The Kansas City Chiefs have no shortage of Pro Bowl candidates, even amid what is an incredibly frustrating season. It is easy to point to Patrick Mahomes, Trey Smith, and Travis Kelce as established stars who deserve to represent the league's prestige franchise; however, what is more interesting is considering which KC players might be named to their first Pro Bowl roster.
While the honor might not be as prestigious as it once was, there is no denying that it is an impressive addition to any NFL resume. Here's a look at three Chiefs who could be joining the annual event for the first time this season.
3 Chiefs Ready for Their Pro Bowl Debuts
1. Rashee Rice, WR
There is no question that Rashee Rice is at a bit of a disadvantage trying to make this year's Pro Bowl roster based on the fact that he missed the first six games of the 2025 season. Despite the missed time, the gifted pass-catcher is still deserving of the honor and has a legitimate chance based on injuries to the position.
Rice is simply far too electric to deny, even if the stats aren't yet among the league's elite. Since returning from suspension, the pass catcher has 42 catches for 486 receiving yards while combining for six touchdowns in six games since returning to action, putting him on pace for a 119-1,377-14 stat line in a 17-game campaign.
Voters simply need to turn on the tape and watch what Rice creates after getting the ball in his hands. In a struggling offense that has focused heavily on running the football while also feeding its established veteran playmakers, Rice continues to find ways to put up elite numbers.
The Pro Bowl is all about attempting to create a fun product, and there simply isn't a receiver who is more enjoyable to watch with the ball in his hands. Rice is deserving of the honor and will have enough of a resume by the end of the season to find his way onto the roster.
2. Leo Chenal, LB
Leo Chenal is a great example of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's defense drafting a player and finding the perfect role to bring out the absolute best traits. So often, it has been Chenal setting up a key spot to keep the Chiefs in a game or find a way to put the offense back on the field. While the Chiefs have gone overlooked due to how often the offense has failed to take advantage of these chances, there is no denying Chenal's impact.
Chenal has been productive across the field this season. He's racked up 28 solo tackles and eight pressures across 375 defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus, culminating in grades of 76.1 for overall defense and 77.5 for run stoppage. For reference, those marks rank 21st and T-25th, respectively, among the 167 linebackers who've played a snap this season.
Chenal is getting better and better with each season under Spagnuolo. His constant impact on the Chiefs' defense is deserving of a Pro Bowl spot and should have a great chance to make his first roster. And considering how he's on an expiring contract, a potential Pro Bowl nod could change how much Kansas City pays Chenal this offseason.
3. Bryan Cook , S
Lost in a season full of frustrations is the fact that the Chiefs yet again lost a key defender in the secondary in Justin Reid, and continue to find ways to patch the unit back together. Bryan Cook is the perfect example of this, having the best season of his career thus far despite losing Reid in the offseason. Cook has continued to show improvement and continually finds the football, helping the Chiefs stay afloat.
Although PFF isn't the end-all, be-all of player assessment, one has to be impressed that Cook currently holds the ninth-best overall (77.3) and seventh-best coverage (77.3) grades among safeties. He's amassed 41 tackles and 12 run stops while only allowing 15 completions for 151 yards and one touchdown, allowing a career-best 10.1 yards per catch.
Cook is quickly establishing himself as an important cog in a defense that has gone underrated throughout the 2025 season. Much of the unit's accomplishments are courtesy of the defensive back who appears poised to make the first Pro Bowl roster of his career.