Football, NFL

Kahlil Benson & Anthony Hill Named September Rookies of the Month

October 1, 2026
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Kansas City Chiefs tackle Kahlil Benson and Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill are the NFL Rookies of the Month for September (Weeks 1-3).

OFFENSE: T KAHLIL BENSON, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

This is a 2026 photo of Kahlil Benson of the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football team. This image reflects the Kansas City Chiefs active roster as of Monday, June 1, 2026 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Benson, a 2026 undrafted free agent from Indiana, started in all three games at left tackle for Kansas City after not playing the position in college. Per Next Gen Stats, he has allowed seven quarterback pressures in 106 pass block snaps, the third fewest among all left tackles this season. Among all rookies with at least 15 pass block snaps, Benson has the highest percentage of one-on-one matchups (84.0 percent, 89-of-106). He has contributed to a Kansas City offense that has only allowed four sacks in 2026, tied for the fifth-fewest in the league.
Benson becomes the eighth offensive lineman ever to win Offensive Rookie of the Month and first since Quenton Nelson (October, 2018). He is the seventh tackle to win the award and first since Michael Oher (December/January, 2009). Benson became the fifth Chiefs player to win a Rookie of the Month award, joining Kareem Hunt (September & December, 2017), Eric Berry (December, 2010), Nick Bolton (October, 2021) and Marcus Peters (December, 2015).
Benson is the second former Indiana player to win Rookie of the Month, joining Jordan Howard (December/January, 2016).

DEFENSE: LB ANTHONY HILL, TENNESSEE TITANS

A young male football player wearing a light blue jersey with 'TITANS' printed on it, posing against a gray background. — This is a 2026 photo of Anthony Hill Jr. of the Tennessee Titans NFL football team. This image reflects the Tennessee Titans active roster as of Thursday, April 30, 2026 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)

Hill recorded a league-best 34 tackles and had two passes defensed in September. He is the first rookie to lead the league in tackles through the first three weeks of a season since Shaquille Leonard in 2018 (41 tackles with Indianapolis).
Hill becomes the fifth Titans player to win a Rookie of the Month award, joining Jevon Kearse (September, November & December, 1999), A.J. Brown (December, 2019), Chris Johnson (September, 2008) and Marcus Mariota (September, 2015).
Hill is the third former Texas player to earn a Rookie of the Month honor and second Longhorn to win Defensive Rookie of the Month, joining Tony Brackens (Defense – December, 1996) and Roy Williams (Offense – September, 2004).