3. Alex Smith
Ah, Alex Smith. A quarterback that is remembered far more fondly than he was treated by the fan base as a whole while he was here. While he was maligned by sometimes being a game manager, he was the first stable quarterback that the franchise had had since Trent Green, and he won a lot more games than Green ever did.
He was the definition of a hard worker, but had the mental acuity to make that hard work truly pay off. He was inconsistent statistically, breaking 3,500 yards passing only twice and 20 touchdowns only three times during his five year stint with the team. However, his last year with the team he set the pace at the position for most of the season. He tapered off near the end but still managed to surpass 4,000 yards and throw for 26 touchdowns next to only 5 interceptions.
At the end of the day, Smith is remembered most for what he did best: he won games. He won 50 regular season games during his tenure with the team, almost as many as the nine years before him. He made the playoffs four out of five seasons and led the team to its first back-to-back division titles in franchise history. Finally, he helmed the team to the franchise’s first playoff win in 22 seasons, lifting a curse that had worn thin the hearts and minds of those in Chiefs Kingdom.
As time has gone on, and the good fortunes of Chiefs Kingdom have multiplied, I think most fans have come to the realization that Alex Smith was an absolutely integral piece to the Super Bowl puzzle. He brought an important stability to the position both on and off the field, something that hadn’t been seen since before the aforementioned Green. He was a gladiator on the field and a statesman off of it.
More importantly, he was the Jedi to Mahomes Padawan. Like a wise mentor guides their protege, Alex Smith willingly prepared the way for Patrick Mahomes to take the NFL by storm. It’s for this reason, along with being such a great winner in his time with the team, that Smith finds his place as the third best quarterback in Chiefs history.