Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs are waiting for the first game of the 2026 season. To kill some time, we asked readers at Arrowhead Pride for their first favorite Chiefs player.
Personally, my first favorite Chiefs player was running back Larry Johnson. With my die-hard Chiefs memories beginning in 2006, my earliest ones centered on Johnson, who felt like the only player who ever touched the ball.
That nostalgic anecdote is backed by the fact that Johnson is the NFL-record holder for most rushing attempts
in a season; he carried the ball 416 times in 2006, which didn’t even include the 41 times he caught passes.
He touched the ball 457 times that year. Last season, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey led the league with 413 touches. No other player reached 370.
457 touches are the second-most in league history in a single season. Only James Wilder of the 1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers has topped it (480).
Here were the best submissions from the readers:
BasicLee
Dante Hall. As a kid those kick and punt returns were magic.
Wildcat Gaia
Deron Cherry – undrafted, originally signed as a punter, converted to safety, 50 career interceptions, six consecutive pro bowls, 1st team all pro thrice. Vision, instincts, intelligence, and range. One of the all-time great free safeties. Wild story. Him and Albert Lewis held it down. Anyone who remembers Deron reveres him. He was my first favorite chef
KaneMarko
Derrick Thomas was probably the first Chiefs I got really excited about. Got a replica of both his Bama and Chiefs jersey. Still my all-time favorite Chief. Mahomes is closing the gap though and will likely be #1 on my list when it’s all said and done one day.
Christian Okoye was also one of my all-time favorites partially because he had a REALLY cool nickname.
Dark horse favorite for me was Dan Saleamua. Although he wasn’t originally a Chief, still one of my all-time favorites.
32commanerinCHIEFS32
Marcus Allen. Im a converted Raider fan when he signed in free agency.
Kcfree
Otis Taylor…..the best WR of his era…could dominate in any era…..definately should be in the HOF…..I love pro football but I won’t visit the HOF until Otis Taylor is enshrined.
Donkeyzilla
Derrick Thomas on D & Christian Okoye on O were my first favorites and the reasons I became a KC fan! SMASH MOUTH football. That was a really different Chiefs team for sure.
KikoStJames
Priest Holmes is the sole reason I became a Chiefs fan in the early 2000s. Underrated back with the best 3 year stretch at the position in league history
Grimlin1
Trent Green. Now as an adult I’ve run into him at work a few times and he’s always been a great guy. Glad to see he returned to the area.
1969-Chiefs
Laugh all you want. The chiefs won a Super Bowl the year I was born, but by the time I was old enough to really have a first favorite player, they were terrible. However, I can remember really cheering for Bill Kenney. Just being honest.
LennyCool
ALEX SMITH! Big respect for him turning this franchise around with Andy and teaching Mahomes.
Share your first favorite Chiefs player in the comments on The Feed or here!
