How Chiefs built the elite defense that forged their path to Super Bowl LVIII

Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

LAS VEGAS — Just two Chiefs defensive starters played for Kansas City the last time it faced San Francisco on the Super Bowl stage: fellow defensive tackles Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi. 

With Nnadi’s season over — he was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury last month — Jones stands alone for the unit ahead of the Super Bowl rematch. 

“I think we’re a little faster,” Jones said during Super Bowl opening night Monday of the difference between Kansas City’s defense now relative to the 2019 season. “We’re a little more aggressive now. We’re grittier.” 

Over the four years since meeting the 49ers in Super LIV, the Chiefs have constructed one of the NFL’s elite defenses. They ranked second in points allowed and total defense this season. They ranked fourth against the pass, seventh in defensive DVOA, tied for eighth in red zone efficiency and 10th in third-down efficiency. They have All-Pro talent up front (Jones) and in the secondary (cornerback Trent McDuffie). 

In a Kansas City era defined by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid’s explosive offenses, the 2023 Chiefs are led by defense. A championship-caliber defense that at times has kept the team afloat, and is why they have a chance to win their second straight Super Bowl Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. 

How did we get here? 

It starts with drafting well. 

Six of Kansas City’s expected Super Bowl starters have been drafted by the team since 2020: McDuffie (2022, first round), cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (2020, fourth round), defensive end George Karlaftis (2022, first round), linebackers Nick Bolton (2021, second round) and Willie Gay (2020, second round) and defensive end Michael Danna (2020, fifth round). Safety Bryan Cook, a 2022 second-round pick, also started 12 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in December. 

In just his second season, McDuffie was named a first-team All-Pro. Karlaftis tied a…

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Publish date : 2024-02-07 05:24:26

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