Kansas City Chiefs is one of the most popular American football teams. They have a large and devoted fan base. The team has been doing well lately, and its players are some of the highest-paid in the sport.
In this article, we will look at the all-time15 highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players.
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What are Kansas City Chiefs?
The Kansas City Chiefs are a popular professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri.
Who is the most famous Kansas City Chiefs player?
Derrick Thomas was the most famous Kansas City Chiefs player of all time. He was a linebacker who played for the Chiefs from 1989 to 1999.
All-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players
Based on the information gathered, below are the 15 best-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time.
#1. Patrick Mahomes
Networth: $40 million
Patrick Mahomes is number one highest-paid among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He is a two-time NFL MVP and led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in 2020.
Patrick Mahomes is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL and has already accomplished a lot in his young career.
The Chiefs are committed to Mahomes for the long term and believe he can help them win more championships in the future. They are confident that he is worth every penny of his contract and will continue to be one of the best players in the NFL for many years to come.
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#2. Priest Holmes
Networth: $15 million
Priest Holmes was one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He played for the Chiefs from 2001 to 2007. During that time, he was one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL.
The Chiefs released Holmes in 2007 after he suffered a neck injury. He attempted to return from the injury but was never able to return to his previous form. As a result of this, he retired from the NFL in 2010.
Even though he only played seven seasons with the Chiefs, Priest Holmes is still one of the top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time in history. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002.
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#3. Willie Lanier
Networth: $7 million
Willie Lanier is one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 to 1977. Willie was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
During his career, he was named eight Pro Bowls and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1972. He was also a part of the Chiefs team that won Super Bowl IV.
#4. Emmitt Thomas
Networth: $50 million
Emmitt Thomas is a former Kansas City Chiefs player who is one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players in the team’s history. Thomas played for the Chiefs from 1966 to 1978. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time All-Pro during his time with the team.
Thomas amassed 57 interceptions in his career, which is still a Chiefs franchise record.
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#5. Johnny Robinson
Networth: $200 million
Johnny Robinson is among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He is a former player for the Kansas City Chiefs who played for the team from 1963 to 1971. The Chiefs drafted him in the first round of the 1963 NFL Draft.
Robinson was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time First-team All-Pro during his time with the Chiefs. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1970.
#6. Buck Buchanan
Networth: $7 million
Buck Buchanan is also one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He was a defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1963 to 1976.
Buchanan was a four-time All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowler. He was named the AFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1968.
#7. Bobby Bell
Networth: $500 thousand
Bobby Bell was a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1963 to 1974. He was a two-time All-Pro and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Bell was also a member of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl IV winning team.
He was one of the top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time during his time with the team. Bell was a great player and helped the Chiefs win a Super Bowl. He was also very well-paid for his time with the team.
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#8. Len Dawson
Networth: $10 million
Len Dawson was also one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players during his time.
He played for the team from 1963 to 1975. Dawson was the starting quarterback for the Chiefs in Super Bowls I and IV.
He was named the MVP of Super Bowl IV, becoming the first Chiefs player to receive that honor. Dawson was known for his strong arm and accurate passing. He led the league in passing yards four times and touchdowns three times.
He was selected to six Pro Bowls and was named the NFL’s Player of the Year in 1972. After his retirement, Dawson became a successful broadcaster, calling for NBC and CBS games.
#9. Tony Gonzalez
Networth: $50 million
Tony Gonzalez is among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He played for the Chiefs from 1997 to 2008. During his time, he accumulated a total salary of $43.5 million.
Gonzalez was a Pro Bowl selection for 11 consecutive seasons and was named First-team All-Pro six times. He is widely regarded as one of the best tight ends in NFL history.
Gonzalez’s salary made him one of the top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time on the Chiefs roster for eight consecutive seasons. In 2005, he signed a contract extension that made him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history at the time.
Gonzalez’s salaries helped to make the Kansas City Chiefs one of the most successful teams in the NFL during his time with the team.
Since retiring from the NFL, Gonzalez has worked as a television analyst and dabbled in acting. He has appeared in several movies and Television shows, including “The Longest Yard” and “Ballers.”
