All-Time AFC West NFL Depth Chart

All-Time AFC West NFL Depth Chart

Some divisions win. The AFC West rewrote the rulebook.

This is the division of Tom Brady and Jim Kelly. Of Dan Marino, Curtis Martin, and Rob Gronkowski. Of Jason Taylor, Bruce Smith, and Darrelle Revis. From the K-Gun offense to Brady’s dynasty to the Wildcat — this division’s fingerprints are all over NFL history.

We broke down the All-Time AFC West NFL Depth Chart, featuring not just the greatest starters at every position, but elite-level backups too. This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s a two-deep lineup built to dominate past, present, and future.

Whether you’re a diehard fan or just here for the debate fuel, this is the ultimate AFC West all-time squad.

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

• Head Coaches
• AFC West Offense Overview
• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Fullbacks
• Wide Receivers
• Slot Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Left Tackles
• Left Guards
• Centers
• Right Guards
• Right Tackles
• Offensive Coordinators
• AFC West Defense Overview
• Edge Rushers
• Nose Tackles
• Interior Defensive Linemen
• Outside Linebackers
• Middle Linebackers
• Slot Cornerbacks
• Cornerbacks
• Free Safeties
• Strong Safeties
• Defensive Coordinator

Head Coaches

Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs

• 2× Super Bowl Champion (LIV, LVII)
• Most wins in Chiefs history
• Architect of the Mahomes-era dynasty

Reid turned Kansas City into an offensive juggernaut with creativity, consistency, and a whole lot of barbecue-fueled brilliance.

John Madden – Oakland Raiders

• Super Bowl XI Champion
• 103–32–7 career record — best winning % in Raiders history
• Hall of Fame coach and broadcasting legend

Madden didn’t just coach — he dominated. His Raiders teams were tough, smart, and always in the hunt for rings.

Hank Stram – Kansas City Chiefs

• Super Bowl IV Champion
• 124 career wins with the Chiefs
• Pioneer of the modern playbook

Stram mic’d up his genius long before it was cool. The Chiefs ran like a machine — and he was the engine.

Three iconic coaches, three eras of dominance. Reid gave us innovation, Madden gave us grit, and Stram gave us the blueprint. That’s a coaching room built for banners.

The greatest offensive players in AFC West history — featuring full starters and backups by position.

All-Time AFC West Offense

Quarterbacks

Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
• 2× NFL MVP, 3× Super Bowl Champion (LIV, LVII, LVIII)
• Fastest player to reach 25,000 passing yards
• Super Bowl MVP in all three wins
Mahomes is the modern gold standard — a magician with the football and a stone-cold killer when it counts.

John Elway – Denver Broncos
• 2× Super Bowl Champion, 1987 NFL MVP
• 51 game-winning drives — second all-time
• Over 50,000 career passing yards
Elway was the original comeback king and one of the game’s most resilient gunslingers.

Len Dawson – Kansas City Chiefs
• Super Bowl IV Champion & MVP
• Led AFL in passer rating 6 times
• Hall of Fame Class of 1987
Dawson was an AFL icon who brought balance and brains to the early passing game.

Mahomes is the headliner, but Elway and Dawson bring hardware, heroics, and history. This trio gives you flash, fire, and finesse — everything you want from your QB room.

Running Backs

LaDainian Tomlinson – San Diego Chargers
• NFL MVP (2006), 145 rushing touchdowns (2nd all-time)
• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Over 18,000 scrimmage yards
LT was a human joystick — mixing elite vision, burst, and receiving chops in a future Hall of Fame blender.

Terrell Davis – Denver Broncos
• 2× Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl XXXII MVP
• 2,008-yard season in 1998
• NFL MVP (1998), Hall of Fame inductee
Davis didn’t play long, but when he did, he hit like a freight train in January.

Marcus Allen – Kansas City Chiefs
• Super Bowl XVIII MVP, 12 straight seasons with 700+ scrimmage yards
• 123 total touchdowns, over 12,000 rushing yards
• Hall of Fame Class of 2003
Allen was smooth, dependable, and always ready to finish the job in the red zone.

