Kansas City Chiefs Player Profile: Tamba Hali

With the NFL preseason less than a week away, KC Kingdom wants to prepare you for Kansas City Chiefs football by providing you with a player profile up until the regular season! Today’s featured player is studly linebacker Tamba Hali.

How did Tamba Hali become a Kansas City Chief?

Hali grew up in Liberia and came to the United States when he was 10. He played both football and basketball in high school and eventually attended Penn State for college football.

Hali was a first round draft pick by the Chiefs (20th overall) in 2006 and many seemed surprised. Hali wasn’t projected to be selected until later on in the draft, but the Chiefs have never regretted the selection. Tamba started every game in his first two seasons and has always been a reliable and dominating force on the defensive side of the ball.

2013 stats

Hali and Justin Houston were a nightmare for opposing offenses and helped the Chiefs kick off their 2013 campaign with a 9-0 record. The team finished 11-5 and were playoff bound for the first time since 2010.

Hali started all but one game in 2013 (and that was due to the majority of the starters sitting out to rest for the playoffs) and as always had killer stats. The most impressive stat Hali had during his eighth season in Kansas City was racking up 11 total sacks.

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Hali also had two touchdowns last year, one from an interception and one from a recovered fumble. It’s also worth noting that Hali had five forced fumbles during 2013.

Tamba Hali’s efforts in 2013 earned him yet another trip to the Pro Bowl (he has now been elected to three total). His fellow peers voted him as the 43rd best player in the NFL last year too.

He’s a hell of a player and it’s no wonder why Kansas City loves this guy so much.

Overall

With the selection of Auburn defensive end Dee Ford in this year’s draft, it’s hard to say what Tamba’s future as a Chief will look like. Yes, he’ll be the obvious starter this year, but I believe that drafting Ford ultimately will mean parting ways with Hali after this season is over.

It’s sad to think about, but by that point he’ll be entering his 10th year in the league and he might be getting… um… “washed up” as some would say. Do I believe that? Not necessarily, but I can see why Kansas City would be willing to cut him loose.

Whatever happens, we still have this season to look forward to with Tamba Hali. He’ll make Chiefs games fun to watch as always.

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