Mitchell Schwartz is open to returning to the Chiefs

Former Kansas City Chiefs right tackle Mitch Schwartz joined “The Drive” on 610 Sports Radio for a full hour on Thursday afternoon, explaining to host Carrington Harrison he decided to take up permanent residence in Kansas City because “it just felt like home.”

As it turns out, Schwartz is also open to returning to work there.

“I would obviously entertain coming back here,’ he said. “For the short term, I just want to get healthy.”

The ever-reliable, former Cleveland Brown was a stalwart in an offensive line that helped Patrick Mahomes lead the Chiefs to their first championship in 50 years. The 2020 season, however, was a different story.

Having played 100% of the snaps in the first five weeks of the season, Schwartz left the Chiefs game at Buffalo early — his lingering back issues finally had the better of him.

At the time, he had thought it was a matter of when he would return to the team, rather than if.

“I didn’t expect to be out of the rest of the year and require surgery,” admitted Schwartz.

And while veteran Mike Remmers performed admirably in Schwartz’s place, the Chiefs missed the three-time All-Pro at times. Following the debacle that was Super Bowl LV and the uncertainty surrounding Schwartz’s health, the Chiefs decided to cut ties with him, ending his five-year stay with the team.

Since then, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has moved heaven and earth to overhaul an offensive line that had become a danger to Patrick Mahomes.

First, the Chiefs acquired free agents Austin Blythe, Joe Thuney and Kyle Long. They then welcomed back 2020 opt-outs Lucas Niang and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Finally, the team sent multiple picks, including a first-rounder to Baltimore to secure the services of Orlando Brown Jr.

The sweeping changes have not gone unnoticed.

“The O-line is in a really good situation,” noted Schwartz. “The Super Bowl really enforced you need your offensive line at a certain level.”

While the left side of the line seems to be set in stone with Brown Jr. and Thuney, there are still questions marks about the right side, with Niang and Remmers appearing to be the two that will compete for the starting right tackle job.

If he can return healthy, Schwartz might undeniably be an upgrade of both Niang and Remmers, as well as the final piece to a puzzle that seemed impossible to solve just six weeks ago.

Yes, the Chiefs’ offensive line is in a good situation right now, but Schwartz’s return might turn a good situation into a great one.