Chad Henne has secured his status as KC Chiefs playoff hero

Quarterback Chad Henne is a true postseason hero for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to make history when they host their fifth consecutive AFC Championship game when they face off against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.

But before they do, we need to take the time to acknowledge someone who played a vital role in getting them there: Chad Henne.

Henne has acted as Kansas City’s savior in its biggest times of need, not just once, but twice.

Simply put, without Henne’s spectacular efforts in the playoffs, the Chiefs would not be where they are today.

Henne was one of the key performers in last weekend’s Divisional Round win over Jacksonville, stepping up when the Chiefs needed him most.

Having played just 18 snaps and with only two attempted passes all season, the 37-year-old entered the game in the second quarter when Patrick Mahomes was sidelined with an ankle injury.

Henne then led a 12-play, 98-yard touchdown drive – the longest playoff TD drive in franchise history – that was crucial in helping Kansas City to victory.

It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of those 12 plays.

The Chiefs were in front 10-7 at the time, but with Mahomes out hurt, no word on whether he would return and KC pinned at its own two-yard line, it felt like the game was about to swing Jacksonville’s way.

Up stepped Henne.

He completed five of his seven passes as the Chiefs marched down the field. Helped by a pivotal 39-yard run from Isiah Pacheco, Henne capped the drive off with a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.

It was, undoubtedly, Kansas City’s most important drive of the game.

Not only did it grow the lead back out to two scores, but it also gave all of Chiefs Kingdom the belief that the Chiefs were still good enough to win.

Of course, Chiefs fans already knew that Henne-thing is possible with #4 on the field in the playoffs.

Henne was the hero back in 2021 in another Divisional Round clash, this time against the Cleveland Browns.

With Mahomes forced out of the game with a concussion, Henne helped the Chiefs hold on for a thrilling five-point win.

With the game on the line late in the fourth, he made an iconic 13-yard run before completing a game-clinching pass to Tyreek Hill on fourth down to seal the win.

The Chiefs would go on to reach the Super Bowl that year, something they never would have been able to do if it hadn’t been for the role that Chad Henne played.

Now in 2023, the Chiefs have a chance to return to the Super Bowl once more, again because of what Henne was able to accomplish.

The role of a backup quarterback can be a thankless one at times. But last week, Chiefs Kingdom saw once again just how crucial they can be when called upon.

If we look back to the start of the season, there was justified debate over whether Henne would have a spot on this year’s roster.

Shane Buechele had looked impressive during the preseason and there was a strong case put forward that he would be the best option as Kansas City’s backup.

As it turned out, the Chiefs opted to keep Henne – a decision that has paid off big time.

With 13 years in the NFL under his belt, every bit of his experience showed last Saturday against Jacksonville.

Henne looked cool, calm, and collected out on the field, a remarkable feat considering he hadn’t thrown a ball in a game in just under three months.

He executed Kansas City’s game plan flawlessly, leading them down the field on the most important drive of the game.

In two times of asking in the playoffs, Henne has delivered on the biggest stages imaginable.

The Chiefs are in the midst of a historic playoff run, and without Chad Henne, it would not have been possible.

With his game-winning efforts in KC’s win over Cleveland and now his spectacular drive that propelled Kansas City to victory over Jacksonville, Chad Henne has undoubtedly secured his status as a Chiefs’ playoff hero.