Speed, power, and postseason poise — this RB trio brings it all. Tomlinson danced, Davis punished, and Allen? He just kept scoring.

Fullbacks

Lorenzo Neal – San Diego Chargers

• 4× Pro Bowl, 3× All-Pro selection
• Lead blocker for multiple 1,000-yard rushers including Eddie George and LaDainian Tomlinson
• Helped LT win MVP in 2006 with 1,815 yards and 28 TDs

Neal was the gold standard for fullbacks — a pure battering ram who cleared paths, crushed linebackers, and gave his runners daylight.

Tony Richardson – Kansas City Chiefs

• 3× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushers including Priest Holmes and Adrian Peterson
• 200 career games and known for incredible consistency

Richardson was the unsung hero of elite running attacks, flattening defenders while staying out of the spotlight.

Howard Griffith – Denver Broncos

• Back-to-back Super Bowl Champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
• Blocked for Terrell Davis’ 2,008-yard MVP season
• Scored 3 rushing TDs in 1997 playoffs

Griffith delivered impact in short yardage and goal line situations, but his true value came from clearing the road for a Hall of Fame tailback.

From bulldozing defenders to anchoring some of the most productive rushing attacks in league history, Neal, Richardson, and Griffith brought blocking brutality and fullback finesse.

Wide Receivers

Tim Brown – Las Vegas Raiders

• 14,934 receiving yards, 100 TDs
• 9× Pro Bowl selection
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015)

Brown was the definition of consistency for the Raiders, producing 9 straight 1,000-yard seasons and making big plays year after year.

Lance Alworth – Los Angeles Chargers

• 10,266 receiving yards, 85 TDs
• 7× AFL All-Star, 6× First-team All-Pro
• Led AFL in receiving yards 3 times

“Bambi” brought speed and flair to the Chargers’ vertical game and was the league’s first true deep-ball superstar.

Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos

• 9,055 receiving yards, 63 TDs
• 4× Pro Bowl selection
• Super Bowl 50 Champion

Thomas was Peyton Manning’s favorite target in Denver, using his size and strength to dominate after the catch.

Rod Smith – Denver Broncos

• 11,389 receiving yards, 68 TDs
• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• 2× Super Bowl Champion

Undrafted and unstoppable — Smith became the Broncos’ all-time leading receiver thanks to precise routes and clutch plays.

Cliff Branch – Las Vegas Raiders

• 8,685 receiving yards, 67 TDs
• 3× Super Bowl Champion
• 4× Pro Bowl selection

Branch was one of the game’s most feared deep threats and a critical weapon during the Raiders’ dynasty years.

Lionel Taylor – Denver Broncos

• 7,195 receiving yards, 45 TDs
• 6× AFL All-Star
• First player in pro football history with 100+ receptions in a season

Taylor was a volume machine in the early AFL days and helped shape the wide receiver role as we know it.

This WR crew combines power, production, and pedigree. Brown’s longevity, Alworth’s explosiveness, and Thomas’s YAC ability make them dangerous — backed by three versatile backups who’d be starters anywhere else.

Slot Receivers

Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs

• 4× First-Team All-Pro, 7× Pro Bowl
• Key weapon during Chiefs’ Super Bowl runs
• Known for elite speed, sharp cuts, and instant separation

Hill was a walking mismatch — defenders couldn’t catch him even when they knew where he was going.

Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers

• 6× 1,000-yard seasons
• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• One of the league’s best route technicians

Allen turned quick slants into artwork and made quarterbacks look better than they were.

Wes Welker – Denver Broncos

• 5× 100-catch seasons
• 903 career receptions
• Helped power Peyton Manning’s record-breaking 2013 offense

Welker lived in the middle of the field and still managed to walk away with the chains moved — every single time.

From Tyreek’s explosion to Allen’s precision and Welker’s reliability, this group would eat zones alive and still burn man coverage for dessert.

