Five moves that propelled the KC Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 19: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs holds up the Lamar Hunt trophy after defeating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs defeated the Titans 35-24. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 19: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs holds up the Lamar Hunt trophy after defeating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs defeated the Titans 35-24. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 17: Defensive end Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates as he runs off the field after the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 30-6. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 17: Defensive end Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates as he runs off the field after the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 30-6. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

3. Trading in a Ford

It is rare when teams let go of premium pass rushers during the prime of their careers, but Veach’s decision to trade Dee Ford to (ironically) the San Francisco 49ers and then trade for Seattle’s Frank Clark will go down as one of the best offseason moves in Kansas City history.

This was not obvious for the first half (or more) of the season. Clark (admittedly) played hurt for much of the regular season. But fast forward through most of the first 10 weeks and you can see why the Chiefs made the move that they did to acquire Clark.

Not only is Clark a superior pass rusher to Ford, but he is one of the best run stopping defensive ends in football.

The third element that made the Clark trade so important was the attitude that he brings to the defense. The edge, the callout out of Derrick Henry, the nonstop motor—Clark is a game-changing, outspoken leader-with-attitude that Kansas City desperately needed.

In conjunction with safety Tyrann Mathieu, Clark has radically altered the defense in Kansas City and has played a tremendous part in moving the Chiefs in to Super Bowl LIV.