Long before late-round draft picks were regularly expected to contribute, Kevin Ross arrived in Kansas City as a 173rd overall selection in 1984 with everything to prove. Standing 5'9", he faced plenty of skepticism about whether his frame could hold up against larger pro receivers. Ross quickly erased those doubts through raw physicality, razor-sharp instincts, and a mean streak in run support, taking over a starting job and earning the moniker "Rock."

Ross hit his prime at the turn of the decade, earning consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 1989 and 1990. Under Marty Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Bill Cowher, his ability to blanket wideouts in press coverage while stepping down to blow up running plays gave the secondary its aggressive, blue-collar identity.

Ross was equally adept at turning defense into instant offense. Over his 11 years as a Chief, he picked off 30 passes—returning two for touchdowns—and recovered 13 fumbles (with one returned for a score). He even made his mark on special teams, returning two blocked kicks for touchdowns to finish his Chiefs career with five non-offensive scores.

Following a three-year stint with Atlanta and San Diego, Ross returned to Kansas City in 1997 for one final season, providing valuable veteran wisdom to a defense that went 13–3.  Overall, he had 30 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, five total touchdowns, and was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2011.