Even so, Smith helped mentor Mahomes, displaying the kind of selfless, team-first attitude that has guided his successful career.
After being traded to the Redskins in 2018, Smith endured a gruesome leg injury, one that he’s still recovering from. Smith is committed to still playing in the NFL. I can’t think of anyone more deserving than Smith, a man who guided the Chiefs as far as he could take them and left them in great hands even as he made a gracious exit.