The Kansas City Chiefs are in the midst of their finest moment in franchise history. Thus, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a cavalry of current players occupy spots on the list of the greatest Kansas Chiefs of all time.

There are some older heads on the list -- keep reading this Betway Insider top 10 to see who joins QB Patrick Mahomes and co. Of course, all stats and references are courtesy of Pro-Football-Referencee.com and are updated through the end of the 2023 regular season.

Who were the best Kansas City Chiefs players for the 2022 NFL season?

The best players from the 2022 Chiefs roster include offensive stars like QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce.

Who are the Kansas City Chiefs best players for the 2023 NFL season?

The best players in the 2023 Chiefs starting lineup include studs on the defensive side of the ball like CB Trent McDuffie and DT Chris Jones.

Kansas City Chiefs History of Players

Some of the best Chiefs football players ever hail on the offensive side of the ball: QB Len Dawson, RB Priest Holmes, and WR Tyreek Hill.

Famous Kansas City Chiefs Players

Other famous players for the Chiefs include defensive legends like CB Emmitt Thomas and the late LB Derrick Thomas.

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Kansas City Chiefs Players of all time

  1. Tyreek Hill, 2016-2021

Position: Wide Receiver

Current Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill started his career as a dynamic return man for the Chiefs. After an All-Pro campaign as a rookie, he blossomed into a Pro Bowler…as a wideout.

Hill recorded four 1100+ receiving seasons in five full seasons as a Chiefs wideout. He was a Pro Bowler each season in that span, earning First-team All-Pro honors twice. He was surprisingly traded ahead of the 2022 season for a draft haul that eventually brought the Chiefs Pro Bowler CB Isiah McDuffie. Thus, you could say Hill is still accruing value in Kansas City. 

  1. Emmitt Thomas, 1966-1978

Position: Cornerback

Former Chiefs CB Emmitt Thomas was one of the premier ballhawks of his generation. He led the league twice in interceptions (AFL once, NFL once). His 12 picks in 1974 netted Thomas the only First-team All-Pro nod of his career -- a shame considering how well he played.

Thomas intercepted four passes during the Chiefs’ march to the Super Bowl following the 1969 season, including a pick in the Super Bowl against the Vikings. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.

  1. Will Shields, 1993-2006

Position: Guard

Former Chiefs G Will Shields spent 14 seasons in Kansas City and made 12 Pro Bowls. In that span, Shields never missed a start and cracked the NFL’s 2000 All-Decade team due to his consistency.

Along the way, Shields made 3x First-team All-Pro and 4x Second-team All-Pro squads. The team made the playoffs six times during his tenure.

  1. Priest Holmes, 2001-2007

Position: Running Back

Former Chiefs running back Priest Holmes had arguably the greatest three-year peak of any RB in recent memory. He signed as a castoff from the Super Bowl-winning Ravens in 2000 and immediately became the dominant force of the NFL.

Just how good was Holmes from 2001-2003? He AVERAGED 1530 rushing yards, 18.7 touchdowns, and 2188.7 total yards. Naturally, he earned three First-team All-Pro nods and won the 2002 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award (back when running backs were considered).

Holmes’s production dipped in 2004, but his massive three-year stretch earns him a spot on this list.

  1. Bobby Bell, 1986-1974

Position: Linebacker

Another past Chiefs player is former star linebacker Bobby Bell, who racked up an impressive CV while in Kansas City:

  • 1x Super Bowl Champion, 1x AFL Champion
  • 1969 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • 5x First-team All-AFL
  • 6x AFL All-Star, 3x Pro Bowl, NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

A versatile linebacker, you could always count on Bell to record both interceptions and sacks.

5/4. (tie) Travis Kelce, 2013-Present

Position: Tight End

Tony Gonzalez, 1997-2008

Position: Tight End

It’s impossible to separate former Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez and current Kansas City star TE Travis Kelce. When it’s all said and done, Kelce will have the better resume: he already has two Super Bowl titles and will likely add more in the coming seasons.

The pair rank #1 and #2 in Chiefs history for receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions. Gonzalez made 5x First-team All-Pro and 10x Pro Bowls in Kansas City, while Kelce so far has cracked 4x First-team All-Pro squads and made 9x Pro Bowls. Gonzalez was a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team; Kelce was a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team (and looks poised to crack the 2020s team, too).

They’ll remain tied for fourth/fifth of this list. What do most Chiefs fans think?

  1. Derrick Thomas, 1989-1999

Position: Linebacker

Former Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas is the best defensive player in Chiefs history. His 126.0 sacks are the most by any Chiefs player, including a league-leading 20.0 sacks in 1990. Thomas topped 10+ sacks on seven occasions for Kansas City.

Thomas tragically died in an accident ahead of the 2000 season at just 32 years old. He has since been named to the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team and has since been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  1. Len Dawson, 1962-1975

Position: Quarterback

Former Chiefs QB Len Dawson would take home the top spot on just about every other franchise list. He’s a Super Bowl AND AFL-winning QB, winning MVP in both title games. He won AFL MVP in his first season as a Chief (then the Dallas Texans back in 1962 and earned 6x AFL All-Stars honors.

Dawson was arguably the QB of his generation: he led the AFL in passing touchdowns four times and is a member of the AFL All-Time team. He topped 20+ touchdown passes every year from 1962-1966,

  1. Patrick Mahomes, 2017-Present

Position: Quarterback

Why is current Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes the best player in Chiefs history? He has a stunning resume for a 28-year-old:

  • 2x Super Bowl Champion (and counting), 2x Super Bowl MVP
  • 2x NFL MVP
  • 6x Pro Bowler
  • 2x NFL passing touchdowns leader, 1x NFL passing yards leader

Mahomes is on a trajectory to become the greatest NFL player of all time.

Parameters of Rankings

Rankings are made based on a combination of 1) individual accomplishments, 2) team success, 3) franchise legacy, and 4) personal accolades.

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