Report: Chiefs are bringing back Mike Pennel on one-year deal

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back defensive tackle Mike Pennel on a one-year deal, according to a report Tuesday night from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Pennel, 28, signed with the Chiefs in mid-October and became quite the fan favorite as he helped spark the Chiefs run defense down the stretch of the season.

In eight games for the Chiefs in 2019, Pennel registered 24 tackles (13 solo), including two tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and two quarterback hits. He had seven tackles in the playoffs (two solo) and one pass defensed.

Pennel was inactive for the Chiefs’ last loss of the season to the Tennessee Titans, which caused a slight uproar among Chiefs fans.

Pennel never missed a game after that, which proved to be nine victories in a row. That included Super Bowl LIV, during which Pennel hit 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garappolo on a play in the second quarter that led to a Bashaud Breeland interception.

He expressed his desire to stay this offseason.

“I’d definitely like to stay here,” told The Kansas City Star. “I know this is the place where I work well with the coaches, I love the fan base, I love the city and my family stays out here.

“I know it’s a business, but I told my agents and I told everybody in the Kansas City Chiefs organization that I’d like to be back.”

That feeling was obviously mutual for the Chiefs, who had been relatively quiet this free agency period.