Kansas City Chiefs' Hall of Fame presence poised to grow in 2025

Every year, the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, announces its finalists for the next enshrinement of players into its world-famous halls, which honor the greatest players and coaches to ever grace an NFL stadium. Currently, the Chiefs have 25 Hall of Famers in Canton—tied for the ninth-most with Philadelphia—but that could change this upcoming year.

Earlier this week, the 2025 semi-finalists were named and a few of the players mentioned once wore the red-and-yellow jerseys for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jared Allen and Terrell Suggs were both named semi-finalists and have legitimate chances of earning their gold jackets and Hall of Fame busts. However, they face stiff competition. Both Allen and Suggs boast impressive statistics—Suggs even has a couple of Super Bowl rings—but the selection committee allows only four to eight individuals to be inducted each year.

So, what are the chances that the Chiefs will add their logo to Canton’s halls not just once, but twice this year? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers.

Jared Allen - DE

Jared Allen was drafted by Kansas City in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Idaho State. While many thought he had a lot to prove before becoming a solid starter in the NFL, he quickly emerged as a dominant force on the field and a colorful character off it.

In his rookie season, Allen played in 15 games and recorded nine sacks, earning him votes for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, which ultimately went to New York's Jonathan Vilma. He added 11 more sacks in his second season and ended his Chiefs tenure with a league-leading 15.5 sacks in 2007, earning the first of his five Pro Bowl nominations.

Allen wasn’t just a sack merchant, though. In 2006, he led the league with six fumble recoveries and recorded 10 pass deflections, second only to his career-high 11 deflections the following season.

The 2007 season was truly magical for Allen. Along with leading the league in sacks, he also posted the most tackles for loss (19) that year. On offense, he scored two touchdowns as a tight end—the only offensive scores of his career.

After his stellar 2007 season, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Jared Allen, guaranteeing him $8.8 million for the 2008 season. However, they traded him to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick, two third-round picks (one of which was used to select Jamaal Charles), and a sixth-round pick swap.

In Minnesota, Allen solidified his Hall of Fame credentials, recording 85.5 sacks over six seasons. This included a league-leading 22 sacks in 2011 at the age of 29. After the 2013 season, he played for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers before signing a one-day contract with the Vikings to retire as a member of the team.

Even with his exciting plays on the field and his signature calf-roping sack celebration, Allen was just as notable and entertaining off the field. He often sported a mullet or some fun facial hair like a handlebar mustache, and his player intro on Sunday Night Football typically caused a chuckle. Not only that, he was always able to make people laugh by making fun of himself as well as just being an overall goofy dude, like the time he chased a little person on the Kenny Mayne show.

Although Allen never reached a Super Bowl, his accolades were substantial. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, and the 2011 Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year. The charismatic defensive end retired with 136 regular-season sacks (140 including playoffs), which currently ranks 12th all-time, just behind John Randle (137.5), DeMarcus Ware (138.5), and the next possible Hall of Fame Chiefs inductee, Terrell Suggs.

Terrell Suggs - LB / DE

While Terrell Suggs may not be remembered as a Chief by most NFL fans outside Kansas City, his brief stint under Steve Spagnuolo left an indelible mark on those who witnessed it.

After 16 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he amassed 132.5 regular-season sacks (plus 12.5 in the postseason), Suggs was claimed off waivers by Kansas City during his short stint with the Arizona Cardinals. Transitioning to the defensive end position in the Chiefs’ 4-3 defense alongside Frank Clark and Chris Jones, Suggs made an immediate impact.

In fact, just 13 days after joining the team on December 16, 2019, Suggs recorded a pivotal sack against Philip Rivers in his final game as a Charger, bringing his career regular-season sack total to 139.

Suggs’ presence and the pressure he applied, combined with the efforts of Clark and Chris Jones, helped elevate the Chiefs’ defense. This defensive strength provided reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes the support he needed to secure his first Super Bowl victory while also giving Andy Reid his first-ever championship after 27 years in the NFL.

Suggs retired with 151.5 total sacks (including playoffs), translating to 1,074 yards lost for opposing quarterbacks—the most ever recorded. He also holds the NFL record for most tackles for loss in a career with 214. Beyond these milestones, Suggs also had 37 forced fumbles, 2 pick-sixes, 1 scoop-and-score, and forced one safety during his illustrious career.

Drafted 10th overall by the Baltimore Ravens out of Arizona State in 2003, Suggs ended his career as a two-time Super Bowl Champion, a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, and a one-time All-Pro.

Suggs seems like the most likely to be a lock for a new bust in Canton, but he's up against the likes of players like tight end Antonio Gates, safety Rodney Harrison, wide receiver Torry Holt, and quarterback Eli Manning. It's also important to note that Allen has been an NFL Hall of Fame semi-finalist five times (2021-25) while this is Suggs' first year of eligibility.

If Suggs is selected he would become the seventh defensive end in NFL history to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. This would put Suggs alongside names like Julius Peppers (2024), Jason Taylor (2017), Bruce Smith (2009), Reggie White (2006), Deacon Jones (1980) and Gino Marchetti (1972).