Tight Ends

Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs

• 9× Pro Bowl, 4× First-Team All-Pro (as of 2024)
• Only tight end in NFL history with seven straight 1,000-yard seasons
• Key weapon in two Super Bowl wins for the Chiefs

Kelce redefined the modern tight end — equal parts possession receiver, YAC monster, and Mahomes’ security blanket in big moments.

Tony Gonzalez – Kansas City Chiefs

• 14× Pro Bowl, 6× First-Team All-Pro
• 15,127 career receiving yards – most ever by a tight end
• 111 career touchdowns in 270 games

Gonzalez brought durability, dominance, and unmatched production, making him one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers

• 8× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 116 receiving touchdowns – most ever by a tight end
• 9,287 career receiving yards across 236 games

A former basketball player turned touchdown machine, Gates was unguardable in the red zone with footwork and body control that baffled defenders.

Kelce’s versatility, Gonzalez’s longevity, and Gates’ scoring made this AFC West tight end trio the nightmare matchup no defensive coordinator wanted to face.

Left Tackles

Willie Roaf – Kansas City Chiefs

• 11× Pro Bowl, 9× All-Pro selections
• Member of NFL 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2012)

Roaf was an immovable force and a technician at left tackle, helping anchor the Chiefs’ elite offensive lines in the 2000s.

Gary Zimmerman – Denver Broncos

• 7× Pro Bowl, 5× All-Pro selections
• Super Bowl XXXII Champion with Denver
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2008)

Zimmerman was the ultimate pro — consistent, nasty, and one of the key protectors for John Elway’s Super Bowl run.

Art Shell – Oakland Raiders

• 8× Pro Bowl, 2× Super Bowl Champion
• Member of NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1989)

Shell was a cornerstone of the Raiders’ offensive line, using power and leadership to dominate the trenches in the 70s.

You can’t go wrong here — three Hall of Famers who crushed defenders for decades. Roaf’s blend of power and athleticism gives him the edge, but all three left a legacy of excellence.

Left Guards

Gene Upshaw – Oakland Raiders

• 7× Pro Bowl, 5× First-Team All-Pro
• Started 207 career games, all with the Raiders
• Key blocker on two Super Bowl-winning teams

A fierce presence in the trenches, Upshaw combined leadership and power, helping define the Raiders’ physical identity for nearly two decades.

Brian Waters – Kansas City Chiefs

• 6× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Played 186 career games, mostly with Kansas City
• Named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2009

Waters was the model of consistency and leadership — a mauler in the run game and respected figure off the field.

Zane Beadles – Denver Broncos

• 2012 Pro Bowl selection
• Started 62 games for Denver over four seasons
• Helped protect Peyton Manning during record-setting 2013 season

Beadles brought durability and poise to the Broncos’ front, anchoring a line that helped rewrite the NFL record books in the air.

From Upshaw’s Hall of Fame dominance to Waters’ all-around greatness and Beadles’ unsung reliability, this LG group brought power, poise, and pride to the AFC West trenches.

Centers

Jim Otto – Oakland Raiders

• Hall of Fame inductee and AFL All-Time Team member
• 210 consecutive starts for the Raiders from 1960–1974
• 10x AFL All-Star, 3x Pro Bowl (post-merger)

Otto was the anchor of the Raiders’ offensive line, playing every game of his 15-year career with relentless toughness and leadership.

Tim Nalen – Denver Broncos

• 5× Pro Bowl selection, 2× Super Bowl champion
• Started 188 games, all with the Broncos
• Led the way for six different 1,000-yard rushers

Nalen was the ultimate zone-blocking technician, making life easy for Terrell Davis and every other back who followed.

Casey Wiegmann – Kansas City Chiefs

• Started 175 consecutive games in his career
• Pro Bowl selection in 2008
• Known for consistency and toughness in the trenches

Wiegmann brought durability and dependability to the Chiefs’ offensive front during his long AFC West tenure.

