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Building the Kansas City Chiefs all-time 55-man roster

By Kelly Thompson

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs on his way to scoring a 27 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs on his way to scoring a 27 yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – CIRCA 1972: Head Coach Hank Stram of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game circa 1972 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Stram was the head coach of the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs from 1960-1974. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – CIRCA 1972: Head Coach Hank Stram of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game circa 1972 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Stram was the head coach of the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs from 1960-1974. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Coaching Staff

The coaching staff was the one place on the roster where we considered coaches for positions they never held in Kansas City, based on their careers.

Head Coach: Hank Stram

This was not a particularly difficult choice, primarily because of our decision to use head coaches in other positions, too. Also, statistically, Hank Stram was the best coach in Chiefs history. Under his coaching the Chiefs won three AFL Championships and appeared in two Super Bowls, the most of any coach in franchise history. Stram compiled a record of 124-76-10 with Kansas City, while earning eight playoff wins—both franchise records.

Offensive Coordinator: Andy Reid

Andy Reid is one of the more brilliant offensive minds in the history of the NFL, so it stands to reason that he is also the most qualified to be the All-55’s offensive coordinator. He’ll have a lot of fun putting together packages to take advantage of the many weapons at his disposal.

Honorable Mention: Al Saunders

Quarterbacks Coach: Dick Vermeil

This was a difficult decision because, arguably, Mike McCarthy was a better quarterbacks coach in his career than Dick Vermeil was in his. But Vermeil has a better overall coaching resume, so he gets the nod.

Honorable Mention: Mike McCarthy

Running Backs Coach: Eric Bieniemy

Eric Bieniemy has a great understanding of motivation, team awareness and the nuts and bolts of offensive football. He also has experience as an NFL running back which makes him an excellent player’s coach, making him a solid choice for the team.

Honorable Mention: James Saxon

Wide Receivers Coach: Al Saunders

Before Reid, Al Saunders had been the engineer of the most prolific offense in franchise history under Vermeil in the early 2000s. He was also with the franchise for a decade under Marty Schottenheimer in the 1990s, running a very different kind of offense. The versatility he’s displayed makes him well suited to work with the receivers on the All-55 team.

Honorable Mention: Charlie Joiner

Offensive Line Coach: Mike Solari

Mike Solari was the Chiefs offensive line coach from 1997-2005, and the offensive coordinator for two seasons after. During his stretch as a position coach, the Chiefs assembled one of the greatest offensive lines in the history of the NFL.

Honorable Mention: Irv Eatman

Defensive Coordinator: Bill Cowher

Bill Cowher is one of the most decorated coaches in franchise history, and the only other one (besides Reid and Stram) to win a Super Bowl as a head coach. He is a defensive genius, and will be brilliant in scheming his front sixes and sevens with a bevy of Hall of Fame talent on the All-55.

Honorable Mention: Tom Bettis

Defensive Line Coach: Tom Pratt

Naming Tom Pratt the defensive line coach of the Chiefs All-55 team was an easy decision. He held that position with Kansas City from 1963-1977, and from 1989-1994. Through it, the Chiefs had two of the more dominant defensive fronts in football and Pratt, as the engineer, gets the credit for that.

Honorable Mention: Romeo Crennel

Linebackers Coach: Marty Schottenheimer

Before becoming a defensive coordinator and eventually a head coach in the NFL, Marty Schottenheimer was a NFL linebacker turned linebackers coach. The long time defensive coordinator is one of the winningest coaches in NFL history and is strong-willed enough to keep the mass talent in this linebackers room in check.

Honorable Mention: Gary Gibbs

Secondary Coach: Tony Dungy

This position was the most difficult of all choices on the coaching staff. The Chiefs had three great options here. Emmitt Thomas gets on the team later, so we did not use him; and Tony Dungy was simply a better football coach than Herm Edwards. Dungy’s Super Bowl experience make him a strong choice for the Chiefs’ secondary.

Honorable Mention: Emmitt Thomas, Herm Edwards

Special Teams Coordinator: Marv Levy

Marv Levy was one of the most successful head coaches of the 1980s and 1990s. Prior to his head coaching career, he served as a special teams coach in the NFL. Due to his experience/success as an NFL head coach, he gets the nod here.

Honorable Mention: Dave Toub

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