Chiefs Make Two Big Roster Moves Immediately Before Super Bowl

The Kansas City Chiefs are just over a day away from challenging for a third straight Super Bowl title. The Philadelphia Eagles won't go down without a fight — especially with their star-studded roster — meaning not only must the Chiefs' superstars step up, but unlikely players must also do their part to help make NFL history.

Needing all the help they can get to fend off the Eagles' Jalen Hurts-led offense, the Chiefs have announced two major roster moves just over 24 hours before Super Bowl 59.

Chiefs Elevate Steven Nelson, Swayze Boseman Before Super Bowl 59

On Saturday afternoon, the Chiefs announced that they were activating cornerback Steven Nelson and linebacker Swayze Bozeman from the practice squad.

Nelson, 32, was drafted 98th overall by the Chiefs in 2015, playing four seasons with the franchise before leaving just as the dynasty was beginning. The former Oregon State Beaver went on to play parts of five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans before retiring from the sport last June.

A chance at winning his first Super Bowl with the Chiefs lured Nelson out of retirement in December, and he's spent the last two months waiting for an opportunity to play.

Nelson's elevation likely stems from the Chiefs coaching staff's lack of faith in younger CBs like Nazeeh Johnson and Joshua Williams, both of whom have left much to be desired this postseason.

Although he's yet to play a snap this season, Nelson might still be good enough to make an impact Sunday evening. Pro Football Focus gave him grades of 73.1 for defense and 74.0 for coverage when he played 17 games for the Texans in 2023, proving that he still has some juice left in the tank despite being drafted nearly a decade ago.

The Chiefs will likely be deploying a spy often against the Eagles to limit Hurts' dual-threat upside, which is likely why Bozeman was also elevated. The 2024 undrafted linebacker has made five appearances for Kansas City between the regular season and playoffs, tallying four total tackles along the way.

It'll be interesting to see how big Nelson and Bozeman's roles are in the Super Bowl. Although both players may sparingly see the field, capitalizing on their limited playing time could be the difference between the Chiefs making NFL history or returning to Kansas City disappointed.

Fortunately, all signs point to tears of joy being the only type of crying among Chiefs fans this weekend. DraftKings Sportsbook is still listing Andy Reid & Co. as the 1.5-point favorites over the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

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