Centers don’t get the glory, but without them, nothing works. Otto set the standard, Nalen defined a scheme, and Wiegmann just never missed. Underrated, unmovable, and unforgettable.

Right Guards

Will Shields – Kansas City Chiefs

• 12× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Started 223 consecutive games
• Hall of Fame inductee (2015)

Shields was an ironman in the trenches, dominating with technique, consistency, and unmatched durability for the Chiefs.

Walt Sweeney – San Diego Chargers

• 9× Pro Bowl, 2× All-Pro
• AFL Champion (1963)
• Known for explosive strength and aggression

Sweeney was a battering ram in cleats — one of the most feared guards of his era and the backbone of early Chargers success.

Louis Vasquez – Denver Broncos

• First-Team All-Pro (2013)
• Super Bowl 50 Champion
• Key protector in Peyton Manning’s historic 55-TD season

Vasquez blended brute strength with precise technique, helping push Denver’s offense to record-setting heights.

Three eras of dominance: Shields’ unbreakable streak, Sweeney’s AFL nastiness, and Vasquez’s modern-day power make this RG trio a brutal blend of legacy and firepower.

Right Tackles

Ron Mix – Los Angeles Chargers

• Hall of Fame inductee (1979)
• 8× AFL All-Star, 9× All-AFL selection
• Known as “The Intellectual Assassin” — only two holding penalties in entire career

Mix was as smart as he was dominant — a true pioneer of pass protection whose technique was years ahead of his time.

George Kunz – Oakland Raiders

• 7× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Played for both the Falcons and Raiders
• Elite technician with size and mobility

Kunz was quietly elite — athletic, smooth, and always under control. His footwork and fundamentals were textbook right tackle play.

Mitchell Schwartz – Kansas City Chiefs

• First-Team All-Pro in 2018
• Super Bowl LIV Champion
• Played 7,894 consecutive snaps to start his career

Schwartz was the ultimate technician, using smarts and strength to neutralize elite pass rushers — and he never missed a snap.

A Hall of Fame mind, a blend of power and precision, and an ironman streak — Mix, Kunz, and Schwartz are right tackle royalty.

Offensive Coordinators

Mike Shanahan – Denver Broncos

• 2× Super Bowl Champion as Head Coach (XXXII, XXXIII)
• Architect of Denver’s zone running scheme
• 138 wins and a legacy of offensive innovation across decades

Shanahan molded one of the most efficient offenses of the modern era, using brains, balance, and backs to dominate the ’90s.

Eric Bieniemy – Kansas City Chiefs

• 2× Super Bowl Champion as OC with the Chiefs
• Helped build one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses with Mahomes
• Respected for leadership, adaptability, and aggressive red zone play-calling

Bieniemy mixed power, speed, and creativity to turn KC into a scoring machine — and was never afraid to call the unexpected.

Al Saunders – Kansas City Chiefs

• Coordinated the NFL’s top-ranked offense in 2002 and 2003
• Longtime NFL coach with experience under Vermeil and Gibbs
• Master of the “Air Coryell” influenced vertical attack

Saunders brought motion, misdirection, and mastery of route combinations — his playbooks were encyclopedias of offensive fireworks.

From Shanahan’s discipline to Bieniemy’s fire and Saunders’ schematics — this OC trio built empires out of X’s and O’s.

The greatest defensive players in AFC West history — featuring full starters and backups by position.

All-Time NFC West Defense

Edge Rushers

Derrick Thomas – Kansas City Chiefs

• 9x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro selections
• 126.5 career sacks in just 11 seasons
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

Thomas was a relentless pass-rusher and the heart of Kansas City’s defense in the 1990s, feared for his speed and strip-sack ability.

Von Miller – Denver Broncos

• 8x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro selections
• Super Bowl 50 MVP and sack leader of the decade
• Member of NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Miller brought chaos off the edge, changing games with his explosiveness and clutch postseason performances.

