Leo Chenal

Leo Chenal
Chenal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022
Washington Commanders
PositionLinebacker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2000-10-26) October 26, 2000
Grantsburg, Wisconsin, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolGrantsburg
CollegeWisconsin (2019–2021)
NFL draft2022: 3rd round, 103rd overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Tackles218
Sacks7
Forced fumbles3
Pass deflections6
Interceptions1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Leo Chenal (/ʃəˈnɛl/ shə-NEL; 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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] After a devastating loss to the future state champions, Iola-Scandinavia.[4] 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.[5]

College career

Chenal joined the Wisconsin Badgers as an early enrollee.[6] He played in 11 games during his freshman season and had 20 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack.[7] 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.[8] Chenal was named the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten as a junior.[9]

On January 3, 2022, Chenal announced that he would forgo his senior year to enter the 2022 NFL draft.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+5⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 250 lb
(113 kg)		 31 in
(0.79 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 4.53 s 1.50 s 2.57 s 4.24 s 6.98 s 40.5 in
(1.03 m)		 10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)		 34 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12]

Kansas City Chiefs

Chenal was selected in the third round (103rd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL draft.[13] Chenal made his NFL debut in the Chiefs' regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.[14] He earned his first start in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders.[14] He recorded his first professional sack in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[15] Chenal finished his rookie season with 35 total tackles and one sack in 17 games, of which he started eight.[14] 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.[16] 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.[17] 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. [18][19]

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.[20]

Washington Commanders

On March 13, 2026, Chenal signed a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Washington Commanders.[21][22]

Personal life

Chenal has seven brothers and eight sisters.[23]

References

  1. ^ "'A lot of schools are kicking themselves now': Wisconsin believed in Leo Chenal and the former Grantsburg star is flourishing". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 29, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  2. ^ Temple, Jesse (January 14, 2019). "A Wisconsin-born freak of nature, 2019 signee Leo Chenal was meant to play for the Badgers". The Athletic. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  3. ^ Potrykus, Jeff (April 9, 2019). "Badgers' Leo Chenal, a freshman linebacker from Grantsburg, appears to have the right stuff". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Williams, Scott (November 9, 2018). "Iola-Scandinavia beats Grantsburg to Advance to state title game". Stevens point journal. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Coy, Stacy (December 13, 2018). "Leo Chenal named Gatorade Player of the Year". Burnett County Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Potrykus, Jeff (August 3, 2019). "Wisconsin freshman linebacker Leo Chenal continues to impress". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  7. ^ Bartholomew, Colten (October 20, 2020). "'That man is crazy': ILB Leo Chenal ready to put 'high-level' physical skills on field". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Bailey, Analis (September 4, 2021). "Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal tests positive for COVID-19, out two weeks". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  9. ^ "'I don't know what else he has got to prove': UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard raves about Leo Chenal's pro potential". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  10. ^ "Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Leo Chenal entering NFL draft". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Leo Chenal Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Leo Chenal, Wisconsin NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ McMullen, Matt (April 30, 2022). "Five Things to Know About Chiefs' Third-Round Pick Wisconsin LB Leo Chenal | 2022 NFL Draft". Chiefs.com. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c "Leo Chenal 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  15. ^ Strozinsky, Lucas (November 15, 2022). "KC Chiefs rookie report: Isiah Pacheco starts versus Jaguars". Arrowhead Addict. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "Super Bowl LVII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 12th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "Super Bowl LVIII – San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 11th, 2024". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  18. ^ Baca, Michael (November 10, 2024). "LB Leo Chenal keeps Chiefs' undefeated season alive with game-winning FG block vs. Broncos". NFL.com. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  19. ^ "Leo Chenal named AFC special teams player of the week". Yahoo! Sports. November 13, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Chiefs place Jawaan Taylor, Leo Chenal on IR in s ties of Saturday moves". nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  21. ^ Keim, John (March 10, 2026). "Source: Leo Chenal agrees to 3-year deal with Commanders". ESPN.com.
  22. ^ "Commanders sign LB Leo Chenal". Commanders.com. March 13, 2026.
  23. ^ https://www.audacy.com/podcast/the-kevin-sheehan-show-04012/episodes/leo-chenal-on-why-he-signed-with-commanders-what-hell-bring-to-the-defense-838cf
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