:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49120835/GettyImages-182350778.0.jpg)
Chiefs Replay: vs. the Cleveland Browns from The Mothership
Even though the Kansas City Chiefs had won eight games in a row and had nine total wins at the time, they still had yet to clinch a playoff spot entering their Week 16 game against the Cleveland Browns.
If the Chiefs could beat the Browns and either the New York Jets or Pittsburgh Steelers lost, they would clinch a playoff berth.
Head coach Andy Reid's strategy in this, of course, was to push his team to focus on taking care of its own business.
Chiefs.com Photo Gallery: 2016 Cheerleader Candidates
Chiefs sign football newbie Tautvydas Kieras as linebacker (with video) from The Kansas City Star
One week after they signed defensive end Efe Obada, a Nigerian with zero college football experience, on Friday the club announced it has signed Tautvydas "T.K." Kieras, a Lithuanian discus thrower from Mississippi State who has not played a down of football in his life.
Chiefs sign LB Tautvydas Kieras from Chiefs Digest
The native of Lithuania graduated in December 2015 and participated in Mississippi State's recent Pro Day workout, where he measured 6-3, 271 pounds, according to the school's official blog, HailStateBeat.com.
While he lacks football experience, the 24-year-old Kieras apparently did enough during the workouts to earn a contract as a developmental player with the Chiefs.
Chiefs continue to look for players in unusual places from ESPN
It will be a minor miracle if either Obada or Kieras ever becomes a productive player for the Chiefs. The lack of football backgrounds compared to their competition will be difficult for either to overcome, particularly in the near term.
In 2013, Dorsey and the Chiefs signed a college basketball player, Demetrius Harris, and converted him into a tight end. Harris had been a high school football star in Arkansas but had given up the sport in favor of basketball in college.
The Chiefs the next year drafted guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in the sixth round.
Chiefs now have as many Carl Peterson picks as Scott Pioli picks from ESPN
That a general manager now seven drafts removed from the Chiefs has as many players remaining as one three drafts removed is quite a statement about Pioli, who was brought to Kansas City in large part for his supposed ability to spot talent.
Eleven of Pioli's draft picks are on another NFL roster, as opposed to four Peterson picks. That's natural given the time lapse. But with the exceptions of Allen with the Houston Texans, Stephenson with the Denver Broncos and center Rodney Hudson with the Oakland Raiders, Pioli's picks are either backups or roster hopefuls.
The Kansas City Chiefs Just Signed a Jacked Lithuanian Discus Thrower Who's Never Played Football from Stack
He checks all the boxes you want checked for a prototypical NFL player. He's big - 6-foot-3, 271 pounds, to be exact. He's fast, clocking a 4.69 40-Yard Dash. He's explosive, recording a Vertical Jump of 35 inches and a Broad Jump of 9 feet, 8 inches. And he's strong, benching 225 pounds for 24 reps.
There's just one tiny little problem - he's never played a down of organized football.
The 24-year-old Kieras, who hails from Lithuania, had never even seen a game of American football before coming to the United States a few years ago.
In 2012, Kieras enrolled at Monroe Junior College in New Rochelle, New York, to compete as a discus thrower on the track & field team. While at Monroe, he won two consecutive NCJAA national championships. His success allowed him to transfer to Mississippi State in 2014, where he continued his strong performance. Last season, he set a new school record with a throw of 196 feet, 11 inches.
Chiefs sign MSU discus thrower to play linebacker from The Clarion-Ledger
Kieras signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday about a month prior to the NFL draft. Since Kieras didn't play college football, he's not required to enter the league through the draft. The Lithuania native didn't see his first football game until he arrived at Mississippi State in 2014.
"People love football here. I fell in love with it, too," Kieras said. "It's different. I never liked soccer. I'm from Europe. They're going to hang me for that, but it's fun and it's contact. I love it."
Super Bowl champion Belser struggled near the end from The Montgomery Advertiser
Caesar Edward Belser Jr. spent the last few months of his life battling lung cancer and neurological damage from playing football.
The Montgomery native died at the age of 71 on March 5...
...Caesar Belser went to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968 and spent four seasons with the AFL franchise, helping the Chiefs defeat Minnesota in Super Bowl IV.
Matt Forte, Danny Trevathan, Jaye Howard among free agency values from NFL.com
Chiefs kept Jaye Howard in Kansas City at a bargain rate
The Chiefs easily scored the best bargain of free agency when they re-signed DL Jaye Howard to a two-year, $12 million deal. He went from being an unheralded role player to a key interior lineman in their defense, one who registered a career-best 5.5 sacks in 2015. At 27 years old, it seemed a given the 6-foot-3, 301-pounder would be looking for a hefty pay day on the open market. Instead, he opted for a more modest raise on a team where he apparently feels comfortable.
Bill Williamson: 32 NFL offseason thoughts post-free agency from Today's Pigskin
Kansas City: A lot of folks believe it will be Oakland that takes advantage of Denver's rough offseason in the AFC West. What about the Chiefs? This is a team that went to the playoffs last year on the strength of a 10-game winning streak. Kansas City quietly had a solid free agency. The Chiefs have not taken a step back and they should be considered the team to beat in the division.
The historic event: Tautvydas Kieras Lithuanian became the first US American soccer league from 15min [translated from the original Lithuanian]
"Chiefs' organization is likely to be a perfect option as a football player in my further development. They have very good players and coaches who will be my mentors from the first training day. I think a long and hard work, until the day when actually go out into the field during the race, "- about his career beginning 15min said T.Kieras.