The Washington Commanders added another playmaker to their defense by signing former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal. Here are five things to know about one of their newest defenders.
1. He played running back in high school.
Like many high school players, Chenal played both offense and defense in high school as a running back and linebacker. Not every player is good at both, however, and Chenal made an impact no matter where his coaches at Grantsburg put him.
While Chenal settled in at linebacker in college and the NFL, he was also a capable offensive weapon in high school. He finished that part of his career with 5,006 total yards and 85 touchdowns. Most of his damage was done on the ground, though, as he rushed for 3,706 yards with 68 scores. He was named Wisconsin's small school Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and earned Second Team all-state honors as well.
But as he was at running back, Chenal was arguably better as a linebacker. He had 385 tackles, seven sacks and three interceptions for his high school career, earning him All-American honors and two all-state nods. He was the WFCA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and voted as the top linebacker in the state that year.
Chenal, the 2018 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, was a three-star recruit and chose to play for Wisconsin over South Dakota State.
2. He is a dynamic athlete.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters doesn't reveal much about his methodologies for signing and drafting players. We do know he has a type, though, and it's players with freaky athletic scores.
It's not a requirement, but most of the players Peters has signed in the last two years have high Relative Athletic Scores (RAS) from their combine/pro day testing. Chenal fits that description; he was given a RAS of 9.99, ranking him third out of 2,406 linebacker prospects from 1987-2022. He received "elite" grades in the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jump while also getting positive grades for his height and weight.
But Chenal's test numbers aren't just elite for a linebacker; they rank high for just about every defensive position. He would have gotten a 9.83 as a cornerback; a 9.85 as a defensive end; a 9.89 as a defensive tackle; a 9.92 as a free safety; and a 9.99 as a strong safety. His size would have been a negative up front, but he received at least a "good" grade for every other metric at every position.
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones wants athletes in his new defensive scheme, and it looks like Peters gave him one of the best.
Check out the top photos of future Washington Commander Leo Chenal.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) lines up for the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, December 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) and long snapper James Winchester (41) stand for the national anthem before a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) in action during an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Park Stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-14. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (87) catches a pass for a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) against the Denver Broncos of an NFL football game Sunday October 29, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) drops into coverage against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal during an NFL football game against Philadelphia Eagles Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal takes part in drills during the NFL football team's mandatory minicamp Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) against the Denver Broncos of an NFL football game Sunday October 29, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) follows a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) celebrates after sacking Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal is seen during the first half of an NFL preseason football against the Chicago Bears game Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Ohio State wide receiver Binjimen Victor (9) runs past Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal (45) during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) in action during an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Park Stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-14. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson, left, and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, right, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal celebrates a play aagainst the Baltimore Ravens during the second half an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens by a score of 27-20. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) rushes across the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) tackles Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) celebrates after a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) rushes on defense during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) gets set on defense during an NFL pre-season football game against the Green Bay Packers Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (83) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner (27) and linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal participates in a drill during NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) in action during an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Park Stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-14. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal comes onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs' Leo Chenal (54) plays against the against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) rushes against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) runs into defensive position during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) is greeted by teammates during introductions before the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is chased by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (83) gets stopped just short of the endzone by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) and Chiefs cornerback Dicaprio Bootle (30) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. The Chiefs won 38-10. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) makes the catch against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 57 football game, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal comes onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis, right, is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) runs into defensive position during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kansas City Chiefs long snapper James Winchester (41) congratulates Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) after a special teams punt return during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Miami Dolphins, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) evades Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) makes an interception off the hands of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
3. He's got a big family.
The Chenal family runs deep. Leo is one of 16 siblings -- eight full siblings and seven step-siblings ranging from their teenage years to mid-40s. It's difficult to stand out in a family that large, and perhaps unsurprisingly, there was plenty of competition.
"When I was a little kid, I was always trying to pick fights with them and stuff," Chenal told The Associated Press in 2021. "That's where I think I got all my energy and all my passion, just being able to compete with brothers growing up, always being physical with them, starting fights and everything."
Leo has a close relationship with his brother, John, who also played at Wisconsin. They would often square off against each other in practice, and it was rarely over after just one rep. That was true in just about everything they did, whether it was on the football field, the ping pong table or the basketball court.
"There's a lot of high-level athletes here who challenge you," John said. "But there's nothing like your younger brother to really get under your skin to make you want to go that extra mile."
4. He was the best linebacker in the Big Ten in 2021.
Chenal had a strong finish to his college career, starting the entire 2021 season and racking up 115 tackles with eight sacks, two forced fumbles and five pass deflections. He had several standout performances that year, from recording 17 tackles against Army to getting 3.5 sacks the following week against Purdue.
But Chenal was best known for being a disruptive player behind the line of scrimmage. He ranked second in the country in tackles for a loss per game and second on the team in sacks. He had the third-highest grade from Pro Football Focus for a linebacker that year with 21 total pressures and 58 stops -- a stat from PFF that quantifies tackles resulting in a "failure" for the offense.
Chenal quickly became one of the best linebacker prospects in the draft that year. He received the third-best athleticism score at the combine as well as the sixth-best production score. In the Big Ten, however, there was no one better, as he received the Butkus-Fitzgerald Award for being the conference's linebacker of the year.
"Chenal is like a cinder block," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "His limbs absorb contact without losing balance or positioning."
5. He's an ascending player.
Zierlein didn't believe that Chenal could be more than a good backup or low-end starter in the NFL, but the linebacker has shattered those expectations. He put up solid numbers during his four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs with seven sacks, 218 tackles and six pass deflections. He was ranked as the No. 40 free agent by NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, who praised Chenal for his versatility and having the ability to spy Lamar Jackson.
But Chenal seemed like he was ready for a bigger role than the 441 snaps he got last season, and he's ready to prove it with the Commanders.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I bring violence and physicality," Chenal said. "I'm bringing that energy, that juice. I'm ready to get these guys rolling ... I'm ready to uplift in any way that I can, supplement in any way that I can."
