Former Badgers linebacker demonstrates unusual talent during Super Bowl parade
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, a University of Wisconsin star who capped his rookie NFL season with a Super Bowl ring, flashed his uncommon athleticism during an eye-opening moment of the Chiefs' victory parade in Kansas City on Wednesday.
Chenal had been among the players walking part of the parade route to interact with fans, and when it was time to get back on the bus, Chenal simply ... climbed on board. Emphasis on the climb.
I saw this live and was wondering who is climbing up the side of that bus? It was Leo Chenal! 🤯pic.twitter.com/xfqnEPvQGc
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) February 16, 2023
The native of Grantsburg, Wisconsin, was named the Big Ten's Linebacker of the Year in 2021 and declared early for the draft, where he was taken by Kansas City in the third round (103rd pick overall).
Chenal made eight starts during the regular season, though most of his work was done on special teams. In the Super Bowl, however, Chenal registered a sack and six combined tackles on just 18 defensive snaps when the Chiefs defeated Philadelphia, 38-35.
In 2021, Chenal made The Athletic writer Bruce Feldman's list of "Freaks" in college football, recognizing elite athleticism.
"The 6-2, 255-pound junior (31 tackles, six TFLs in 2020) is one of eight Badgers who bench 400 pounds or more," Feldman wrote then. "Chenal does 420 and cleans 385. The big man clocked a 4.00 time in the pro agility and has hit a top speed of 20.95 MPH on the GPS. He’s also broad jumped 10-1. Technically, Chenal isn’t the strongest Chenal on the team — big brother John, a senior fullback, benches five pounds more and squats 620, but he isn’t quite as Freaky in terms of his speed and agility."
Chenal also had a sack and three tackles for loss during the regular season.
Former star Badgers running back Melvin Gordon, a member of the Chiefs practice squad, also came away with a Super Bowl ring. It's the third straight Super Bowl in which a UW player has been on the winning side.
Last year, offensive linemen David Edwards and Rob Havenstein won rings with the Los Angeles Rams. Jack Cichy won a title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2020 season (on injured reserve).
James White of the Patriots won three Super Bowl rings, including after the 2019 season. After 2018, Beau Allen, Corey Clement and Chris Maragos all won rings with the Eagles (Maragos' second career championship, though he was injured for the second). Other recent Badgers to win titles include Owen Daniels (2016 season with Broncos), Jonathan Casillas (2015 season with Patriots and 2010 with Saints), O'Brien Schofield and Russell Wilson (2014 with Seahawks), Travis Beckum (2012 with Giants) and Mark Tauscher (2010 with Packers).
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ex-Badger Leo Chenal climbs parade bus during Super Bowl celebration
