Leo Chenal

Leo Chenal ( ; born October 26, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, where he won Super Bowl LVII and LVIII.

Early life Chenal grew up in West Sweden, Wisconsin township and attended school in the Frederic, Wisconsin district. He open enrolled as a freshman to nearby town Grantsburg, Wisconsin to attend Grantsburg High School, where he played both running back and linebacker. As a senior, Chenal rushed for 2,038 yards and 42 touchdowns with 226 receiving yards and three touchdowns on offense and had 120 tackles and seven tackles for loss on defense. He was named both the small-school Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year by Wisconsin Football Coaches Association and the state Gatorade Football Player of the Year. After a devastating loss to the future state champions, Iola-Scandinavia. Chenal finished his high school career with 3,706 rushing yards and 68 touchdowns and 1,300 receiving yards and 17 touchdown receptions on offense and with 385 tackles, 55 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and three interceptions on defense.

College career Chenal joined the Wisconsin Badgers as an early enrollee. He played in 11 games during his freshman season and had 20 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack. As a sophomore, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after finishing the season with 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception in seven games during Wisconsin's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Chenal was named the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten as a junior.

On January 3, 2022, Chenal announced that he would forgo his senior year to enter the 2022 NFL draft.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs Chenal was selected in the third round (103rd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL draft. Chenal made his NFL debut in the Chiefs' regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Chenal finished his rookie season with 35 total tackles and one sack in 17 games, of which he started eight. Chenal won two Super Bowls, in his first two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. In Super Bowl LVII Chenal recorded six tackles and a sack as the Chiefs won 38–35 over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was also a key factor for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, contributing 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, and a blocked extra point, helping the Chiefs win 25–22 in overtime over the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 10 of the 2024 season, Chenal blocked the potential walk-off field goal from Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, leading to him being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Chenal made 14 appearances (12 starts) for Kansas City during the 2025 season, recording one interception, two pass deflections, two sacks, and 58 combined tackles. After suffering a shoulder injury in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Chenal was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 20, 2025.

Washington Commanders On March 13, 2026, Chenal signed a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Washington Commanders.

NFL career statistics Legend Won the Super Bowl Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fmb FR Yds TD 2022 KC 17 8 35 19 16 1.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2023 KC 17 10 65 40 25 3.0 8 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2024 KC 17 14 60 40 20 1.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 2025 KC 14 12 58 25 33 2.0 2 1 0 0.0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0Career 65 44 218 124 94 7.0 17 1 0 0.0 0 0 6 3 0 0 0 0

Postseason Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD FF Fmb FR Yds TD 2022 KC 3 0 6 4 2 1.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2023 KC 4 3 15 8 7 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2024 KC 3 2 10 7 3 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Career 10 5 31 19 12 1.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Personal life Chenal has seven brothers and eight sisters.