Leo Chenal Bio
Leo Chenal is an American professional football linebacker who currently plays for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, he plays the linebacker position and wears jersey number 54. He rose to prominence as a hard-hitting defender for the Wisconsin Badgers before being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Chenal won two Super Bowls during his first two seasons in the league and quickly became known for his physicality, special teams impact, and sideline-to-sideline range.
Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, Chenal developed his football skills in a small-town environment before earning statewide recognition as one of the most decorated high school players in the state. His combination of size, speed, and football intelligence has allowed him to contribute on defense and on special teams throughout his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Leo Chenal was born on October 26, 2000, in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, United States. He grew up in West Sweden, a small township in northwestern Wisconsin, and attended school in the Frederic, Wisconsin district. Chenal comes from a large family, with seven brothers and eight sisters shaping his upbringing.
As a freshman, Chenal open-enrolled at nearby Grantsburg High School, where he played both running back and linebacker. On offense, he was a dynamic two-way player. As a senior, he rushed for 2,038 yards and 42 touchdowns and added 226 receiving yards with three scores. On defense, he recorded 120 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He was named the small-school Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, and he was also recognized as the state Gatorade Football Player of the Year. Across his high school career, he finished with 3,706 rushing yards, 68 rushing touchdowns, 1,300 receiving yards, 17 receiving touchdowns, 385 tackles, 55 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and three interceptions.
Path to American Football
Chenal joined the Wisconsin Badgers as an early enrollee, beginning his college career ahead of the 2019 season. As a freshman, he appeared in 11 games and posted 20 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack, signaling his future role as a defensive playmaker. His development accelerated in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, when he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference recognition after recording 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception in just seven games.
As a junior in 2021, Chenal emerged as one of the top linebackers in the country. He was named the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, while also being recognized as a first-team All-American. He was also named Big Ten Linebacker of the Year that same season. On January 3, 2022, Chenal announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2022 NFL Draft, where his combination of production, measurables, and football IQ made him one of the most sought-after defensive prospects at his position.
Leo Chenal Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Chenal was selected in the third round, 103rd overall, by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in the Chiefs’ regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals and earned his first start in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders. He recorded his first professional sack in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, finishing his rookie season with 35 total tackles and one sack across 17 games, including eight starts.
His rookie campaign ended with a Super Bowl championship, as the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 in Super Bowl LVII. Chenal recorded six tackles and a sack in that game. He followed it up the next season by helping Kansas City win Super Bowl LVIII, a 25–22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers. In that contest, he contributed six tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and a blocked extra point, cementing his role as a versatile contributor on the biggest stage.
Kansas City Chiefs Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Chenal continued to grow into a key special teams contributor and rotational linebacker for Kansas City. In Week 10 of the 2024 season, he blocked a potential walk-off field goal attempt by Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz, a play that helped swing momentum and earned Chenal AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The play became one of the signature moments of his Chiefs tenure.
During the 2025 season, Chenal made 14 appearances with 12 starts for Kansas City, 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, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 20, 2025, closing out his final campaign with the Chiefs.
Washington Commanders Era (2026–Present)
On March 13, 2026, Chenal signed a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Washington Commanders, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The move signaled a fresh start and an expanded role with a team building toward long-term contention. His veteran presence and championship experience were central to the Commanders’ reasoning in bringing him aboard.
Through the 2025 season, Chenal’s career NFL regular-season totals include 218 tackles, 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 6 pass deflections, and 1 interception. As he transitions into Washington, he is expected to play a meaningful role on defense and special teams while bringing a championship pedigree to a rising roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chenal is known for his physicality, downhill aggression, and reliability in run support. His football intelligence, built on years of two-way play at Grantsburg High School, allows him to read offenses quickly and fill gaps with leverage. On special teams, his willingness to compete in high-leverage moments, including game-winning field goal blocks, has become a defining trait of his professional identity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Chenal’s most notable milestones include winning Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII in his first two NFL seasons, his AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor in 2024, and his 2026 free-agent signing with the Washington Commanders. His blocked extra point in Super Bowl LVIII and his walk-off field goal block against Denver both stand out as signature plays of his career.
Leo Chenal Career Wins
Leo Chenal has built a winning resume across multiple levels of football, from high school state honors to back-to-back NFL championships. His trophy case includes two Super Bowl rings earned in his first two professional seasons, and he has consistently contributed to winning efforts through defense, special teams, and leadership.
Super Bowl Highlights
Chenal won Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs, recording six tackles and a sack in a 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He then won Super Bowl LVIII, contributing six tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and a blocked extra point in a 25–22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers. These two championships established him as a champion early in his NFL career.
Other Performances
At the college level, Chenal was a first-team All-American in 2021 and the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, and he was also named the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. In high school, he was the Wisconsin Gatorade Football Player of the Year and the small-school Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year from the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association.
Leo Chenal Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Leo Chenal comes from a large family, with seven brothers and eight sisters. Growing up in a crowded household in rural northwestern Wisconsin helped shape his competitive drive and physical style of play. The family ties to football and outdoor life in the Grantsburg area influenced his early development as a two-way high school athlete.
Personal Life
Chenal grew up in West Sweden, Wisconsin, and attended school in the Frederic, Wisconsin district before open-enrolling at Grantsburg High School. He has continued to maintain strong ties to his Wisconsin roots even as his professional career has taken him to Kansas City and, most recently, Washington.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Leo Chenal played in 14 games and made 12 starts, recording one interception, two pass deflections, two sacks, and 58 combined tackles. He continued to serve as a physical presence in the run game and on special teams, building on the momentum of his 2024 AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.
His season was cut short in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, when he suffered a shoulder injury that led to a placement on season-ending injured reserve on December 20, 2025. The injury closed out his Chiefs tenure with strong production in the games he did play.
Looking ahead, Chenal’s offseason outlook was shaped by his eventual signing with the Washington Commanders on March 13, 2026, on a three-year, $24.75 million contract. After a recovery period from his shoulder injury, he is expected to compete for a significant role in Washington’s defensive rotation while also contributing on special teams as he brings championship experience to a new team.
