:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/224979/22nfl.600.jpg)
As much as I love current #31 for the Kansas City Chiefs Maurice Leggett, he's just not ever going to surpass Priest Holmes as the greatest Chief to wear #31.
- RB Priest Holmes (2001-2007)
- RB Jeff Kinney (1972-76)
- S Jerry Reese (1979-80)
- CB Kevin Ross (1984-93, 1997)
- RB Jewerl Thomas (1983)
- CB Jim Marsalis (1969-75)
- S Bracy Walker (1994, 1998-2000)
- WR Lawrence Williams (1976-77)
- CB Robert Williams (1993)
Holmes has no competition in this poll. Jump over for more info...
RB Priest Holmes (2001-2007)
via www.everyjoe.com
Priest spent six amazing seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, absolutely dominating the league in the first three of those.
From 2001-2003, Holmes had 4,570 yards rushing and 56 touchdowns. In three seasons. If you quickly do the math, that's a hair over 1,500 yards rushing and over 18 touchdowns per season.
Wow. Just wow. Of course, Holmes was a Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection during each of those three seasons.
He finished his career in Kansas City with these stat totals of his time as a Chief:
- Six seasons
- 63 games started; Played in 65
- 6,070 yards rushing
- 2,377 yards receiving
- 76 rushing TDs; 7 receiving TDs
Truly, Priest is one of the greatest Kansas City Chiefs of all time.
RB Jeff Kinney (1972-76)
A fullback/running back, Kinney was the Chiefs first round draft pick in 1972. Hailing from the National Champions at the University of Nebraska, Kinney had underwhelming success as part of the Chiefs rushing attack in the mid-1970s.
Ed Podolak and Wendell Hayes took a lot of the team's carries in this era, living little room for Kinney to become a full time back. In five seasons with the Chiefs, Kinney had 237 rushing attempts for 810 yards and four TDs.
S Jerry Reese (1979-80)
Reese was an undrafted free agent who the Chiefs picked up out of Oklahoma. He played in 21 games, registering very few stats.
CB Kevin Ross (1984-93, 1997)
via www.kcchiefs.com
Long time Chief Kevin Ross was a 7th round draft pick out of Temple in 1984. He played eleven years in Kansas City, split over two tenures. Ross returned to KC in 1997 for five games after spending three seasons with the Falcons and Chargers.
Ross made an immediate impact during his rookie season. He started all sixteen games in 1984 while snagging six INTs and scoring one TD. He hit his stride in 1989 and 1990, the two years he made the Pro Bowl.
Ross had 30 INTs for the Chiefs and started 144 of the 156 games he was a Chief.
RB Jewerl Thomas (1983)
A third round pick by the Rams in the 1980 NFL draft, Thomas played one season with the Chiefs. He had 44 rushing attempts; 10 receptions; and 156 total yards in the '83 season.
CB Jim Marsalis (1969-75)
Marsalis was the Chiefs first round draft pick in 1969 and he made an immediate impact, making the Pro Bowl and starting in the Super Bowl for the team in his first season. He made the Pro Bowl again in his second season, as well as making the 1st team All-Pro team.
In 7 seasons as a Chief, Marsalis had 14 INTs. He started across from NFL and Chiefs Hall of Famer, Emmitt Thomas.
S Bracy Walker (1994, 1998-2000)
Walker was a fourth round pick by the Chiefs in 1994 but he didn't finished the '94 season with the Chiefs. He left for Cincinnati where he played for three seasons before heading to Miami and then back to Kansas City in 1998.
Walker was mainly a reserve safety and special teams star. He registered very few stats as a Chief.
WR Lawrence Williams (1976-77)
Not a whole lot out there on Williams who was a return man for the Chiefs in the late 70s. He had 25 return attempts for 688 yards in 1976 before splitting time between Cleveland and KC in 1977,
CB Robert Williams (1993)
One of two Robert Williams to play DB for the Chiefs, this Robert was a long time Cowboy before quietly capping off his career in KC in 1993. He came to KC for some late season injury help at the position.
***
Let the debate begin. Who is the greatest Chief to wear #31?
Read more about the Greatest Chiefs:
#1 - QB Warren Moon
#2 - P Dustin Colquitt
#3 - K Jan Stenerud
#4 - P Nick Murphy
#5 - P Louie Aguiar
#6 - RB Warren McVea
#7 - QB Ron Jaworski
#8 - K Nick Lowery
#9 - QB Bill Kenney
#10 - QB Trent Green
#11 - QB Elvis Grbac
#12 - QB Rich Gannon
#13 - QB Steve Bono
#14 - RB Ed Podolak
#16 - QB Len Dawson
#17 - QB Steve Deberg
#18 - CB Emmitt Thomas
#19 - QB Joe Montana
#20 - S Deron Cherry
#21 - S Jerome Woods
#22 - DB Willie Mitchell
#23 - RB Barry Word
#24 - CB Jayice Pearson
#25 - S Greg Wesley
#26 - S Gary Barbaro
#27 - RB Larry Johnson
#28 - RB Abner Haynes
#29 - CB Albert Lewis
#31 - RB Donnell Bennett