The Kansas City Chiefs nearly captured a third straight Super Bowl title last season, and a lot of that success stemmed from one of the NFL’s top defenses. The Steve Spagnuolo-coached unit played to the second-best Pro Football Focus defensive grade (79.5) last season, leaving time to tell if the Chiefs will be capable of a similar performance in 2025.
An encore showing might be easier said than done after two weeks of NFL free agency have gone by. It isn’t even April yet and the Chiefs have already lost a handful of defenders to the open market, including safety Justin Reid, defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, and pass rusher Josh Uche.
Fortunately, the Chiefs have retained some of their key defenders and continued doing so by re-signing defensive tackle Mike Pennel on Monday.
Chiefs DT Mike Pennel Sends Message to KC Fans After Monday’s Re-Signing
Chiefs fans are happy that Pennel will be sticking around Kansas City and the feeling is mutual. The Topeka, KS native didn’t hold back his excitement as he celebrated his contract news in a video the Chiefs shared on their social media pages.
“Hi, Chiefs Kingdom. This is Mike Pennel here signing back for Year 12,” Pennel said in the video. “(I’m) ready to go finish unfinished business. Let’s go Chiefs.”
Ready to finish unfinished business! pic.twitter.com/Y2I4jhVcso
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) March 24, 2025
The “unfinished business” Pennel is referring to is likely the Chiefs’ failure to win a third consecutive Super Bowl last month. Despite being motivated by the opportunity to create NFL history, Andy Reid & Co. couldn’t get it done as they fell 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
It’ll be interesting to see what type of role Pennel will play with the Chiefs next season. He’s mainly operated in a backup role during his time in Kansas City, making only eight starts in 42 games across his two stints with the franchise. His four seasons with the Chiefs thus far have seen him record 38 solo tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble while also taking home a pair of Super Bowl rings.
Pennel isn’t getting any younger. However, he’s still a reliable gap-filler. The former Colorado State-Pueblo product played to 62.4 run defense and 77.2 tackling grades on PFF last season and will be expected to display more of the same efforts now that Wharton and fellow DT Derrick Nnadi have left town.
If he successfully steps up, Pennel could play an important role in another potential championship run. Speaking of which, the Chiefs currently hold FanDuel Sportsbook’s second-best Super Bowl 60 odds (+700) as the third week of NFL free agency continues.
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