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We're going through a Chiefs roster breakdown ahead of the Chiefs vs. Eagles Super Bowl.
Pictured: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Photo by Denny Medley via Imagn Images.

For the fifth time in six seasons, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are leading the Kansas City Chiefs into the Super Bowl. And for the second time, they'll be facing the Philadelphia Eagles, the team Reid's success as a head coach began with more than two decades ago.

While many of the key players in this Chiefs vs. Eagles rematch that have led Kansas City this far yet again may seem obvious, we're diving into a Chiefs roster breakdown ahead of their Super Bowl 2025 matchup with the Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX) from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Chiefs offensive depth chart & key players: Super Bowl 2025

Here's a look at the Kansas City offense, including its Super Bowl depth chart and how it acquired its top offensive players ahead of Chiefs vs. Eagles in Super Bowl 59.

Chiefs offensive depth chart

PositionStarterBackup
QBPatrick MahomesCarson Wentz
RBKareem HuntIsiah Pacheco
WRXavier WorthyDeAndre Hopkins
WRHollywood BrownJustin Watson
WRJuJu Smith-SchusterNikko Remigio
TETravis KelceNoah Gray
LTJoe ThuneyD.J. Humphries
LGMike CaliendoJoe Thuney
CCreed HumphreyHunter Nourzad
RGTrey SmithC.J. Hanson
RTJawaan TaylorKingsley Suamataia

Chiefs key offensive players

  • Patrick Mahomes, QB - No. 10 pick in 2017 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech; Chiefs traded two first-round picks and a third-round pick to the Buffalo Bills to move up to select Mahomes
  • Xavier Worthy, WR - No. 28 pick in 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas; Chiefs traded a first-, fourth-, and seventh-round pick to the Buffalo Bills to move up to select Worthy
  • Travis Kelce, TE - No. 63 pick in 2013 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati
  • Joe Thuney, LT - No. 78 pick in 2013 NFL Draft out of NC State by New England Patriots; signed 5-year, $80 million contract with Chiefs in 2021
  • Creed Humphrey, C - No. 63 pick in 2021 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma
  • Trey Smith, RG - No. 226 pick in 2021 NFL Draft out of Tennessee; Jets traded a fifth- and sixth-round pick to the Chiefs to move up with Kansas City using the acquired sixth-round pick to select Smith

Outside of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, there's never been a better QB-head coach combo in NFL history than Mahomes and Reid. And while it may seem obvious now that pairing those two would pay off, it was a polarizing move when Kansas City traded with Buffalo to select the big-armed gunslinger from Texas Tech, who never even won a bowl game in college.

While Mahomes landed in the perfect spot - sitting behind Alex Smith for a season and playing for one of the best play-callers in NFL history -  it's a credit to former GM John Dorsey, Reid, and current GM Brett Veach for making the move and opting to sit and develop the raw Mahomes. At the time, Dorsey and Reid were chastised for passing on Clemson's Deshaun Watson to select Mahomes.

Funnily enough, the other key cog in this offense during its Super Bowl run was considered a bit of a swing. Travis Kelce had just one season of production at Cincinnati, had been suspended for his entire sophomore year, and was still learning the position after initially playing QB - leading four other tight ends to be drafted before him.

That just goes to show that Reid and Veach aren't afraid to take risks in the draft room on players with high upside, even if the floors of those players are lower than what's available. At the same time, they've also put a ton of value into building the offensive line through the draft, trades, and free agency - which in turn has allowed them to deemphasize the running back position while still getting production out of it.

Smith and Humphrey are two of the most important pieces of the Chiefs roster breakdown for Super Bowl 2025.
Pictured: Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith and center Creed Humphrey. Photo by Denny Medley via Imagn Images.

Maybe the least-talked-about move of the Chiefs' reign has been the commitment to fixing the offensive line heading into the 2021 season.

Not only did they sign Thuney and draft Humphrey - a player many thought would go at least a dozen picks earlier - but they swung again on Trey Smith. The former five-star had been an All-SEC player at Tennessee, but blood clots caused him to miss time and impact his draft stock. That's how the Chiefs got a first-round talent with a sixth-round pick.

Not to the same degree, but a player like Xavier Worthy should definitely be categorized as a swing, too. Yes, he set the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.21, but he was not considered a first-round talent by most. Combine a raw player with that speed with the second-greatest QB of all-time by the Mahomes vs. Brady debates and the best offensive mind of the last 25 years? You get the leading receiver for a Super Bowl team as a rookie. 

Obviously, not every swing Reid and Veach have taken with the Chiefs have connected, but that's the thing about having a Hall of Fame QB - it allows you to try and hit a home run on every pitch. And even when you strike out, you still have Mahomes under center to cover it up. That's been the Chiefs' philosophy building this offense, and it sure seems like a damn good one.

Chiefs defensive depth chart & key players: Super Bowl 2025

Here's a look at the Kansas City defense, including its Super Bowl depth chart and how it acquired its top defensive players ahead of Chiefs vs. Eagles in Super Bowl 59.

Chiefs defensive depth chart

PositionStarterBackup
EDGEGeorge KarlaftisCharles Omenihu
IDLTershawn WhartonDerrick Nnadi
IDLChris JonesMike Pennel Jr.
EDGEMike DannaFelix Anudike-Uzomah
LBDrue TranquillCam Jones
LBNick BoltonShaun Bradley
LBLeo ChenalJoshua Uche
CBTrent McDuffieJoshua Williams
SAFJustin ReidJaden Hicks
SAFBryan CookJason Taylor II
CBJaylen WatsonNazeeh Johnson
NBChamarri ConnerChristian Roland-Wallace

Chiefs key defensive players

  • George Karlaftis, EDGE - No. 30 pick in 2022 NFL Draft out of Purdue
  • Chris Jones, IDL - No. 37 pick in 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State; 49ers traded a second-, fourth-, and sixth-round pick to the Chiefs to move up with Kansas City using the acquired second-round pick to select Jones
  • Nick Bolton, LB - No. 58 pick in 2021 NFL Draft out of Missouri; Chiefs traded first-, third-, and fourth-round picks to the Baltimore Ravens for Orlando Brown Jr., a second and sixth-round pick with Kansas City using the acquired second-round pick to select Bolton
  • Trent McDuffie, CB - No. 21 pick in 2013 NFL Draft out of Washington; Chiefs traded a first-, third-, and fourth-round pick to the New England Patriots to move up to select McDuffie
  • Justin Reid, SAF - No. 68 pick in 2018 NFL Draft out of Stanford by Houston Texans; signed 3-year, $31.5 million contract with Chiefs in 2022
  • Chamarri Conner, NB - No. 119 pick in 2023 NFL Draft; Chiefs traded a fourth- and fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings to move up to select Conner

There are four first-ballot Hall of Famers on the Chiefs: Mahomes, Reid, Kelce, and Jones. Like Mahomes and Kelce, Jones had questions coming out of Mississippi State after being the No. 2 recruit in the country and not totally dominating in the SEC as some had hoped.

Even with an eventful NFL Scouting Combine where he did more than just test well, five defensive tackles were taken before him as he slid out of the first round. But like all great Super Bowl coaches do, Reid bet on the traits, and Jones has become one of the most dominant players of the last decade.

Jones paved the way for Kansas City to draft Karlaftis, highlighted in our Chiefs roster breakdown for Super Bowl 2025.
Pictured: Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis celebrates with defensive tackle Chris Jones. Photo by Jay Biggerstaff via Imagn Images.

Kansas City has had that approach when it comes to defensive linemen, in particular, going with players high on traits that just need some development like former first-round picks George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

But interestingly enough, when it comes to the less coveted position of linebacker, they value physicality and instincts. That's something Bolton's draft buzz was all about, and the same with Tranquill and Chenal.

In the secondary, it's about building it out with versatility and different body types, almost like building a basketball team. McDuffie was a player with dominant tape at Washington due to his cover instincts, technique, and change of direction skills, but he's not the biggest cornerback. Meanwhile, Jaylen Watson was a little rough around the edges coming out of Washington State, but he's a hulking cornerback.

Then a player like Chamarri Conner, known for his aggressive style and explosiveness, didn't have an obvious home in the secondary after playing all around Virginia Tech's in college. And he's quietly been turned into one of the best nickels in the league by defensive back coach Dave Merritt. Signing a player with a football IQ like Justin Reid helps it all come together. 

On defense, the Chiefs love to mix freak athletes dripping with potential, hard-nosed high IQ players, and versatile chess pieces. Having a defensive coordinator like Steve Spagnuolo helps, too.

