Kansas City Chiefs News

The Kansas City Chiefs are likely to apply the franchise tag to linebacker Dee Ford, according to multiple reports.The franchise tag period opened Tuesday and will run until March 5. The linebacker tag for 2019 is expected to be $15.78 million, according to ProFootballTalk.Kansas City selected Ford with the No. 23 overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. In the 2018 regular season, he played in 16 games and recorded career highs in sacks (13), tackles (55), tackles for loss (13) and QB hits (29).Ford, 27, told WFNZ in Charlotte on Monday that he wouldn't object to playing under the franchise tag while a longer deal is worked out between the two sides.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas, who also enjoyed a Hall of Fame playing career with the team, retired Tuesday after 51 years of involvement in the NFL.Thomas, 75, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1986."On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization, I want to congratulate Emmitt on his remarkable 51 years in the National Football League," Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. "Over the course of a career that spans two leagues and most of the modern era of the NFL, Emmitt was a Hall of Fame player and one of the most respected coaches in the league. Emmitt will always be a part of our Chiefs family, and we wish him the best in retirement."Thomas played cornerback for 13 seasons with the Chiefs (1966-78) and finished with a franchise-record 58 interceptions. He played for both of Kansas City's Super Bowl teams (including the Super Bowl IV champions), and earned two Super Bowl rings as a member of Joe Gibbs' staff with the Washington Redskins, where he was an assistant coach from 1986-94."I have been blessed and honored to be a part of the NFL for the last 51 years," Thomas said. "My journey started in Kansas City, and by the grace of God I am able to end my NFL career here as well.

Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Dee Ford is approaching free agency for the first time in his career, but general manager Brett Veach indicated the team fully expects to keep him."Obviously, Dee's a player that had done so much for us, in particular, last year, that we're excited about bringing him back," Veach told reporters Thursday.Veach added that new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is in the process of studying the roster and how it fits to his 4-3 scheme -- in which Ford will play defensive end more than linebacker -- but all indications are that Ford will be retained.The window to use the franchise tag opens Feb. 19, and the Chiefs have until March 5 to decide if they want to use it on Ford. Free agency officially opens on March 13, with the legal tampering window beginning March 11. Ford's value on the tag would likely exceed $15 million, and the sides would have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract.Ford, who turns 28 in March, is coming off a career season in which he had 13 sacks and 29 quarterback hits, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance and bringing his career totals to 30.5 and 69, respectively. He missed 10 games in 2017, primarily due to a back injury, but has missed just two games in his other four NFL seasons.The low moment in Ford's season came in the AFC Championship Game when he lined up offside and the ensuing penalty wiped out an interception with 54 seconds left. The Chiefs led by four points at the time but the New England Patriots eventually won the game in overtime.Keeping Ford could be particularly important to Kansas City with the future of Justin Houston unclear. The 30-year-old Houston hasn't topped 10 sacks in a season since his 22-sack campaign in 2014, and his cap number rises to $21.1 million this year. The Chiefs could save $14 million of that by releasing him.Meanwhile, Veach also spoke to the contract statuses of wideout Tyreek Hill and defensive tackle Chris Jones, who have starred through three NFL seasons and will be entering the final years of their respective rookie contracts.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have to limit his no-look passes to the football field.The Chiefs star won't be playing in any more pickup basketball games, with Kansas City general manager Brett Veach emphatically rejecting that extracurricular activity."We spoke to Pat Mahomes' agent and said Chiefs Kingdom can be assured there will be no more basketball for Pat," Veach told Sports Radio 810 WHB. "We were able to nip that in the bud."

Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl next season, according to one Las Vegas sportsbook.The Chiefs are 6-1 at Westgate SuperBook, jumping ahead of the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots. Those three teams are 8-1.At 14-1 are the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

A Kansas City Chiefs fan who allegedly aimed a laser pointer at New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the AFC championship game soon will face legal charges, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Chiefs, Schefter said, were able to identify the fan through eyewitness accounts and videotapes. They are not waiting for a verdict in court, however. The team already has issued a lifetime ban at Arrowhead Stadium for the fan, and the Chiefs reportedly are pushing for "the harshest penalty possible" to deter similar incidents in the future.Local police reportedly initially wanted to charge the fan with disorderly conduct.The NFL had said it would investigate a report by a Kansas City television station that showed the incident. KMBC shot video that showed a green dot flickering around Brady's shoulder and face before he threw an interception in the fourth quarter.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver De'Anthony Thomas was arrested Saturday on suspicion of marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession, according to the Allen County (Kan.) Sheriff's Office.The Sheriff's Office posted Thomas' mug shot on its Facebook page and listed the charges.There was no information listed per the time or location of the arrest. Allen County is in the southeastern portion of Kansas.Thomas, who turned 26 earlier this month, was later released on bail from Allen County Jail in Iola, Kan.The Chiefs indicated they are aware of the arrest but declined comment, according to multiple reports.

The Kansas City Chiefs are hiring Steve Spagnuolo as their new defensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported Thursday.ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that Spagnuolo was head coach Andy Reid's top choice to replace Bob Sutton, who was fired Tuesday, two days after the team's overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.Spagnuolo was out of the NFL in 2018 after serving as interim head coach of the New York Giants for the last four games of the 2017 season in place of the fired Ben McAdoo, posting a 1-3 record. He compiled a 10-38 record in three seasons as head coach of the St. Louis Rams (2009-11).Spagnuolo, 59, served on Reid's staff in Philadelphia from 1999-2006, climbing the ladder from defensive assistant to defensive backs coach to linebackers coach. He then jumped to the Giants as a defensive coordinator in 2007, winning a Super Bowl in his first year.According to Schefter, Spagnuolo and Reid have the same agent and "a mutual respect for each other's work."

With a potential free agent payday looming, Kansas City outside linebacker Dee Ford said Thursday he would prefer to stay "home" and re-sign with the Chiefs."That's THE option," Ford told NFL.com following practice Thursday at the Pro Bowl in Orlando. "That's home to me. I love the community and I'm just used to that environment, so I'll be blessed to be able to stay. We'll cross that bridge once we get there."Ford earned a base salary of $8.7 million in the fifth-year option of his rookie contract in 2018, when he set career highs with 13 sacks and 29 QB hits, shared the NFL lead with seven forced fumbles and received his first Pro Bowl invitation.The pass rusher, who turns 28 in March, stands to earn much more this offseason. If he can't strike a new deal with Kansas City before free agency opens in March, Ford said he wouldn't be upset if the Chiefs applied the franchise tag to him for 2019, which would carry a one-year salary in excess of $16 million."That's out of my control," Ford said. "If it happens, it happens, and I don't mind it."Should he return next season, Ford would be playing for a new defensive coordinator for the first time since he entered the league as the Chiefs' 2014 first-round pick out of Auburn.

Former St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is the leading candidate to replace Bob Sutton as the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive coordinator, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday.The Chiefs fired Sutton on Tuesday, two days after their overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.Spagnuolo was out of the NFL in 2018 after serving as interim head coach of the New York Giants for the last four games of the 2017 season, posting a 1-3 record after Ben McAdoo was fired. He compiled a 10-38 record in three seasons as head coach of the St. Louis Rams (2009-11).Spagnuolo, 59, served on Kansas City head coach Andy Reid's staff in Philadelphia from 1999-2006. He climbed the ladder from defensive assistant to defensive backs coach to linebackers coach with the Eagles.