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#10. Derrick Thomas
Networth: $15 million
Derrick Thomas was one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He was a linebacker who played for the Chiefs from 1989 to 1999. Thomas was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992.
Thomas was one of the top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time due to his many accomplishments on the field. He holds the franchise record for sacks in a season with 20. He also holds the NFL record for most sacks in a game with 7.
In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Thomas was very popular with fans. He was known for his outgoing personality and charitable work off the field. Derrick Thomas tragically died in 2000 at 33 from complications related to a car accident.
However, his legacy as one of the top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players lives on.
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#11. Nick Lowery
Networth: $12 million
Nick Lowery was one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players from 1980 to 1987. He was a kicker and helped the team win several championships during his time with the team.
Lowery is retired but remains one of the all-time greats in Chiefs history.
#12. Fred Arbanas
Networth: $13 million
Fred Arbanas was a tight end for the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players from 1963 to 1970. He was drafted in the second round of the 1963 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State University.
Arbanas was a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his time with the Chiefs. He was also named First-Team All-Pro in 1966 and 1967. He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1972.
In his career, Arbanas caught 421 passes for 6,831 yards and 56 touchdowns. He is considered one of the best tight ends in Chiefs history. After his playing career, Arbanas became a successful businessman.
Unfortunately, he died in 2020 at the age of 82. But his legacy as one of the top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time lives on.
#13. Brian Waters
Networth: $13 million
Brian Waters was among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. He played for the team from 2000 to 2010.
Waters was a Pro Bowl selection six times and was named First-team All-Pro twice. He was also a key part of the Chiefs team that won the AFC West division title in 2010.
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#14. Jack Budnay
Networth: $10 million
Jack Budnay is one of the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players. The Chiefs drafted him in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2009. He played for the Chiefs for eight seasons, from 2009 to 2017.
During his time with the Chiefs, Budnay was a Pro Bowl selection four times and was named First-Team All-Pro three times. He helped the Chiefs reach the playoffs six times, including five consecutive appearances from 2013 to 2017.
He also won a Super Bowl with the team in 2020.
Budnay’s career earnings total $10 million. This includes his base salary, signing bonus, and other bonuses he may have earned.
#15. Jim Tyrer
Networth: $7 million
Jim Tyrer is one of the Top-paid Kansas City Chiefs players of all time. He was an offensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1961 to 1974.
Tyrer was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1977. He was considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history. Tyrer died in 1980 at 41 as the result of a suicide.
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Frequently asked questions on All-Time 15 Highest-Paid Kansas City Chiefs Players
Derrick Thomas was the greatest Kansas City Chief of all time. He was a linebacker who played for the Chiefs from 1989 to 1999.
Patrick Mahomes is the highest-paid among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players.
Derrick Thomas is the most famous among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players.
Lamar Hunt was the first chief player inducted into the pro football hall of fame.
A. Derrick Thomas was the greatest Kansas City Chief of all time. He was a linebacker who played for the Chiefs from 1989 to 1999.
A. Patrick Mahomes is the highest-paid among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players.
A. Derrick Thomas is the most famous among the all-time highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players.
A. Derrick Thomas was the best linebacker in Kansas City Chiefs players’ history.
A. Lamar Hunt was the first chief player inducted into the pro football hall of fame.
Summary
Overall, the Kansas City Chiefs have had some of the highest-paid players in NFL history. Running back, Derrick Thomas holds the distinction of being the greatest among the all-time Kansas City Chiefs players.
With the listed above Kansas City Chiefs players, I believe you have gotten to know the all-time 15 highest-paid Kansas City Chiefs players.
References
- bleacherreport.com – The 25 Greatest Players In Kansas City Chiefs History
- si.com – Top 10 Kansas City Chiefs Players of All Time
- ranker.com – The Best Kansas City Chiefs Of All Time
- spotrac.com – Kansas City Chiefs Players Contracts, Salaries, and Transactions
- forbes.com – Highest-Paid NFL Players 2022: Tom Brady Leads The List For The First Time
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