Leo Chenal

Leo Chenal's Biography

Leo “The Tackling Machine” Chenal, a prodigy in the world of football, was born on the 26th of October 2000 in West Sweden, Wisconsin township. His fidelity for the game led him to the revered position of linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Chenal is a player who eats, sleeps, and breathes football. He first played college football for the prestigious Wisconsin Badgers, clearly indicating his early initiation into the frenzy of this exciting sport.

Though from West Sweden, he attended school in Frederic, Wisconsin district, gaining game-time as both a running back and linebacker at Grantsburg High School, a school located in the nearby town of Grantsburg. As a freshman, this gifted athlete raked in 2,038 yards with an astonishing 42 touchdowns under his belt. But he didn’t stop at that. He also earned a staggering 226 receiving yards with three touchdowns on offense, while defensively accumulating 120 tackles and seven tackles for loss.

In his senior year, Chenal was awarded the titles of small-school Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, and the state’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year, a testament to his relentless determination and athletic prowess. However, a crushing defeat against future state champions, Iola-Scandinavia marked a critical moment in his high school career.

Chenal’s high school football tenure ultimately ended on an impressive note with an outstanding accumulation of 3,706 rushing yards, 68 touchdowns, and 1,300 receiving yards. His defensive efforts didn’t lag either, highlighting 385 tackles, 55 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and three interceptions.

After high school, Chenal chose to don the jersey for the Wisconsin Badgers. During his freshman year, he played in 11 games, recording 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. His sophomore year proved to be equally eventful, earning him an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference. Despite the COVID-19-shortened season, he finished with an impressive 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception in just seven games.

His junior year recorded another feather in his cap. He was hailed as the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and named to the all-important first-team, All-Big Ten. Chenal didn’t rest on his laurels, instead choosing to forgo his senior year to enter the 2022 NFL draft, a decision he announced on January 3, 2022.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the third round (103rd overall) of the draft. He burgeoned into the professional scene in the game against the Arizona Cardinals, demonstrating raw talent and poise. Momentum continually propelled him forward, as he earned his first start in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders and achieved his first professional sack in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

His rookie season saw him play 17 games, where he started eight and accomplished an impressive 35 total tackles and one sack. Most notably, his early career has seen him win two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. In Super Bowl LVII, he registered six tackles and a sack, contributing to a 38-35 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. He played an instrumental role in Super Bowl LVIII, adding six tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a blocked extra point to lead the Chiefs to a gripping 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. Indeed, the narrative of Leo Chenal’s life is one of dedication, relentless pursuit, and victory, making him one of the brightest stars in the realm of the National Football League.