OTAs have officially begun for every team in the NFL, and the Kansas City Chiefs are hard at work preparing for the long summer ahead of the 2025 season. This is a team that should expect to compete for another Super Bowl, but the work starts now.
There are some key position battles to watch, though it'll also be interesting to see if the organization brings in any additional players as free agents over the next couple of months. Fans have seen many players come and go over the years, though one former standout is suddenly a retirement risk if he doesn't land on a new team soon.
Running back Jerick McKinnon, who was with the franchise from 2021-2023, was out of the league entirely last year and still doesn't have a job. At 33 years old, it feels unlikely that McKinnon will land another contract. If that's the case, his retirement announcement should be coming sooner than later.
Jerick McKinnon pic.twitter.com/hQbt7lud8J https://t.co/XWCOxXPpgu
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) April 16, 2025
Former Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon Could Retire at Any Moment
Conventional wisdom around the NFL suggests that running backs fall off a metaphorical cliff faster than almost every other position. 33 years old is considered ancient, and someone who dealt with injuries like McKinnon did becomes even less viable.
That said, he still had a dynamic skill set as a dual-threat back the last time we saw him. He had nine receiving TDs in 2022 and followed that up with five scores in 12 games the following year, though the Chiefs elected not to re-sign him after the campaign. Particularly after the injuries we saw, though, Kansas City certainly could have used someone with McKinnon's pass-catching ability.
Originally a third-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Georgia Southern, McKinnon has played for the Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco 49ers. He's a Super Bowl champion and will be fondly remembered in the Kingdom, but it's hard not to feel for him based on his limited prospects at this point.
While he hasn't yet officially retired, it's only a matter of time before that announcement comes.