KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The talent on the Chiefs’ roster from the 2013 NFL season already produced eight players named to the Pro Bowl, two first-team All-Pro and three second-team All-Pro members.
December 15, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) celebrates after an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The recognition continued Monday with the Chiefs producing a league-high three players – safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles, and punt returner Dexter McCluster – named to the 2013 All-NFL Team, as announced by the Pro Football Writers of America.
Five players are repeats from the association’s 2012 All-NFL team: Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas.
Meanwhile, Kansas City also led the AFC with seven players named to the All-AFC Team.
The Chiefs special teams unit, which set an NFL single-season record for highest kickoff return average with 29.9 yards (1,316 yards on 44 returns), produced two All-AFC returners in McCluster and kick returner Quintin Demps.
Going back to 2002, no AFC team has produced two separate individual PFWA honorees at the punt returner and kickoff returner positions. Chiefs returner Dante Hall won both in 2003, while Josh Cribbs accomplished the feat with the Cleveland Browns in 2009.
McCluster established career highs in punt returns (58), punt return yardage (686) and punt returns for touchdowns (2). He was previously recognized as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December.
Demps recorded 33 returns for 992 yards (30.1 average), which included a 95-yard return for a touchdown. Defensively, Demps also notched a career-high four interceptions.
McCluster and Demps join Berry, Charles, left tackle Branden Albert, defensive tackle Dontari Poe and outside linebacker Justin Houston as All-AFC selectees.
Barring a re-signing, McCluster, Demps and Albert, who played under the franchise designation in 2013, are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents when the league calendar starts on March 11.
The All-NFL, All-AFC and All-NFC Teams are as follows:
2013 PFWA ALL-NFL TEAM
Offense
QB – Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
RB – Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs; LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
WR – Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns ; Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
TE – Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints
C – Ryan Kalil, Carolina Panthers
G – Evan Mathis, Philadelphia Eagles; Louis Vasquez, Denver Broncos
T – Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers; Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
Defense
DE – Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
DT – Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
OLB – Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts
MLB – Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
CB – Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks; Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
S – Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs; Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks
Special Teams
PK – Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
P – Johnny Hekker, St. Louis Rams
KR – Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
PR – Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs
ST – Justin Bethel, Arizona
2013 PFWA ALL-AFC TEAM
Offense
QB – Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
RB – Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs; Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
WR – Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers; Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns
TE – Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns
C – Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns
G – Logan Mankins, New England Patriots; Louis Vasquez, Denver Broncos
T – Branden Albert, Kansas City Chiefs; Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
Defense
DE – Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
DT – Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans; Dontari Poe, Kansas City Chiefs
OLB – Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts
MLB – Vontaze Burfict, Cincinnati Bengals
CB – Brent Grimes, Miami Dolphins; Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns
S – Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs; Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers
Special Teams
PK – Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
P – Brandon Fields, Miami Dolphins
KR – Quintin Demps, Kansas City Chiefs
PR – Dexter McCluster, Kansas City Chiefs
ST – Matthew Slater, New England Patriots
2013 PFWA ALL-NFC TEAM
Offense
QB – Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
RB – Matt Forte, Chicago Bears; LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
WR – Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions; Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears
TE – Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints
C – Ryan Kalil, Carolina Panthers
G – Evan Mathis, Philadelphia Eagles; Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers
T – Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles; Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers
Defense
DE – Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers; Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams
DT – Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
OLB – Ahmad Brooks, San Francisco 49ers; Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
MLB – Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
CB – Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals; Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
S – Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks; Donte Whitner, San Francisco 49ers
Special Teams
PK – Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks
P – Johnny Hekker, St. Louis Rams
KR – Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
PR – Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks
ST – Justin Bethel, Arizona Cardinals
