Kansas City Chiefs have unique advantage in 2026 NFL Draft after contributing to pair of Senior Bowl’s biggest success stories
The Kansas City Chiefs got some hands-on experience with some of the biggest standouts at the 2026 Senior Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs had extra boots on the ground at the 2026 Senior Bowl, and they contributed significantly to several players’ success and performance throughout the practice week.
Chiefs scouts were in attendance alongside general manager Brett Veach, which was only a departure from the norm given that Kansas City has reached the Super Bowl in each of the last three seasons. For that same reason, Chiefs’ coaches haven’t been invited to participate and coach players at the annual All-Star game. That changed this year, though.
Assistant QBs coach Dan Williams is coaching the National Team’s wide receivers, and defensive quality control coach Chris Orr is coaching the American Team’s linebackers. Some of the biggest risers and success stories have been embedded with Williams and Orr throughout the week of practice, giving the team a unique advantage in prospect evaluation for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Coach Williams and Coach Orr got to see firsthand how those specific players take and apply coaching, direct feedback, and soon they’ll get a chance to see them perform in a game situation when they take the field for the Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan 31. at 1:30 p.m. CT.
John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery bursts onto the scene with the help of Chiefs’ Dan Williams
Few knew the name Tyren Montgomery before this week, but the Division III wide receiver out of John Carroll has made a name for himself in short order. The 5-foot-11 and 190-pound Montgomery had a monster year, putting up 119 catches for 1,528 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Blue Streaks in 2025. He hasn’t even been playing football for three whole years after starting his athletic journey with basketball, but he looked like a natural in 1-on-1 and team drills throughout the practice week, making quick work of guys who played at the highest levels of collegiate football.
Speaking with A to Z Sports’ Travis May in Mobile, Alabama, this week, Montgomery detailed his path to the Senior Bowl.
“I mean, if it wasn’t for my brother telling me to, you know, pick up the football at 19 years old, I don’t think I’d be here,” Montgomery said. “But, I mean, it all started, I got the invite at the American Bowl the morning of the American Bowl game, and then they got me an opportunity. And now, you know, I’m just blessed to be here.”
Williams has worked under Chiefs assistant QBs coach Dan Williams this week, which he also described as a blessing.
“Yeah, it’s been a blessing, honestly,” Montgomery said. “You know, just to get really on-hand help. So, I mean, it’s been very helpful. And I think, you know, being at John Carroll has helped me a lot, just adjusting to the pro-style offense and stuff like that.”
Montgomery took his draft stock from undrafted to the top-150 range with his week of practice, and the Chiefs will have a little extra insight on how this rising prospect and others in this wide receiver class go about their business.
National Team wide receivers coached by Chiefs’ Dan Williams
- John Carroll WR Tyren Montgomery
- SMU WR Jordan Hudson
- SMU WR Romello Brinson
- Texas Tech WR Caleb Douglas
- Texas Tech WR Reggie Virgil
- Louisville WR Caullin Lacy
- LSU WR Chris Hilton
- Baylor WR Josh Cameron
- Wisconsin WR Vinny Anthony II
- Ole Miss WR Haarrison Wallace III
Chiefs’ Chris Orr is bringing the energy with Xavian Sorey and the American team linebackers
Arkansas LB Xavian Sorey was one of the most improved players throughout the practice week. After a forgettable practice on Day 1, the 6-foot-2 and 220-pound linebacker took no prisoners in every facet of his game on Day 2 and Day 3. He punished both pulling blockers and running backs, made multiple plays in 1-on-1 pass drills, and created a turnover with help from his fellow linebacker, Jack Kelly, during team drills. He was playing like his hair was on fire for the last two days of practice, showing exactly the type of progression that NFL scouts like to see from players at this event.
“I mean, just, just pull the trigger,” Sorey told A to Z Sports’ Travis May of his performance. “Just pull the trigger and just go keep my pads down and just be violent.”
Sorey worked under Chiefs defensive quality control coach Chris Orr, who didn’t just coach guys up on fundamentals; he was an energy giver for the guys during the practice week.
“Learning how to be a linebacker, man,” Sorey told A to Z Sports. “How to do things the right way. Coach (Chris) Orr, he’s a great guy, a great coach. And, you know what I mean, we had fun today. We were competing, and he was just as turnt as us.”
Orr, a former University of Wisconsin linebacker himself just seven years ago, knows the process well, having declared for the 2020 NFL Draft after his collegiate career.
The little things that Coach Orr learned about Sorey and his teammates on the American Team during the practice week will surely make their way back to the Chiefs’ scouting department. It could even come into play as the team looks to reinforce its linebacker corps through the 2026 NFL Draft.
American Team linebackers coached by Chiefs’ Chris Orr
- Arkansas LB Xavian Sorey
- BYU LB Jack Kelly
- Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke
- TCU LB Namdi Obiazor
- Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott