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The Kansas City Chiefs have added another offensive lineman to the mix, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s offensive guard Kyle Long, who came out of retirement after a year off in 2020. The deal is worth up tp $5 million.
Former Bears' Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long, who came out of retirement this off-season, is signing a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Kansas City Chiefs, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2021
Word that Long, 32, was coming out of his 2019 retirement broke about a week before this writing, when Macon Gunter, co-host of the “Green Light Podcast,” tweeted the following:
Three-time Pro Bowl OL Kyle Long is returning to the NFL. He is 315 lbs., healthy, happy, nasty, and shredded, and has signed with Jeff Nalley of Select Sports Group.
— Macon Gunter (@macongunter) March 9, 2021
Per Gunter, Long is “healthy, happy, nasty and shredded,” and he is bringing that energy to the Chiefs after spending 2013-19 with the Chicago Bears.
Long has spent most of his career at right guard, though he went to the Pro Bowl in 2015, when he spent the season as a right tackle. Long went to the 2013-15 Pro Bowls and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2014 as a right guard. Former Chiefs offensive lineman and current SiriusXM host Geoff Schwartz has suggested that both positions are in play.
For those asking what position. I think both RG and RT are in play.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 17, 2021
Long has 76 career starts, though he hasn’t put together a full, healthy season since 2015. Long played in no more than 10 games in the four seasons to follow, so perhaps the year off — funny adjectives aside — will help in that regard.
The Chiefs apparently won Long over on his visit, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer. A day after visiting the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders and even with plans to meet with additional teams, Long chose Kansas City.
@Ky1eLong tells me he has ended his retirement and returns to the NFL with KC @NFLonFOX. Kyle visited Raiders yesterday and had planned on couple other visits but told me once he met people w the Chiefs the last day he didn’t want to go elsewhere
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) March 17, 2021
Just like he did when the Chiefs signed former Patriots offensive guard Joe Thuney, quarterback Patrick Mahomes approved.
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) March 17, 2021
Where Long is positioned remains to be seen, as he is added to a guard room with Thuney, Nick Allegretti, Andrew Wylie and the returning Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.
LDT and Kyle Long are long lost brothers. Same demeanor and play style, ones just Canadian and the other is American.
— Jefe (@JeffAllen71) March 17, 2021
The news came just two days after the Chiefs reportedly came to an agreement with Thuney. Just like that, the Chiefs have added two former second-team All-Pros along their offensive line.