Chiefs special teams depth chart & key players: Super Bowl 2025

Here's a look at the Kansas City special teams unit, including its Super Bowl depth chart and how it acquired its top specialists ahead of Chiefs vs. Eagles in Super Bowl 59.

Chiefs special teams depth chart

PositionStarterBackup
KickerHarrison ButkerJustin Reid
PunterMatt AraizaHarrison Butker
Long snapperJames WinchesterN/A
Kick returnerNikko RemigioSamaje Perine
Punter returnerNikko RemigioXavier Worthy

Chiefs key special teams players

  • Harrison Butker, K - No. 233 pick in 2017 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech by Carolina Panthers; signed with Chiefs as a rookie after being cut by Panthers in 2017

Sometimes it seems like the best teams just have everything go their way. Kansas City has one of the best kickers in recent NFL history, and they essentially lucked into him after he was cut by the Bengals and their own kicker got hurt.

An injury to Cairo Santos led the Chiefs to sign Butker off the Panthers practice squad. The undrafted rookie proceeded to make 38 of his league-leading 42 field-goal attempts (90.5%) and nail every extra point, and Santos was kicking for the Chicago Bears by the end of the year.

Chiefs coaching staff & front office: Super Bowl 2025

Here is a look at the Kansas City coaching staff and front office ahead of Super Bowl 2025.

PositionCoach
GMBrett Veach
Head coachAndy Reid
Offensive coordinatorMatt Nagy
QB coachDavid Girardi
Pass game coordinatorJoe Bleymaier
RB coachTodd Pinkston
WR coachConnor Embree
TE coachTom Melvin
OL coachAndy Heck
Defensive coordinatorSteve Spagnuolo
DL coachJoe Cullen
LB coach/run game coordinatorBrendan Daly
OLB coachRod Wilson
DB coachDave Merritt
SAF coachDonald D'Alesio
Special teams coordinator/assistant head coachDave Toub

Chiefs key coaches/executives

  • Brett Veach - Chiefs GM since 2017; has worked in the Chiefs' front office since 2013 after working in the Eagles' front office from 2004-2012 during Reid's tenure
  • Andy Reid - Hired as head coach in 2013; previously Eagles head coach and Green Bay Packers QB coach
  • Matt Nagy - Hired as offensive coordinator in 2023; previously Chicago Bears head coach and worked under Reid in Philadelphia and Kansas City
  • Andy Heck - Hired as O-line coach in 2013; previously Jacksonville Jaguars O-line coach and played 12 years in NFL starting 164 games on the offensive line
  • Steve Spagnuolo - Hired as defensive coordinator in 2019; previously New York Giants and St. Louis Rams head coach; worked under Reid in Philadelphia
  • Dave Merritt - Hired as DB coach in 2019; previously New York Giants secondary coach
  • Dave Toub - Hired as special teams coordinator in 2013; previously Bears special teams coordinator; worked under Reid in Philadelphia

The biggest non-Mahomes-related takeaway from the Chiefs' success is Reid, but just as strong as his play-calling is his ability to build and retain staff. Kansas City's continuity during this dynasty is jaw-dropping. 

Veach worked under Reid in Philly for years and was groomed to take over for Dorsey as GM. Nagy had already been the OC in Kansas City and came back after things didn't work out in the Windy City. Spagnuolo worked in Philly with Reid and for some reason hasn't gotten a second head-coaching gig. And Toub is one of the greatest special teams coordinators of all-time and began his NFL coaching career in Philly with Reid.

Reid and Spagnuolo are two of the most important factors for the Chiefs roster breakdown for Super Bowl 2025.
Pictured: Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and head coach Andy Reid. Photo by Denny Medley via Imagn Images.

That type of continuity is so rare in today's NFL, and when the Chiefs do lose an offensive coordinator every once in a while, they just promote from within. With Reid calling the plays and Mahomes executing them, it almost doesn't matter who has that title.

Just as impressive are hires like Heck and Merritt, two of the unsung heroes of the Chiefs run. Heck is right there with Jeff Stoutland as the best offensive line coach in the NFL, and I can't figure out how Merritt hasn't earned a DC job yet with the way he's develop defensive backs in Kansas City.

This is the Reid-Mahomes effect - why leave when you can add a Super Bowl ring to your finger every season?

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