5 Chiefs Who Will Carry Kansas City to the Super Bowl
By Joe Summers
5. Charles Omenihu - DE
It's no coincidence that the Chiefs' defensive line instantly improved once Charles Omenihu returned from the ACL tear he suffered in last season's AFC title win over the Ravens. He notched seven sacks in 11 games in 2023 and while he only has one in five contests since his return, Omenihu has made a major impact on Kansas City's ability to disrupt opposing offenses.
The pending free agent creates a ferocious unit with Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, and Tershawn Wharton, leaving double-teams useless as the pressure can come from any spot. Throw in Steve Spagnuolo's patented cornerback blitzes, and it's no wonder the Chiefs are once again among the best defensive teams in the NFL.
Omenihu hasn't had much time to show why he deserves a large contract extension, making this playoff run particularly important.
Omenihu didn't record a sack, but his impact was felt all game long. Does his best to swat away the LT's hands, and then rips his way around the edge. Wilson feels this and throws the check-down route. A few seconds later it's the Chiefs ball. Trent McDuffie... pic.twitter.com/l0J6Bwndr8
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) December 27, 2024
On the play against Pittsburgh where Trent McDuffie forced a fumble, it was Omenihu creating pressure that forced a short pass from Russell Wilson. It won't show up in the box score, but Omenihu helped make that play happen just as much as McDuffie did.
Just like how the offense is finally getting healthy and being rewarded, Omenihu's contributions on the defense raise the ceiling in a significant way.
He forced a fumble on a strip-sack against Lamar Jackson last year. Don't be surprised if he does it again on another unsuspecting quarterback.
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