Chiefs Waive Former First-Round Pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The Kansas City Chiefs have officially waived running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a former first-round NFL Draft pick, with just three games remaining in the 2024 season. This decision marks the end of a four-year run for Edwards-Helaire in Kansas City, a journey filled with early promise but ultimately marred by injuries and reduced opportunities.
Edwards-Helaire, 25, entered the league in 2020 as the Chiefs' first-round selection out of LSU. He was the standout running back from LSU’s dominant 2019 national championship-winning team, where he dazzled with 16 rushing touchdowns and averaged an incredible 6.6 yards per carry. Kansas City believed they had found a dynamic, versatile weapon to complement their already explosive offense.
As a rookie, Edwards-Helaire lived up to the hype, putting up solid numbers and helping the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl. However, injuries began to derail his upward trajectory as early as the 2021 season. In 2022, his role diminished further due to recurring injuries and the emergence of then-rookie Isiah Pacheco, who took over the backfield duties and solidified his spot as the Chiefs' go-to back. Edwards-Helaire found himself inactive during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win that year.
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This offseason, despite the Chiefs declining his fifth-year option, Edwards-Helaire re-signed with the team on a one-year deal. He started three games in 2024, including two consecutive starts in Weeks 13 and 14, where he showed flashes of productivity, totaling 169 all-purpose yards over those two games. Even with that brief resurgence, it seems the Chiefs decided to move in another direction as they continue their pursuit of a historic third consecutive Super Bowl title.
Shortly after the news broke, Edwards-Helaire took to X (formerly Twitter) to share an emotional farewell to the Chiefs and their fanbase. "Love ya KC! A family I didn't know I needed, y'all made a kid from Baton Rouge's dreams come true," he wrote. "To Chiefs Kingdom, it's all love and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys! With love!"
This heartfelt message underscores the bond Edwards-Helaire felt with the city and its fans, despite the ups and downs. Now, the Chiefs will press forward without him, relying on their current backfield to carry the load for the remainder of the season.
For Edwards-Helaire, the future remains uncertain. At 25, he still has the potential to find a fresh start with another team. Injuries may have hampered his production in Kansas City, but his talent and versatility as a rusher and receiver could attract teams looking to add depth to their running back room.
The NFL is a business, and this move is yet another reminder of how quickly things can change in professional football. As the Chiefs aim to make history this season, Clyde Edwards-Helaire will now look to write a new chapter elsewhere in his career.
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