Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking every Chiefs starting quarterback since 2000

NUMBER 5: MATT CASSEL

2009-2012

As much crap as Matt Cassel gets from Chiefs fans, he really was one of the better starters the franchise has had since 2000. Cassel playing in Kansas City for four seasons definitely boosts his stats a bit, but his 2010 season alone would have gotten him in the top five, even with everything else that went down.

Cassel had his best NFL season in 2010, throwing for 3,113 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. Not only did Cassel have a nice year in 2010, but so did the Chiefs. After being in the basement of the division for several years, Cassel led them to a 10-5 record and an AFC West title.

Cassel missed one game in that 2010 season and the Chiefs missed him desperately that week. They got destroyed by the Chargers (Brodie Croyle was the starter for that one, go figure) and while fans won’t admit it now, they absolutely missed Cassel in that game.

Aside from the 2010 season, Matt Cassel had a rough go of it in Kansas City. His inaugural year as a Chief in 2009 saw him throw 16 touchdowns and 16 picks. In 2011, he’d only appear in nine games and threw ten touchdowns and nine interceptions, going 4-5 during that span.

The 2012 season was the kicker, as Cassel was awful. He threw for 1,796 yards, six touchdowns and 12 interceptions before eventually making his way to the bench. When Cassel was injured in a game against the Ravens, fans “cheered” him going down and that was pretty much the beginning of the end for Cassel.

Chiefs fans don’t like Matt Cassel to this day, but he’s still one of the better quarterbacks to start for the team since 2000. The fact that he led the Chiefs to their first AFC West title in seven years proves even more why Cassel deserves to be this high.

Put the pitchforks away now.