The 2024 season was a roller coaster ride for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs finished the season with a 15-2 record but their path to the Super Bowl was more difficult than their record indicates. Kansas City won 12 games by one possession last year but they were a team that was getting stronger as the season progressed.
A reason for the Chiefs’ improvement was the return of defensive end Charles Omenihu. The 27-year-old returned late in the season after suffering a torn ACL in the 2023 AFC Championship Game and played a key role down the stretch before the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
After returning on a one-year, $4 million deal in free agency, Omenihu is making a promise to Chiefs fans and believes he can be a contributor once again in 2025.
Charles Omenihu Pledges To Have Noticeable Improvement in 2025
Omenihu discussed his return to Kansas City during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday and discussed his return from his injury. While Omenihu admitted he wasn’t 100% at times, he felt like he was in position to make an impact and feels like his improvement will be noticeable early in the 2025 season.
“Yeah, I think it was beneficial for me to play those nine games,” Omenihu said of last year. “There were a couple games where I felt like, ‘OK, if I’m not 100%, I know I’m where I can affect the game.’ But seeing that and seeing where I am now, I definitely can tell that like, ‘OK, the improvement is going to be very noticeable at the beginning.’ Like, training camp, you’ll know I’ll personally be able to tell and other people will be personally able to tell, ‘OK, like year, this is different.’”
"I can tell that the improvment is going to be very noticable at the beginning."
— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) April 9, 2025
Charles Omenhu spoke about working his way back from the knee injury he suffered back in 2023, and what to expect this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/xEC51rqJO1
Omenihu has a lot to build on after his performance with the Chiefs last year. After missing the first 11 games recovering from his knee injury, he played the final six games of the regular season, making just six total tackles with a sack and a forced fumble. The edge rusher had more of an impact during the playoffs with nine total tackles, a pass defense, a forced fumble and a sack on the way to the Super Bowl, but he struggled in the big game, logging a 42.0 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus.
After spending most of this offseason lobbying for a return, Omenihu officially put pen to paper last month. But having a fast start would be a change from his previous two seasons with the Chiefs. He missed the first six games of the 2023 season due to a suspension stemming from a domestic violence dispute but returned to log 28 total tackles, five tackles for loss and seven sacks in the final 11 games. Omenihu’s knee injury wiped out most of the 2024 season but has a chance to return to that form with a healthy offseason under his belt.
Perhaps a few months away from the game will help Omenihu fulfill his promise when the Chiefs report for training camp this summer. But on a low-risk deal, Omenihu could bring a high reward if he’s fully recovered from his knee injury.