Chiefs sign outside linebacker Jerry Attaochu

Update: Wednesday, 5:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time

The Chiefs make the signing official, via their official Twitter account.

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing outside linebacker Jerry Attaochu, according to his agency, SportsTrustAdvisors. Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports the deal is for one year.

Attaochu, 26, first entered the league as a second-round draft pick with the then-San Diego Chargers. The 6-foot-3, 252-pound former Georgia Tech product signed with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2018, was released at final roster cuts, then caught on with the New York Jets.

Attaochu played 11 games for the Jets before eventually being placed on injured reserve due to a concussion.

A little over a year ago, Attaochu explained to San Francisco reporters that he fits the LEO position (defensive end-linebacker hybrid) perfectly, defining his skill set as being able to rush the passer with relentlessness and great speed off the edge. Attaochu’s full first name is “Jeremiah” and his last name is pronounced, “ah-TAU-choo.”

The Chiefs’ linebacker room now consists of Attaochu, Raymon Davidson, Anthony Hitchens, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Rob McCray, Ben Niemann, Dorian O’Daniel, Reggie Ragland, Breeland Speaks and Damien Wilson. At 26, Attaochu will be the second-oldest linebacker currently on the Chiefs roster (Hitchens), likely providing the team with experience and pass-rushing depth.

Attaochu has 92 tackles (75 solo), 12.0 sacks and two passes defensed through six years in the NFL. His best sack output came in 2015, when he had 6.0 in 15 games for the Chargers.