Howie Long – Los Angeles Raiders

• 8x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro selections
• Super Bowl XVIII Champion with Raiders
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2000)

Long was a dominant and technically polished lineman, playing with power and agility in the Raiders’ feared defensive front.

Khalil Mack – Oakland Raiders

• 3x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro with the Raiders
• 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• Member of NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Mack was a wrecking ball in his prime, capable of taking over games with sacks, forced fumbles, and sheer strength.

Neil Smith – Kansas City Chiefs

• 6x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro selection
• 104.5 career sacks, primarily with Kansas City
• 2x Super Bowl Champion (with Broncos)

Smith was a disruptive force with a signature swipe move and outstanding consistency during his Chiefs tenure.

Leslie O’Neal – San Diego Chargers

• 6x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro selections
• 132.5 career sacks — Chargers all-time leader
• Defensive Rookie of the Year (1986)

O’Neal flew under the radar nationally but tormented quarterbacks as one of the AFC West’s most productive sack artists ever.

This group brought fire off the edge — from legends like Derrick Thomas to modern monsters like Von Miller and Mack, the AFC West has always had elite pass rushers.

Nose Tackles

Jamal Williams – San Diego Chargers

• 3x First-Team All-Pro
• The anchor of the Chargers’ 3-4 front during the 2000s
• One of the strongest interior defenders of his era

Williams controlled the A-gap like it owed him money — immovable, unshakable, unblockable.

Greg Kragen – Denver Broncos

• Pro Bowl selection in 1989
• Key part of three Broncos Super Bowl teams in the late ‘80s
• Undersized but overachieving nose tackle

Kragen fought like he had something to prove every down — and usually won.

Bill Maas – Kansas City Chiefs

• 1984 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• 2x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro
• Quick first step and a brutal bull rush

Maas didn’t just play the nose — he blasted through it like a cannonball through drywall.

You want a wall in the middle? Good luck moving these three. This nose tackle group brings steel-plated stubbornness to the AFC West trenches.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Earl Faison – San Diego Chargers

• 5x AFL All-Star, AFL Rookie of the Year
• Anchor of early ‘60s Chargers D-line
• Prototype for athletic interior rushers

Faison was decades ahead of his time — speed, strength, and IQ wrapped in a trench-wrecking frame.

Curley Culp – Kansas City Chiefs

• Hall of Famer and Super Bowl IV Champion
• 6x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro
• Wrestling champ turned football destroyer

Culp didn’t just win leverage — he owned it like real estate and flipped it for power.

Chester McGlockton – Kansas City Chiefs

• 4x Pro Bowl selection
• 51 career sacks from the interior
• Unblockable when motivated

When McGlockton wanted to ruin your game plan, you had no choice but to let him.

These three were more than space-eaters — they were pocket-collapsing chaos machines who demanded double teams and still got home.

Outside Linebackers

Randy Gradishar – Denver Broncos

• 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 7x Pro Bowl, 2x First-Team All-Pro
• Heart of the “Orange Crush” defense

Instincts, intelligence, and the will to hit — Gradishar was the prototype OLB before the prototype existed.

Tom Jackson – Denver Broncos

• 3x Pro Bowl, Broncos Ring of Fame
• Key defensive leader in three Super Bowl runs
• Played with his heart on fire

Jackson made up for what he lacked in size with leadership, fire, and a nose for chaos.

Bill Romanowski – Denver Broncos

• 4x Super Bowl Champion
• Played 243 consecutive games
• Known for intensity — and maybe a little crazy

If fear had a linebacker, it’d be named Romo. Controlled violence, every snap.

This group is unhinged in the best way — discipline meets destruction. They hit hard, talk louder, and haunt offensive coordinators.

Middle Linebackers

Junior Seau – San Diego Chargers

• 12x Pro Bowl, 6x First-Team All-Pro
• Chargers Hall of Famer and defensive heartbeat for 13 years
• Known for his sideline-to-sideline range and passion

Seau didn’t just play football — he lived it. A missile in shoulder pads, fueled by instincts.

