Why Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Linemen Could Deflect Passes In Super Bowl

To help seal the Kansas City Chiefs’ last Super Bowl victory, defensive lineman Chris Jones deflected three passes in the last six minutes of Super Bowl LIV.

It would not be surprising if Chiefs defensive linemen again make their mark by batting down balls in Super Bowl LVII.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is listed at 6-1, and among Week One NFC starting quarterbacks, only Kyler Murray was shorter.

“We play a lot of short quarterbacks,” Jones said. “Russell Wilson is one of them. So getting our hands up can affect the throw.”

Jones had four passes defended this season, but his offseason workout partner, defensive end Carlos Dunlap, is tied for first among NFL defensive linemen in passes defended with eight in 2022. And fellow defensive lineman George Karlaftis is tied for second with seven.

The Chiefs ranked sixth in the NFL in passes defended with 85. That stat, of course, is typically recorded by defensive backs because their job responsibility is literally covering passes.

But while defensive backs L’Jarius Sneed and Juan Thornhill had 11 and nine, respectively, what’s unusual about the Chiefs is that many of the pass deflections have come at the line of scrimmage.

Both Jones and head coach Andy Reid said deflecting passes is something that defensive line coach Joe Cullen, who joined the Chiefs this past offseason, emphasizes.

“That’s part of his repertoire of things that he does in there with them. It’s been very successful,” Reid said. “If you’re not able to quite get to the guy, to the quarterback, get your hands up — at least one — and try to bat the ball down.”

Part of Dunlap’s success in batting down passes is due to the long arms of his 6-6, 285-pound frame.

Cullen said that the water polo background of Karlaftis — who was born in Athens, Greece, where he played goalkeeper for the under-16 national team — has helped him become adept at deflecting passes too.

With the goalkeeper’s main job being blocking shots from the opposition, it served as great training for the future defensive lineman.

“Some of it has to do with the hand-eye coordination,” Karlaftis said.

Karlaftis and Dunlap are both new additions to the Chiefs’ roster this year, but they are on opposite sides of their career spectrums.

Karlaftis, the 21-year-old first-round pick, is in the first year of his rookie deal, which is worth $11.9 million over four years.

The 33-year-old Dunlap is in a contract year after signing a one-year, $3 million deal. He recorded his 100th career sack this season and already has a successful restaurant business for whenever he does it hang it up.

The Chiefs’ oldest defensive lineman, Dunlap, has mentored its youngest, Karlaftis.

“Carlos comes in and he’s very, very smart. He’s been in the league a long time,” Reid said. “So he helped out George and the other guys that are young guys — and yet fit in with Chris.”

Dunlap is certainly a good person from whom Karlaftis can further learn the art of deflecting passes. The longtime Cincinnati Bengals player, who won his first playoff game this year, has 77 passes defended in his 13-year career.

And in his 13th year he’s definitely practicing what Cullen preaches.

“When you’re not getting there and you feel the quarterback, just put a hand up,” Cullen said. “That’s what those guys have done a good job of.”