5 Most Important Kansas City Chiefs in 2013

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano (80) celebrates with running back Jamaal Charles (25) and quarterback Alex Smith (11) Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

As the Kansas City Chiefs try to win their first playoff game in 21 years this weekend, now would be a good time to recognize five people who have been very instrumental in getting the Chiefs turned around from a 2-14 record in 2012 to 11-5, and a playoff birth in 2013.

The Chiefs were not the prototypical 2-14 team last year in the fact they had a lot of talent on the team. Six Chiefs made the Pro Bowl last season, an unheard of number for team that awful.

The 2012 Chiefs were plagued by bad luck, a quarterback who could not take care of the football, and a vanilla defense. The team floated along rudderless most of the season. Change had to be made but still Clark Hunt had to make the right decisions. While Hunt is not on this list as owner, his decisions on his choices of head coach and general manager were ultimately the keys to the success.

For this list, people who provided a more tangible, recognizable contribution are given their due but Clark Hunt deserves a huge round of thanks for making some very good decisions. Without his astute decision making, this season may have turned out much differently.

Without further ado, click “Next” to see the 5 most important Kansas Chiefs in 2013.