KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Four Kansas City Chiefs earned first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, with punt returner Tyreek Hill earning unanimous selection.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce races down field on a 80-yard touchdown reception during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 25, 2016. (Photo courtesy Chiefs PR, Chiefs.com)
Tight end Travis Kelce, safety Eric Berry and cornerback Marcus Peters joined Hill with first-team honors. Three of the four Chiefs are first-time All-Pro winners, with Eric Berry earning his third selection.
The Chiefs’ four first-team selections trailed only the Dallas Cowboys for most All-Pro honorees.
Hill and Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker were the only unanimous selections. Hill joined Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliot and Tennessee tackle Jack Conlin as the only rookies on the team.
Kelce received 44 of 50 votes at tight end. Berry finished second in voting at safety with 31 votes, behind only Landon Collins of the New York Giants with 47.
Peters received 23 votes at cornerback, behind only Aqib Talib of Denver with 27. Both Berry and Peters also received votes for defensive back.
Mitchell earned second-team honors at right tackle.
Other Chiefs receiving votes included Kelce with one vote at the new “flex” position. Hill also finished third in voting for kick returner. Rookie defensive back Eric Murray received two votes for special teamer.
Hill’s selection along with Elliott and Conlin marks the most rookies named All-Pro since 1981. That year future Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Ronnie Lott, along with running back George Rogers, earned All-Pro selection.
This year’s All-Pro voting marked a change in the selection process for the Associated Press. The panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters for the first time voted for specific positions along the offensive line, a flex position on offense, a fifth defensive back, a punt returner and a special teams player.
———-
Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
Follow @MattDerrick
———-