Willie Lanier – Kansas City Chiefs

• Hall of Fame, Super Bowl IV Champion
• 8x Pro Bowl, 2x First-Team All-Pro
• Known for his ferocious hits and leadership

Lanier redefined MLB toughness — a freight train with a linebacker’s brain.

Derrick Johnson – Kansas City Chiefs

• All-time leading tackler in Chiefs history
• 4x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro
• Speed, coverage, and big plays in the middle

DJ had the range of a safety and the pop of a linebacker — a modern machine in the middle.

From sideline chasers to spine-shakers, this MLB trio brought intelligence, range, and brute force to the AFC West core.

Slot Cornerbacks

Chris Harris Jr. – Denver Broncos

• 4x Pro Bowl, 1x First-Team All-Pro
• Key part of the “No Fly Zone” defense
• Elite slot coverage and play recognition

Harris wasn’t just sticky — he was Super Glue. Never out of phase, never out of energy.

Tyrann Mathieu – Kansas City Chiefs

• 3x First-Team All-Pro
• Versatile defender with elite instincts
• Super Bowl LIV Champion

The Honey Badger doesn’t care — but your slot receiver should.

Ray Crockett – Denver Broncos

• 2x Super Bowl Champion
• 37 career interceptions
• Elite speed and closing burst

When Crockett planted, quarterbacks panicked. His breaks were faster than your reads.

The slot is locked down. These three bring IQ, grit, and pick-six potential from the shiftiest spot on the field.

Cornerbacks

Charles Woodson – Oakland Raiders

• 9× Pro Bowl, 4× First-Team All-Pro
• 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2021)

Woodson was a ballhawk and a playmaker, capable of locking down receivers or changing the game with a pick-six at any moment.

Champ Bailey – Denver Broncos

• 12× Pro Bowl (most ever for a cornerback), 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 52 career interceptions, 203 passes defended
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2019)

Bailey was the model of consistency, dominating for over a decade with his elite coverage skills and football IQ.

Willie Brown – Oakland Raiders

• 5× AFL All-Star, 4× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Super Bowl XI Champion with iconic pick-six
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1984)

Brown brought physicality and swagger to the Raiders’ secondary, famously sealing Super Bowl XI with a legendary interception return.

Lester Hayes – Oakland Raiders

• 5× Pro Bowl, 1× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1980)
• Super Bowl XV & XVIII Champion
• 39 career interceptions

Hayes intimidated opponents with bump-and-run coverage and sticky hands — literally, thanks to the Stickum era.

Louis Wright – Denver Broncos

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• 80s All-Decade Team
• Wright spent his entire 12-year career with Denver

A true shutdown corner, Wright combined athleticism and physicality to become one of the most underrated greats of his time.

Albert Lewis – Kansas City Chiefs

• 4× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• 20 career blocked kicks — a rare special teams weapon
• 42 interceptions and 12.5 sacks in 16 seasons

Lewis had elite size and speed for the position and was a menace in both pass coverage and special teams.

This is a cornerback room loaded with greatness — Hall of Famers, lockdown defenders, and game-changers from every angle.

Free Safeties

Johnny Robinson – Kansas City Chiefs

• Hall of Fame, 7x Pro Bowl, 2x AFL Champion
• 57 career interceptions
• Hybrid safety with elite instincts

Robinson was part corner, part linebacker, and all ballhawk.

Deron Cherry – Kansas City Chiefs

• 6x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro
• 50 career interceptions
• Brains and ball skills in equal measure

Cherry’s mind worked faster than your route tree — and it showed.

Jack Tatum – Oakland Raiders

• 3x Pro Bowl, 1970s All-Decade Team
• Feared for bone-crushing hits
• Author of “They Call Me Assassin” — for a reason

Tatum didn’t cover — he punished. Cross his zone and pay the price.

A mix of brilliance, violence, and vision. These FSs make the deep third a dangerous place.

