Player Profile: Tamba Hali

Tamba Hali is one of the most dominating features of our defense. He finished this season with 52 tackles, four forced fumbles and 14.5 sacks. That sack number was second highest in all of the NFL. He converted to a linebacker from a defensive end when the Chiefs defense became a 3-4, and he has been our best and most consistent pass rusher since we traded Jared Allen.

But Hali's stats aren't the only reason why he is so interesting.

At age 10, Hali fled war-torn Liberia, his native country. Once escaped, he joined his father in the United States, who was a chemistry professor.

He had a gift at football, and in America he was able to use it. He was an All-American in high school and was the number one prospect out of the state of New Jersey.

Hali said that he was motivated to become a NFL-caliber player so maybe one day he could reunite with his mother, Rachel Keita, and bring her to the United States. He hadn't seen her for twelve years.

Hali chose Penn State for his college football. There, he was a 2005 consensus All-American, Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was the defensive MVP of the 2006 Senior Bowl.

His performance at Penn State led to his 1st round draft pick, 20th overall, by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006.

Since he has come to the Chiefs, he has been a difference maker; and he showed it right off the bat. His rookie season, he recorded 8 sacks and played in all 16 games. He was lined up on the opposite side of Jared Allen, and because of Allen's threat as a pass rusher, Hali was getting a lot of favorable matchups and was taking advantage of it.

In 2007, Hali followed up his rookie season with 7.5 sacks.

Then, in 2008, after Allen was traded to the Vikings, Hali's performance slipped. He was now the only consistent pass rusher and he was being double teamed more often. He wasn't getting to the quarterback often and finished the season with only 3 sacks. The Chiefs as a whole set a NFL record for fewest sacks in a season that year as well.

In 2009, the defense started turning around and Hali was a big reason for that. He was finding ways to get to the quarterback again, and was at times the Chiefs only pass rusher. He had 8.5 sacks, the highest of his career at that point.

Now, in 2010, he has won the AFC sack crown and is appearing in his second playoff game, the first since his rookie season. He should have a big impact tomorrow when the playoffs start; afterall, he's had a big impact for us all season.