So you think you know Chiefs pass rushers?

[Rain Man]

As you undoubtedly know, sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982. Before that year, we have nothing but legend and mystery.

However, Pro football reference now says that they went back to 1960 and did research to build sack stats back to that year for the NFL. So if you trust those numbers, we now ostensibly have sack statistics for the entire Chiefs' history.

The data is behind a paywall, but fortunately so am I. So let's test your knowledge. I'll post questions periodically and let's see how Chiefsplanet answers them.

Note: all data refers to players' careers with the Chiefs only. If someone comes from another team or goes to another team, their stats on those teams don't count. It's the Chiefs, the whole Chiefs, and nothing but the Chiefs.

Question #1 is easy. List the top ten Chiefs in terms of career sacks.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Dee Ford is the more recent name, I'd guess. Maybe Frank Clark.

The older name maybe someone like Buck Buchanan or something? I know very little of Chiefs prior to the 90s.

Mr. Buchanan is 16th (albeit as a DT in a run-heavy era), and Mr. Ford is close with a #12 ranking. But Mr. Clark, for all of his controversy, is a top-10 pass rusher for us.

1. Justin Houston - .77 sacks per game
2. Derrick Thomas - .75
3. Jared Allen - .70
4.
5. Neil Smith - .62
6. Dan Williams - .56
7. Art Still - .54
8. Chris Jones - .53
9. Tamba Hali - .51
10. Frank Clark - .48

[Rain Man]

The vast majority of these guys played on generally winning teams where they probably had a lot of obvious pass rush opportunities late in the game. Then think about Art Still, who had ten years with the Chiefs and only two seasons above .500 (at 9-7 and 10-6). I really think the guy would be a Hall of Famer if he had played on better teams.

[KCrockaholic]

This is actually super cool info. I’ve always wanted to know the sack totals prior to 82.

[RealSNR]

I'm going to say Aaron Brown, only because I can't think of who else it might be from that era.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

I'm going to say Aaron Brown, only because I can't think of who else it might be from that era.

We have a winner!

1. Justin Houston - .77 sacks per game
2. Derrick Thomas - .75
3. Jared Allen - .70
4. Aaron Brown - .65
5. Neil Smith - .62
6. Dan Williams - .56
7. Art Still - .54
8. Chris Jones - .53
9. Tamba Hali - .51
10. Frank Clark - .48

[ThaVirus]

Interesting. I have literally never heard the name Aaron Brown before today.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Interesting. I have literally never heard the name Aaron Brown before today.

I barely remember him as a little kid. He's actually the first Chief that I ever saw get traded, so that's my main memory. I was young and couldn't imagine getting traded away from the Chiefs.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Interesting. I have literally never heard the name Aaron Brown before today.

Aaron Brown will always be a favorite of mine because he delivered the game cinching play in SBIV when he sacked Joe Kapp and knocked him out of the game. That is my first memory of going from pins and needles one moment to celebration the next.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Aaron Brown will always be a favorite of mine because he delivered the game cinching play in SBIV when he sacked Joe Kapp and knocked him out of the game. That is my first memory of going from pins and needles one moment to celebration the next.

You are old sir.

[cdcox]

Remarkably, Aaron Brown was like the 7th or 8th best player on that defense.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Mecca

You are old sir.

Despite the miles on the odometer, I don't feel particularly old. Hopefully I have a long ride ahead.

[Rain Man]

Let's look at the evolution of Chiefs pass rush records now. I'll go through each year, list the top five sack guys on the team, and note the all-time record holder.

We'll start with 1960. Man, these early teams are a mystery to me. I've barely heard of Smokey Stover and don't know the other guys at all.

Season Sack Leaders

Mel Branch 10
Paul Rochester 8
Paul Miller 7.5
Ray Collins 6
Smokey Stover 3.5

All-time leaders as of this year.

(The same, obviously.)

[Dunerdr]

Vonnie Holliday is such an under rated name.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Let's look at the evolution of Chiefs pass rush records now. I'll go through each year, list the top five sack guys on the team, and note the all-time record holder.

We'll start with 1960. Man, these early teams are a mystery to me. I've barely heard of Smokey Stover and don't know the other guys at all.

Season Sack Leaders

Mel Branch 10
Paul Rochester 8
Paul Miller 7.5
Ray Collins 6
Smokey Stover 3.5

All-time leaders as of this year.

(The same, obviously.)

A lot of the Texans were marginal NFL guys that only played a couple years in the AFL. About the time the team moved to KC they started signing guys to higher salaries than the NFL.

[Rain Man]

1961's leading sackers.

Smokey Stover 5.5
Paul Rochester 4.5
E.J. Holub 3.5
Mel Branch 3.5
Jerry Mays 3
Sherrill Headrick 3

All-time leaderboard as of 1961

Mel Branch 13.5
Paul Rochester 12.5
Paul Miller 10
Smokey Stover 9
Ray Collins 6