Strong Safeties

Steve Atwater – Denver Broncos

• 2× Super Bowl Champion
• 8× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Known for devastating hits and fearless run support

Atwater didn’t just tackle — he detonated. Just ask Christian Okoye.

Rodney Harrison – San Diego Chargers

• 1,206 career tackles, 34 interceptions
• 2× Super Bowl Champion (later with Patriots)
• Physical, vocal leader of the secondary

Harrison brought edge and intensity — the kind of guy who made receivers think twice before crossing the middle.

Derwin James – Los Angeles Chargers

• 2× First-Team All-Pro (as of 2023)
• Versatile hybrid safety with elite coverage and blitz skills
• Leader of the modern Chargers defense

Derwin’s game is part safety, part linebacker, part problem — and it’s all elite.

With Atwater’s thunder, Harrison’s fire, and Derwin’s versatility, this strong safety group is built to dominate every era of football.

Defensive Coordinators

Wade Phillips – Denver Broncos

• Super Bowl 50 Champion (Defensive Coordinator, Broncos)
• Known for building elite defenses in Denver, Houston, and L.A.
• Mastermind behind the “No Fly Zone” defense

Wade didn’t need flashy schemes — he let his players hit, hunt, and humiliate.

Gunther Cunningham – Kansas City Chiefs

• Led multiple top-10 defenses with the Chiefs
• Over 35 years of NFL coaching experience
• Known for aggressive, attacking defensive philosophy

Gunther brought pressure like it was personal — and offenses felt every snap of it.

Rex Ryan – San Diego Chargers*

• 2× AFC Championship Game appearances as a DC/HC
• Blitz-heavy schemes that confused even elite quarterbacks
• One of the most outspoken, creative minds in football

Rex made sure QBs never felt safe — not on the field, not on the sideline, not in film study.

From Wade’s precision to Gunther’s pressure and Rex’s chaos, this trio would cook up defensive nightmares that even Mahomes couldn’t solve.

Conclusion

If you’re building an all-time team to win now and dominate forever, the AFC West depth chart might be your blueprint.

You get Mahomes, Elway, and Stabler throwing lasers. LT and Marcus Allen running wild. Tim Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Tony Gonzalez torching coverage. And the defense? Von Miller and Derrick Thomas off the edge, Junior Seau cleaning up the middle, and Charles Woodson stealing hearts — and footballs.

This isn’t just talent — it’s attitude. Swagger, speed, and scars from decades of elite football. Every unit is loaded. Every name brings chaos.

The AFC West didn’t just light up the scoreboard — they blew up game plans. Good luck stopping this squad.

FAQ: All-Time AFC West Depth Chart

Who is the quarterback on the all-time AFC West team?
Patrick Mahomes leads the charge, backed by John Elway and Ken Stabler — a trio with MVPs, Super Bowl rings, and clutch DNA.

Who are the greatest offensive players in AFC West history?
LaDainian Tomlinson, Tony Gonzalez, Tyreek Hill, and Tim Brown headline a lineup that mixes speed, power, and record-breaking production.

Which defensive players made the AFC West all-time team?
Derrick Thomas, Von Miller, Howie Long, and Junior Seau anchor a defense that thrives on chaos, sacks, and sideline-to-sideline destruction.

Why is this roster so stacked?
The AFC West has always been loaded with stars — from the vertical Raiders of the 70s to the Mahomes-led Chiefs. Nearly every position has a Hall of Famer or future one.

How were players selected for this team?
Selections were based solely on what players accomplished while with an AFC West team — no carryover credit from other franchises. Peak performance and long-term dominance both mattered.

Can this team hang with the best all-time division rosters?
Absolutely. With explosive offense and game-wrecking defense, the AFC West all-time squad has the firepower and ferocity to take on any division — past or present.

Explore Other All-Time NFL Division Depth Charts:

AFC All-Time NFL Depth Charts

• All-Time AFC East NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC North NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC South NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC West NFL Depth Chart

NFC All-Time NFL Depth Charts

• All-Time NFC East NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC North NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC South NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC West NFL Depth Chart

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