Breaking down the Kansas City Chiefs 2010s all-decade team shows history and glory while going back in time. This past season, the red and yellow confetti rained down after a spectacular victory in Super Bowl LIV. The losing record that was part of the team early in the decade, however, is hard to forget. The arrival of Andy Reid would change the culture and through clever drafting, the Chiefs put together a team worthy of competing for football’s greatest prize. On offense, the leader was of course, the reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. The defense however, had stars such as Justin Houston and Chris Jones.
Now the fans get the chance to see who is on and who is off. This team is loaded with firepower and they closed out the decade with a bang. Here it is kingdom, the best of the red in 2010-2020.
Read the Kansas City Chiefs 2010s All-Decade Team: Offense here.
Kansas City Chiefs 2010s All-Decade Team: Defense
Defensive End: Frank Clark and Chris Jones
Following the departure of Dee Ford, the Chiefs were aggressive in adding Clark to strengthen their defense. He delivered with eight sacks, an interception, and constant quarterback pressure. Clark was one of several key additions that helped strengthen the Chiefs defense. Jones on the other hand, was drafted and developed under the system.
Since being selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State, Jones has appeared in 60 games and collected 32 sacks. Jones has also racked up 134 combined tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and 70 quarterback hits.
Nose Tackle: Dontari Poe
Poe made two Pro Bowls during his Chiefs tenure and collected 13 sacks. He was also a force on offense, running for two touchdowns and throwing one. While Poe was great, the drop-off was apparent near the end of his five-year deal and the Chiefs decided to move on. No matter, in his prime, he was a top run-stuffer and versatile player that could be used anywhere on the front line.
Outside Linebackers: Justin Houston and Tamba Hali
Houston finished his Chiefs tenure with 78.5 sacks, with 22 sacks in 2014, just half a sack shy of the single season record. Despite missing out on the Super Bowl, he made it to four Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro once.
Hali was another incredible pass rusher for the Chiefs, sitting with 62.5 sacks and spending his entire career with Kansas City. He was dominant in his prime and even a position change didn’t slow him down. That is justified by five Pro Bowls in the decade.
Inside Linebackers: Derrick Johnson and Anthony Hitchens
Johnson made it to four Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro once during his Chiefs career. It should be noted that he was the voice of the defense and the heart of the team while in Kansas City. In addition, his tackling skills made running backs and receivers feel uneasy about going up against the defense.
Lining up with Johnson, is former Cowboys Anthony Hitchens. Hitchens had 135 total tackles during the 2018 season and added another 88 in 2019, showing that he can make his hits count. Hitchens was also responsible for the development of the linebackers en route to a Lombardi Trophy.
Cornerbacks: Marcus Peters and Kendall Fuller
Before he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, Peters was a two time Pro Bowler for the Kansas City. In his three season in Kansas City, he was able to get his hands on 19 interceptions, 55 pass break ups, and even added three touchdowns. In addition, he turned his life around thanks to Andy Reid giving him a well-deserved second chance.
Fuller on the other hand was another castoff turned star. After playing well for the Washington Football Team (Formerly the Redskins), Fuller was traded to the Chiefs where in two seasons, continuing stellar play by making game-changing plays. In this past Super Bowl, Fuller picked off a late pass to help secure a championship before he returned to Washington this off-season.
Safeties: Eric Berry and Tyrann Mathieu
Berry’s leadership was always on full display. His battle back from cancer is a tale of both inspiration and determination. Although he left just before the confetti fell, Berry was a five time Pro-Bowler, three time First Team All-Pro, and a one time Comeback Player of the Year. Berry set the tone for the defense, and was the epitome of class, passion, and production.
Behind Berry, Mathieu is the clear favorite. Despite one season with the team, his leadership and play have turned an often woeful defense into a frightful unit. Four interceptions combined with great ball skills allow the back end to make life miserable for quarterbacks in the AFC West.
Kicker: Harrison Butker
Butker won the job due to being as clutch as they come at the position. Despite being drafted by the Carolina Panthers, he joined the Chiefs early on in the 2017 season. Butker has made 89 percent of his field goals while knocking through 95 percent of his extra point attempts. Reliable and accurate, the great Jan Stenerud would be proud of.
Punter: Dustin Colquitt
In this decade, Colquitt has been named to two Pro Bowls (2012 and 2016) and has consistently been one of the best in the league. During his time as the Chiefs punter, Colquitt has only missed two games during his career, both in 2008. In other words, Colquitt has been the only Chiefs punter in the 2010s, and his ability to flip the field has helped significantly.
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