Dee Ford didn't mince words or offer up an excuse.The linebacker knows the fact he lined up offside on a pivotal fourth quarter play likely cost the Kansas City Chiefs a trip to the Super Bowl."Sloppy football on my end at the end of the day," Ford told reporters on Monday, one day after the Chiefs lost 37-31 in overtime to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. "Whether it was six inches or however many inches, I was offside."I can't go back and change it. If I could I would, but at this point we can create a new narrative and that's what I'm all about. I'm going to get to work."The penalty on Ford wiped out an interception by Kansas City cornerback Charvarius Ward with 54 seconds left. The Chiefs led 28-24 at the time.The mistake kept New England in the contest, and the Patriots drove for a touchdown before Kansas City later forced overtime with a field goal.Ford, 27, said that he will sometimes be warned by an official when he lines up in the neutral zone but it didn't occur on the crucial play."I can't expect that," Ford said. "I just have to line up onside at the end of the day. I'm not an excuse-maker ... I'm looking right at the ball. Honestly, it's just a critical mistake on my end."Not the happiest of endings for Ford, but he did have a strong season, recording 13 sacks and earning his first Pro Bowl berth.

The Kansas City Chiefs fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton on Tuesday, two days after the team's loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.The Chiefs' defense allowed 524 yards and 36 first downs and was on the field for 94 plays during the 37-31 overtime loss to the Patriots."Bob is a good football coach and a great person," Kansas City coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "He played an integral role in the success of our team over the last six seasons. I've said before that change can be a good thing, for both parties, and I believe that is the case here for the Chiefs and Bob."This was not an easy decision, but one I feel is in the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs moving forward."Former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan could be a candidate for the job, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Sutton's ouster apparently is partially related to his inability to adjust on the fly through games. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the lack of adjustments were a "non-stop frustration."Sutton, who turns 68 on Monday, spent six seasons as Kansas City's defensive coordinator.The unit struggled much of this season's despite the Chiefs going 12-4 and claiming the AFC's No. 1 seed for the postseason.

Quarterback Tom Brady led New England to a Super Bowl for the ninth time Sunday, passing for 348 yards and a touchdown as the visiting Patriots scored a touchdown with the first overtime possession and nipped the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31.New England advances to play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII after the Rams survived an overtime thriller against the New Orleans Saints earlier Sunday for the NFC crown.Rex Burkhead scored the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard burst 4:50 into overtime as the Patriots marched 75 yards in 13 plays after winning the overtime coin toss."Overtime, on the road, against a great team," Brady told CBS in a postgame interview. "...They had no quit. We had to play our best football at the end. I don't know, man, I'm tired. That was a helluva game."The game turned into a terrific duel between Brady and the Chiefs' dazzling first-year starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes passed for 295 yards, going 16 of 31, but did not get a chance in overtime as the withered Kansas City defense could not make a stop.Taking possession with 32 seconds left in regulation, Mahomes completed passes of 21 yards to Spencer Ware and 27 yards to Demarcus Robinson to set up Harrison Butker for a 39-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to forge a 31-31 tie to force overtime.The score was the fourth for Kansas City in the final quarter after running back Damien Williams scored three touchdowns on two rushes and a reception -- part of a 38-point collective output by both teams in a period that featured four lead changes.Before Mahomes' late drive, Brady actually appeared to have won the game with one of his patented late-game drives.The New England quarterback got a break when an interception was wiped away because Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford lined up in the neutral zone and was ruled offsides. A 25-yard strike to tight end Rob Gronkowski on the next play set up a 4-yard touchdown rush by Burkhead with 39 seconds left in regulation for a 31-28 lead.

Shortly after the New England Patriots won Sunday's AFC championship game, and after quarterback Tom Brady had finished his obligatory meetings with the media, he had one thing he wanted to do.The 18-year veteran left his teammates and wandered to the home locker room at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, seeking a few moments with the Chiefs' second-year quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, according to multiple reports."Tom Brady just quietly approached a security guard waiting outside the Chiefs' locker room - and asked if he could see Patrick Mahomes," ESPN's Jeff Darlington tweeted. "Brady was escorted into a room where he spoke briefly with him. A very clear display of respect from one incredible quarterback to another."The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 37-31 in overtime and are headed to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on Feb. 3. This will be Brady's ninth appearance in the game, which his Patriots have won five times.Of the gesture, Brady told Peter King of Football Morning In America: "I just went and saw him. I mean, he's feeling like you think he'd feel when you lose a game like this. It hurts. He's a hell of a ... I mean, what a great young player. So impressed with his poise, his leadership. He is spectacular."

