One of the underrated reasons the Kansas City Chiefs were able to win back-to-back Super Bowls was because of their pass rush. The Chiefs finished second in sacks both years, posting 55 sacks in 2022 and 57 in 2023.
Having Steve Spagnuolo coaching a defense that features one of the best players in the league, Chris Jones, and an up-and-coming star, George Karlaftis III, it’s no question why they were so dominant. However, the pass rush’s production declined significantly last year, which is a key reason why they were unable to complete the quest for a three-peat.
The Chiefs’ pass rush went from one of the best to the bottom half of the league, ranking 18th in sacks (39). Jones’ decline in production affected their play, and they’ll need to rely on other players to generate pressure.
Now that this injury-prone Chief is finally healthy, their pass rush could return to its dominance.
Charles Omenihu Guarantees He'll Play in Week 1
In yesterday's press conference, defensive end Charles Omenihu confirmed that he’ll be available for the Chiefs’ Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Going into his third season as a Chief, this will be the first time that Omenihu will be available to play in Week 1.
"“It’s gonna be super exciting for us. Gonna be the first time I play Week 1 since my fourth year in the league.”"Charles Omenihu
Omenihu signed a two-year contract with the Chiefs in 2023. His signing was made to bolster their depth, but Omenihu quickly became an important piece to their pass rush. Unfortunately, he’s struggled to stay on the field.
Omenihu was suspended for the first six games in 2023 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Despite this, Omenihu posted a career-high in sacks (7) and total tackles (28) in just 11 games.
He missed the first 11 games of 2024 due to a torn ACL he suffered in the 2023 AFC Championship game. In his Chiefs tenure, he’s appeared in 17 games, recording eight sacks, 34 total tackles, and five tackles for loss.
Even though he’s struggled to stay on the field, he’s been a boost to their pass rush, which is why they re-signed him to a one-year deal. Now that he’s healthy and available for Week 1, the Chiefs hope that he can replicate his 2023 season and elevate this Chiefs’ pass rush back to its dominant self.