This KC Chiefs dynasty will produce Hall of Famers

Published 4:10 pm Friday, January 31, 2025

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, left, celebrates a touchdown with tight end Travis Kelce during the January 2024 AFC Championship Game at Baltimore. (Emily Curiel/ecuriel@kcstar.com)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — How often will the Hall one day call for this Chiefs dynasty?

We’ll begin to know the answer five years after the first members of the group stop playing or coaching, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s eligibility rules.



But it’s not too early to speculate about who is on a trajectory to land a bust in Canton, Ohio, as the Chiefs prepare for their fifth Super Bowl in six years: They meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

Based on other NFL dynasties in the Super Bowl era, the Chiefs can expect a steady procession to the induction ceremony.

The Green Bay Packers, football’s dominant team of the 1960s, have 12 Hall of Famers from the organization’s first two Super Bowl championship teams.

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The Steelers of the 1970s had 14 enshrined, including coaches and a scout. Eight Cowboys represent Dallas’ three Super Bowl winners of the early 1990s.

Even the Chiefs of the AFL era, including the 1969 Super Bowl champs, have 10 busts in Canton.

Breaking down this era’s Chiefs possibilities, we project the leading candidates and those with less experience who have plenty of time to solidify their chances:

First-ballot club

Travis Kelce

The game’s premier tight end may be the first of this crop of Chiefs stars to make it to Canton. He’s trails long-snapper James Winchester by two months as the team’s oldest player and no one has appeared in more than Kelce’s 175 games. His four All-Pro teams, 10 Pro Bowl teams and slew of Super Bowl and team records should assure Kelce’s first-ballot status at the football shrine in his home state.

Patrick Mahomes

He’d be a first-ballot inductee if he decided to call it a career after Super Bowl LIX, based on the greatest start to a quarterback’s career in NFL history. But assuming that Mahomes still has plenty of career left, he likely will attend awards ceremonies for other Chiefs before his own (remember the five-year rule).

Andy Reid

By the time he’s finished, Reid could be the NFL’s career leader in victories. He went from the best coach to never have won a Super Bowl to ranking third on the list with three Lombardi Trophies (Bill Belichick 6, Chuck Noll 4). For his ceremony, we’ll gather around a cheeseburger bar.

No. 95 percent

Chris Jones

At the conference call to present candidates, Jones will be strongly supported by testimony of coaches who had to game-plan around him and multiple linemen who confronted him. Jones is the smiling face of a tone-setting defense of the Chiefs’ 2023 and 2024 Super Bowl teams.

Work to do but tracking well

Harrison Butker

Only two men who were exclusively kickers are in the Hall: former Chief Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen. But Butker is beginning to build a strong case now: He’s the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history and all-time leader in Super Bowl field goals. Adam Vinatieri, one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history and the game’s career scoring leader, is a Hall finalist in his first year of eligibility. His election would be a good sign for the position.

Joe Thuney

The rings and honors are piling up for the nine-year pro. And his legend grew this season. Thuney he was moved to left tackle late in the year and playoffs when the Chiefs found themselves in a pinch. Adding to his two All-Pro and three Pro Bowl seasons as he bids for his fifth Super Bowl ring (two with the New England Patriots) will keep this O-line stalwart on a Hall of Fame track.

Influencer class

Steve Spagnuolo

How cool would it be for Spags to become the first Hall of Famer from this current group of Chiefs, based on his role as their defensive coordinator? His four Super Bowl rings (and counting) are unmatched by an NFL coordinator, offense or defense.

Clark Hunt

The Hunts should follow the Steelers’ Rooneys and Giants’ Maras as next ownership family enshrined in Canton.

Brett Veach

Remarkable job as general manager, drafting, signing, trading and salary-cap balancing to maintain a dynasty.

Hall of Fame careers start like this

Creed Humphrey

He was All-Rookie at center and has followed that up with three Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro season.

Trent McDuffie

All-Pro cornerback by his second season and even starting to stack interceptions.

Chiefs rings will help

Tyreek Hill

All-Pro seasons continued in Miami, but not the playoff success.

Tyrann Mathieu

Three-time All-Pro had his best years with the Chiefs, including Super Bowl LIV.

DeAndre Hopkins

Contributing to a Super Bowl team is a nice box to check for this talented veteran wide receiver, who is closing in on 1,000 career catches.

Terrell Suggs

Suggs is a Hall of Fame finalist in his first year of eligibility. A force for the Baltimore Ravens, he played the final few games of his career for the Chiefs during their Super Bowl LIV championship run.