The Chiefs have a solid defense this season. There’s no denying that. But when we think of the Chiefs and their standout defensive players, Tershawn Wharton might not always be the first name that comes to mind—but maybe he should be. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, the Kansas City team signed him as an undrafted free agent.

But here’s the kicker: after proving his potential in the training camp, Wharton made it to the final roster of the Chiefs. And that’s not all. He kicked off his professional football career in his rookie season opener against the Texans. Even since the 26-year-old has been out there, contributing to the Chiefs’ D-line. Now, let’s be real. There’s always someone’s support behind a success story, right? Well, Tershawn Wharton is no exception, and like many great athletes, his parents played a crucial role in his successful NFL career.

Who are Tershawn Wharton’s parents?

Wharton’s career is full of highs and lows. There’s no denying that. Still, he had his parent’s support, which paved the path for all the success he’s having today. Tershawn Wharton is the son of Du’Shawn Wharton and Terry Wharton. While we may not find his parents in the spotlight, it is safe to say that their influence shaped Wharton’s NFL career as a defensive tackle.

Throughout his career, Du’Shawn and Terry instilled work ethics and dedication in their son’s life, something that coach Andy Reid noted this regular season. “Nobody practices harder, nobody works harder than Turk,” Reid noted. Honestly, he’s not wrong, and his performance throughout his career is a solid example of this.

Take this season, for instance. The 26-year-old defensive tackle was nothing short of a force on the field. He played all the games and started in 10 this season, racking up 20 combined tackles, with 18 solo and 6.5 sacks. Now, it’s safe to say that from being an undrafted free agent to starting most of the games that he played this season, Tershawn Wharton came a long way.

Where did Tershawn Wharton grow up?

Wharton was born on June 25, 1998, and grew up in University City, Missouri. He spent his first three years of high school at Maplewood Richmond Heights High School before transferring to the University City High School. Now, here’s where things get interesting. His decision to transfer to University City High School worked in his favor.

Then came his collegiate career with Missouri S&T Miners. His performance in college? Well, you can say that he started things from where he left off in high school. In his sophomore year, he put up 65 tackles and 13.5 sacks. The result? He earned a spot on the first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

He continued at the same pace in his junior and senior years at Missouri S&T and finished his collegiate career with 58 TFL and 35.5 sacks. Though he had to work a little bit harder even after his standout collegiate career, the Chiefs saw his potential, and now he’s aiming for that historic three-peat with the Kansas City team.