Our trip through the history of every Kansas City Chiefs jersey number, from 1 to 99, arrives at No. 9, a number only nine men have ever worn. Fortunately, the number is about to get its most interesting wearer.
For more than four decades, No. 9 has represented the highs and lows of a Pro Bowl quarterback, a barefoot kickoff specialist, and a slot receiver who came and went. Until now, however, a running back has never sported the jersey. That changes with the arrival of Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, and the Chiefs can only hope he's ready to write a grand story for the history books while wearing it.
The complete history of Chiefs players to wear No. 9
The Most Overlooked QB: Bill Kenney
Somebody had to serve as the team's starting quarterback through the franchise's most forgettable decade, and Bill Kenney did it with more distinction than the era usually credits him for.
Selected by Miami with the second-to-last pick of the 1978 draft, Kenney was cut in training camp before catching on with the Chiefs as a backup. He started his first three games in 1980, and when John Mackovic took over in '83, Kenney lit it up with a new aerial focus. He set a Chiefs record with 4,348 passing yards, made his one and only Pro Bowl, and was named team MVP.
From 1972 to 1990, the Chiefs only made the playoffs once, so Kenney's tenure is generally ignored, but he started 77 games during the '80s and is by far the most accomplished player to ever wear the No. 9. Interestingly, Kenney went on to become a Missouri State Senator after his playing career was over.
The Big Arm Who Couldn't: Tyler Bray
Tyler Bray arrived in K.C. as an undrafted free agent in 2013 with a big arm and enough questions that every single team passed on him for seven rounds in the draft. But John Dorsey liked his potential, and Bray deserves credit for sticking around through the 2017 season—beating off one wave of competitors after another. Bray would go on to last another three years with the Chicago Bears before earning an opportunity in 2021 with the San Francisco 49ers. He's a developmental arm that never developed, but he kept No. 9 for nearly half a decade in K.C.
The Reliable Receiver: JuJu Smith-Schuster
Before Kenneth Walker took over the number, the Chiefs were used to seeing Smith-Schuster wearing No. 9 as a reliable wideout who earned the trust of his coaches by doing all of the little things. Even as age and injuries lessened his impact as an offensive weapon, the Chiefs continued to find value in Smith-Schuster on the field as a leader, a blocker, and a trustworthy outlet in the passing game. There's a reason why Smith-Schuster kept earning one-year looks, one after another, and despite the fact that he's signed to the Giants roster right now, it wouldn't really surprise anyone if he made his way back to Kansas City sometime this season.
The Never-Had-A-Chance QB: Brady Quinn
Brady Quinn arrived in Kansas City stained with the residue of a first-round draft bust with the Cleveland Browns, and his timing couldn't have been worse. Quinn had been with four teams in three seasons by this point, and he ended up starting three games in the single darkest season in Chiefs history. The utter collapse in 2012 ended the careers of most of the organization's leaders, but that's not on Quinn. He was a symptom of the bigger problem as a stopgap vet handed the reins for an abysmal depth chart.
Et Cetera
- Dean Carlson, QB - Played 1 game in 1974 and had 116 career passing yards.
- Jason Baker, P - Had an 80-yard punt for the Chiefs in 2003.
- Nick Novak, K - The longtime Chargers kicker had a brief stop in 2008 in K.C. before setting elsewhere in the AFC West.
- Blaine Gabbert, QB - One of the many veteran QBs who the Chiefs have signed to back up Patrick Mahomes in the last few seasons. A familiar face from Missouri who won his only start with the Chiefs—a season-ending game in 2023 in which Andy Reid rested most of his starters.
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