Note: This article is the second in a five part serious counting down the 50 greatest players in team history.

OK, here’s this week’s installment. It’s loaded with defensive players, particularly defensive backs. Seems like the Chiefs have had some great ones.

40. Kevin Ross (CB, 1984-1993, 1997): He was called “Rock,” a nickname he wasn’t really fond of, but it fit. Drafted in the 7th round of the 1984 draft, Ross became a starter his rookie season and perfected a classic bump-and-run coverage that made him hard to beat in the secondary. For his Chiefs career, Ross played in 156 games, intercepted 30 passes, scored five touchdowns and appeared in two Pro Bowls. He went to Atlanta as a free agent before the 1994 season and later returned to Kansas City and played in five games in 1997.

39. Bill Maas (NT/DE, 1984-1992): Maas was selected in the first round of the 1984 draft and immediately became the starting nose tackle and brought a consistent level of intensity to the defense that had been missing in previous seasons. Maas used his tremendous size and quickness to dominate offensive lines, shut down runners, and scare quarterbacks. He could also block field goals, which he did five times in his career. For his career, Maas recorded 40 sacks, 396 total tackles, eight fumble recoveries and two safeties. He was named the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1984 and played in two Pro Bowls. After leaving Kansas City, Maas played one season in Green Bay.

38. Kimble Anders (RB, 1991-2000): Anders joined the Chiefs as a free agent in 1991 and built an impressive Pro Bowl career. Whether blocking, running or receiving, Anders excelled. Starting in 1993, he caught at least 40 passes every season through 1998, and ran for at least 200 yards each season. A fullback for most of his career, Anders switched to halfback in 1999 and was on his way to a promising season when he injured his Achilles tendon in the second game of the season. Anders made a comeback attempt in 2000, but despite playing in 14 games and running for 331 yards, he never returned to his former level of play. The Chiefs released Anders following the 2000 season. For his career, Anders played in 124 games, rushed for 2,261 yards, caught 369 passes for 2,829 yards, scored 18 touchdowns and was selected to three Pro Bowls.

37. Carlos Carson (WR, 1980-1989): A fifth round draft pick out of LSU in 1980, Carson had his breakout season in 1983 when he caught 80 passes for 1,351 yards and seven touchdowns. Three times in his career he went over the 1,000 yard mark, and while the 80 receptions he pulled in in 1983 was his career best, he did contribute big numbers and was considered a dangerous receiver throughout the rest of his career. For his career, Carson caught 352 passes for 6,360 yards and 33 touchdowns. He was selected for the Pro Bowl following the 1983 and 1987 seasons. Carson played in 120 games for the Chiefs and went to Philadelphia midway through the 1989 season.

36. Gary Barbaro (S, 1976-1982): A third round draft pick in the 1976 draft, Barbaro came to the Chiefs as a big hitter, but eventually refined his play, settled into the free safety position, and provided excellent pass coverage and team leadership. Barbaro compiled impressive numbers his entire career. He picked off eight passes his second season, had a career high 10 interceptions in 1980, and twice recorded more than 90 tackles in a season. Barbaro finished his career in Kansas City with 39 interceptions, and he returned three for touchdowns. He never missed a game until his final season, 1982, and played in a total of 101 games for the Chiefs. He left the Chiefs for the USFL following the 1982 season.

35. Gary Green (CB, 1977-83): Green came to Kansas City as the club’s first round pick in the 1977 NFL draft and quickly adjusted to matching up with the opponent’s best receiver week in and week out. “I never doubted my ability to cover every single receiver in the NFL, even as a rookie,” Green said of his play. His interceptions numbers are deceptively low, simply because quarterbacks feared throwing his way. He picked off three his rookie season, twice snagged five, and collected a career high six interceptions in 1983. For his career, Green recorded 24 interceptions, returned one for a touchdown, and was selected to three straight Pro Bowls. He played a total of 100 games for the Chiefs before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams following the 1983 season.

34. Curley Culp (DT, 1968-1974): Culp joined the Chiefs late in his rookie season in a trade with the Denver Broncos and quickly established himself as a powerful force in the AFL. Culp came up big in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl season in 1969 and was a big reason Kansas City had one of the top defenses in pro football. He played havoc on Minnesota quarterback Joe Kapp in Super Bowl IV, and was named to the AFL All-Star game following the ’69 season. He maintained his high level of play for the next four seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1970 and 1971.

33. Dale Carter (CB, 1992-1998): One of the finest athletes to ever play for the Chiefs, and the team’s first round pick in the 1992 NFL draft. Carter did it all while he was in Kansas City; he intercepted passes, returned kicks, caught passes on offense, and was considered the finest cornerback in the AFC for several seasons. He also earned four straight trips to the Pro Bowl from 1994 through 1997. For his career, Carter played in 104 games for the Chiefs, picked off 21 passes, scored four touchdowns, and returned 83 punts. Following the 1998 season, Carter left via free agency and signed with the Denver Broncos.

32. Albert Lewis (CB, 1983-1993): One of the finest cornerbacks in the league during his time with the Chiefs, Lewis had extraordinary coverage skills and was so good that opposing quarterbacks rarely tested him. But where Lewis really excelled was on special teams; blocking 10 punts during his career. He blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown in the 1986 playoff game with the Jets and another three blocks during his career resulted in touchdowns for the Chiefs. For his career, Lewis picked of 38 passes and also recovered nine fumbles. He appeared in a total of 150 games for the Chiefs and also appeared in four straight Pro Bowls. He signed with the Raiders as a free agent in 1994.

31. Neil Smith (DE, 1988-1996): Smith’s dominating play on the Chiefs’ defensive line helped propel Kansas City to the top with the league’s elite teams and earned him five straight appearances in the Pro Bowl. Smith used his 7′ 1 1/2″ wing span to regularly knock down passes and leverage his way around offensive linemen. He put together consecutive seasons of outstanding sack totals, collecting 14.5 in 1992, 15 in 1993, 11.5 in 1994, and 12 in 1995. For his career, Smith tallied 86.5 sacks for the Chiefs in 138 games. Smith was also named the team’s MVP in 1992. He left Kansas City following the 1996 season and signed with the Denver Broncos.