Older Kansas City Chiefs fans are likely to pinch themselves every once in a while for the bountiful supply of talent at quarterback in recent years. Even diehard fans can't recall who played the position in the 1980s, and it wasn't so long ago that fans were forced to watch an offense led by the likes of Brodie Croyle or Tyler Palko. (Seriously, look them up if these names are new to you.)
All of this context is important because Bleacher Report unveiled its rankings of the top 99 quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL, and K.C. is well represented, all things considered. That they have an all-time great in Patrick Mahomes is no secret, but it was nice to see that the memories of truly pathetic quarterback play are likely stronger than they need to be. The truth is that Kansas City has watched some very good QBs come and go over the years.
Let's take a look at where Chiefs quarterbacks landed on the list.
Bleacher Report's new list of the top 99 quarterbacks ever is a revealing (and surprising) look back at Chiefs history.
Trent Green (No. 91 overall)
Few former Chiefs players are as beloved as Trent Green, who remains a popular figure around Kansas City and a strong supporter of both the team and local causes. These days, he's in the broadcast booth for CBS, but Green became famous for being one of K.C.'s greatest quarterbacks to ever take the field from 2001 to 2006. Before Andy Reid arrived, a Chiefs' offense was rarely described as "exciting" but Green's tenure was one such run.
Ron Jaworski (No. 82 overall)
Eagles legend Ron Jaworski is known as much for his broadcasting career as he is for what he did on the field. Unfortunately, he did very little in his short career-ending stint in Kansas City. The Chiefs were often found recycling through spare QB parts in those days and Jaworski was one of the worst attempts to fill the quarterback void with 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 3 starts in 1989.
Alex Smith (No. 76 overall)
Alex Smith will forever be a K.C. legend for helping a franchise turn from its darkest hours in 2012 to a perennial playoff team for the next five years. Smith would lead the Chiefs to double-digit wins in four of his five seasons under center, and was named to three Pro Bowls in that span. He was the consummate team leader whose presence not only helped Andy Reid establish a new culture but then exhibited humility and strength by passing the torch to Patrick Mahomes like he did. A true hero on and off the field.
Dave Krieg (No. 72 overall)
Dave Krieg is a better quarterback than most NFL fans will remember, Chiefs Kingdom included. HIs short stint makes it easy to overlook, but it's even tougher when he was replaced by Joe Montana. That said, Krieg was a three-time Pro Bowler when he joined the Chiefs at age 34 and provided a steady presence under center for Marty Schottenheimer. That said, No. 72 overall feels a bit high on this overall list.
Len Dawson (No. 29 overall)
Few things go together like Hank Stram and Len Dawson. The Chiefs claimed their first Super Bowl title with Dawson under center, and images of Lenny the Cool smoking on the sideline will forever be a part of Chiefs lore. The Hall of Famer was a Super Bowl MVP, a seven-time Pro Bowler, and the first truly great QB in Chiefs history.
Warren Moon (No. 21 overall)
Just like Jaworski's tenure in Kansas City, Moon also ended his incredible career with a couple of throw-away seasons with the Chiefs that aren't even worth mentioning. However, it should be noted that Moon played his first half-decade in the CFL, and the Chiefs could have actually avoided their misery of QB play in the '80s had they just taken a look at the sensational option north of the border.
Roger Staubach (No. 17 overall)
It is simply worth noting that the Chiefs drafted Staubach in the 1964 AFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the NFL Draft of the same year. He signed with the Cowboys and then served four years in the Navy before launching his Hall of Fame career. At least the Chiefs can say they tried to add another all-time great quarterback.
Patrick Mahomes (No. 4 overall)
What else needs to be said? We'd argue he should be higher on this list, but seeing the Chiefs' current starting quarterback at No. 4 on the best ever list is pretty amazing. Patrick Mahomes has a whole second half of his career ahead of him with a potential story arc for redemption after a miserable six-win campaign in 2025 marred by a season-ending injury. The magic is real. He'll be No. 2 on this list when all is said and done, with maybe a vision for the top spot.
Joe Montana (No. 2 overall)
While the San Francisco 49ers lay proper claim to Montana's legacy, the Chiefs warrant a mention for providing Joe Cool with two very memorable seasons at the end of his career. The Chiefs went from overlooked mid-market team to national relevance with their import of Montana in his twilight. They also should have been a Super Bowl team, says Montana, looking back on an unfortunate concussion that kept them from advancing to the title game.