Our march through every number in Kansas City Chiefs history continues, as we hand out hardware for the best, the worst, and the genuinely bizarre for all 99 jersey numbers. (If you're just joining us, the full series lives here.)
After nine numbers that ranged from one-legend-and-little-else to outright kicker purgatory, No. 10 is a breath of fresh air, a place where the series finally hits on a number that's stocked with players who actually moved the needle. An all-time quarterback. A super seventh-round find. A kicker who healed a wounded position. But it all begins with perhaps the single most electric player in Chiefs history.
The complete history of Chiefs players to wear No. 10
The Best of the Bunch: Tyreek Hill
Bill Belichick once answered a reporter's question about the required adjustments when trying to coach against Tyreek Hill: "What do you mean coach for it? Like, can we make somebody that fast?" That's a common response.
The truth is that a franchise that has featured so many memorable offensive weapons over the years—including the two greatest tight ends to ever play the game, record-setting running backs, and Pro Bowl wideouts—Hill stands above them all as an absolutely electric receiver who grew from being faster than anyone to being better than anyone.
Hill is the only wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl in his first eight NFL seasons—two of which came with the Miami Dolphins. In that span, he set multiple single-season team records for receptions (111), receiving yards (1,479), and touchdowns (15—tied with Dwayne Bowe). From a fifth-round flyer who projected as a returner to his growth into a valuable deep threat to his metamorphosis into arguably the best wideout in the NFL, Hill is an easy choice as the best to ever wear No. 10.
The Gift After Grbac: Trent Green
One month after watching their starting quarterback, Elvis Grbac, sign a five-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs decided to go all-in on a new veteran in 2021 in exchange for the No. 12 overall pick in the draft. The St. Louis Rams sent Trent Green in exchange, which gave new head coach Dick Vermeil an offensive leader for a unit that was built around the arrival of Priest Holmes in the same offseason.
For the next six years, Green would cement his status as one of a handful of the greatest quarterbacks in franchise history. Green would leave K.C. as the most productive quarterback besides Len Dawson, ranking second in touchdowns (118), passing yards (21,459), and wins (48). Green and the Chiefs would make two postseason appearances in that stretch with two Pro Bowl nominations for the QB as well.
Green remains an important figure in and around the Chiefs' organization since he's made Kansas City his long-term home. He's a popular announcer and a great ambassador for the organization. He's also going to be around for a long time, considering his son is set to marry the owner's daughter.
The Special Teams Salve: Pete Stoyanovich
By the time Pete Stoyanovich arrived in a 1996 trade from the Miami Dolphins, he was already a two-time All-Pro who'd led the NFL in scoring. He gave the Chiefs five seasons of the consistency they craved, with a standout season in 1997 in which he converted 26 of 27 field goals, a ludicrous 96.3 percent. By the time the Chiefs waived him early in 2000, he'd been one of the steadiest scorers in football for the better part of a decade. He was the ideal acquisition after watching a postseason special teams meltdown against the Colts—a great return on a mere fifth-round choice.
The Late-Round Leader: Isiah Pacheco
The last year or so of Isiah Pacheco's stint with the Chiefs brought more criticism than praise, but that's more to do with the front office's approach toward the ground game in general—and the burden it places on the shoulders of Patrick Mahomes. But history will remember Pacheco very fondly when reflecting on his contributions for a championship roster.
Remember that Pacheco was one of three seventh-round picks for Brett Veach back in 2022, a caffeinated running back out of Rutgers with a violent on-field demeanor. Pacheco would become the Chiefs' leading rusher for each of his first two seasons before injuries shortened his third season and stole his effectiveness thereafter. Pacheco ranks in the top 15 all-time rushers for the Chiefs—not bad for pick No. 251 overall.
The Saddest QB Story: Mike Elkins
If you want to know how sad things could get for the Chiefs at quarterback before the arrival of Andy Reid and, especially, Patrick Mahomes, look no further than the story of Mike Elkins. The Chiefs invested a second-round choice on Elkins back in 1989. He threw exactly two passes, one being an interception, before a back problem landed him on injured reserve. He would never throw another NFL pass and was out of the league completely by the time his rookie deal was complete.
Et Cetera
- Chase Daniel, QB - The man famous for cashing the most checks for the least playing time in the NFL spent two seasons in K.C. and actually saw more action with the Chiefs than most stops in his 13-year career. Of course, that's only two games, but for Daniel...
- Pete Beathard, QB - Started his career as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1964 draft for K.C. and finished his career back with the team in 1973. In between, he got away from Len Dawson's shadow and enjoyed some success with the Houston Oilers.
- Terrance Copper, WR - Special teams coach Steve Hoffman had to love having Copper around as a proven veteran performer during the Todd Haley era from 2009-12.
- Marques Hagans, WR - Hagans has found more success as a WRs coach at Virginia, Penn State, and now Michigan than he did in short stints with the Chiefs (2008).
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