The Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances were eliminated, but that didn't stop them from putting up a fight on Christmas Day. They fell 20-13 to the Denver Broncos, yet several players played some really good football, including Nohl Williams.
The rookie third-round pick was all over the field for the Chiefs and continued to flash, like he has done all season long, when allowed to take the field. In the loss, Williams finished with eight total tackles, including a team-high three TFLs. He also allowed just two catches for 17 yards.
For a cornerback to consistently make plays in the backfield isn't easy, but it shows the physicality that he brings to the table. He was one of the best players on the field for the Chiefs; however, the coaching staff failed to put him out there for the majority of the season, which highlights a problem that plagues this staff. And that's keeping young players on the bench in favor of veterans.
Chiefs Need to Change Outlook on Rookies After Nohl Williams’ Performance
The Chiefs' trotting out Chamarri Conner for the bulk of the season was a mistake. He didn't play his best ball in 2025, but that didn't stop Steve Spagnuolo from putting him out there. Entering Week 17, Conner had a 50.8 overall grade, 63.3 run-defense grade, and a 43.5 coverage grade. All of those numbers ranked in the bottom half of rankings among safeties, but the Chiefs felt comfortable playing him in the slot. That's without mentioning that Connor has two pass deflections and one interception on the season. In addition, he gave up 45 catches and 586 receiving yards going into Week 17.
Williams got more of a run in this contest due to Trent McDuffie (knee) and Jaylen Watson (groin) being placed on IR. And with his increased playing time, he made it worth it. Fans in KC Kingdom were pumped to see him out there and made it a point to give Williams his props on X. And while this was probably Williams' best game as a pro, it makes you think why he wasn't out there all season long.
It goes back to the point that the coaching staff would rather give a veteran countless chances instead of making a change to a promising rookie. From the outside looking in, it would have made sense to give Williams more playing time earlier in the season instead of trotting out the same vets who were underwhelming.
It's not like Williams didn't have potential, as he was the 85th overall pick in the 2025 draft. Fans have been clamoring for him to get an extended look, and his Christmas Day performance is the latest example of why.
His ability to make plays in the run game, in combination with being solid in coverage, is encouraging. The Chiefs certainly have something there with him, but it's a shame that the coaching staff didn't play him more, especially since there was meat left on the bone in the secondary this season. This needs to be something they change moving forward.