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is in just his second year in the NFL, but the talk already has started that he could become the league's first $200 million man.ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that the Chiefs are expected to extend Mahomes' rookie contract after the 2019 season and that the deal could break league records. He said it likely would eclipse Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers' contract, which has an annual average payout of $33.5 million.After next season, Mahomes will have two years left on his contract, including the fifth-year team option.And regardless of whether the Chiefs beat the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC championship game to earn a berth in the Super Bowl, Mahomes will be more visible this offseason. His agent, Leigh Steinberg, wanted him to stay in the background until he'd proved himself on the field, Schefter said. In his rookie year, he backed up Alex Smith."He's a fresh face," Steinberg told ESPN this weekend. "By holding him back, we haven't overexposed him."

Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry is expected to play in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, but he'll likely need surgery to repair a lingering heel injury after the season, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday.Rapoport said the heel will be examined further whenever the Chiefs' season ends, and that corrective surgery is the likely outcome.Berry was removed from the injury report following Friday's practice, his third straight day as a full participant."I feel pretty good," Berry told reporters after the practice.The five-time Pro Bowl selection missed the preseason and the first 13 regular-season games because of the heel injury. He played in two regular-season games in December before missing the finale after reinjuring it, and he also missed last weekend's divisional-round victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

The NFL is expected to finish its investigation into three different off-field incidents involving running back Kareem Hunt and decide on a final punishment before free agency opens in March, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Rapoport reported Sunday that Hunt is expected to face a suspension of six-plus games but is likely to be back on the field at some point in the 2019 season.The former Kansas City Chiefs running back was released by the team in November after TMZ released a video showing Hunt pushing and kicking then-19-year-old Abigail Ottinger from Berea, Ohio, in Cleveland last February.Hunt also allegedly was involved in an altercation at a restaurant last June, an incident the NFL was aware of and questioned the running back about. However, TMZ also reported that Hunt was involved in a violent incident last January at a nightclub in Kansas City, an altercation the NFL did not previously know about, according to ESPN.In that incident, TMZ reported that Hunt and others -- including then-Chiefs running back George Atkinson -- beat a man to the point of unconsciousness at a nightclub in Kansas City on Jan. 11.The NFL placed Hunt, the 2017 rushing leader, on the commissioner's exempt list while it investigates all three incidents, meaning Hunt is unable to play for any team that might sign him.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry appears to be playing in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots after the team removed him from the injury report following Friday's practice.Berry, who has a heel injury, was a full participant for the third straight day."I feel pretty good," Berry told reporters after Friday's practice.The five-time Pro Bowl selection missed the preseason and the first 13 regular-season games due to the heel injury. He played in two regular-season games in December before missing the finale after reinjuring it, and he also missed last weekend's divisional-round victory over the Indianapolis Colts."I wanted to go in that game," Berry told reporters of the Colts' game. "Just a lot of complications that I can't really explain. Hopefully this weekend it will be different."Right now, I just know it's moving in the right direction and I want to get on the field on Sunday."

Temperatures during the AFC championship game on Sunday night should be much warmer than previously thought.Earlier this week, predictions were that the Kansas City Chiefs would host the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium with arctic gametime temperatures in the single digits and falling to below zero.On Friday, the Weather Channel forecast a high of 32 degrees on Sunday in Kansas City, with a low of 21. Kickoff is at 6:40 p.m. ETThe grounds crew at Arrowhead Stadium spent the week getting the field ready. After heavy snowfall fell in Kansas City last weekend, the crew figured the field needed to be replaced for the first-ever AFC championship game at the stadium.

Safety Eric Berry and running back Spencer Ware are trending toward taking the field Sunday in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.Berry was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. He's been bothered by a heel injury.The development would be positive for the Chiefs, who last week had wide receiver Sammy Watkins on the field. Watkins had a stretch in which he only played five snaps between Week 9 and the end of the regular season.Early this week, the Chiefs activated guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle) from injured reserve.