Chiefs Re-Sign Deandre Baker
The Chiefs have re-signed Deandre Baker for the 2021 season, per a club announcement. The cornerback joined the Chiefs on a practice squad deal in November, shortly after the Broward County State Attorney’s Office dropped armed robbery charges against him. 
Baker struggled as a first-round rookie with the Giants, allowing a 116.2 passer rating. Then, heading into his second year, Baker was arrested on multiple felony charges. Cops alleged that Baker orchestrated a robbery at gunpoint with Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar as his accomplice. Then, after a number of twists and turns — including payoff allegations against one-time Dunbar attorney Michael Grieco — the charges were dropped.
After a month on the taxi squad, Baker got called up to the varsity squad for a couple of games. Now, he’ll work to make the 53-man cut in KC.
In addition to Baker, the Chiefs announced the following futures deals:
- TE Evan Baylis
- LB Omari Cobb
- DE Austin Edwards
- WR Maurice Ffrench
- WR Joe Fortson
- DE Demone Harris
- LB Emmanuel Smith
- C Darryl Williams
- G Bryan Witzmann
Marty Schottenheimer Passes Away At 77
Longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer passed away at the age of 77, as ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen tweets. Schottenheimer, who spent 21 years in the league, has been battling Alzheimer’s for the past six years.
Schottenheimer served as a head coach for the Browns, Chiefs, Chargers, and the Washington Football Team. All together, he compiled a regular season record of 200-126-1. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who spent five years under Schottenheimer in San Diego, praised Schottenheimer as the best head coach he ever had.
“I never went into a game with Marty as coach feeling like I wasn’t fully prepared to win,” Tomlinson said (via ESPN.com). “He really wanted you to understand every detail of the game plan..I will remember him more for the life lessons that he taught me.”
Schottenheimer last coached in 2006, leading the Chargers to a 14-2 regular season record. Though his teams never reached the Super Bowl, he was a highly-respected football mind and mentor throughout his career. His coaching tree spawned the likes of Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Mike McCarthy, and Bruce Arians, who is fresh off of a dominant championship victory. Meanwhile, his son, Brian Schottenheimer, has been coaching in the league for more than two decades. Just last week, Brian signed on for his latest position with the Jaguars’ staff.
Patrick Mahomes Expected To Undergo Foot Surgery
Patrick Mahomes was visibly hobbled during last night’s Super Bowl loss, and it sounds like his turf toe injury will result in surgery. Before the game, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported (via Twitter) that the quarterback was likely to go under the knife once the season ended.
Rapoport noted that Mahomes will first meet with a foot specialist before determining how he should proceed, but he’s expected to undergo surgery to repair the issue for the “long term.” The surgery would require a “multi-month” recovery process that would likely knock Mahomes out for much of the spring. Rapoport estimates that that the 25-year-old will be fully recovered by the start of training camp.
The injury has been lingering since the Chiefs playoff win over the Browns. Mahomes was still able to toss three touchdowns in the AFC Championship against the Bills, and the quarterback pointed to that performance when he was asked if injuries were to blame for his performance yesterday.
“I can’t say the toe was a problem when I played two weeks ago and I played well on it,” Mahomes said. “If you’re playing football, you have to battle through injuries. We’ll look at it tomorrow and make a final decision on it if we’re going to have to have surgery on it or not.”
Still, the injury sounds like it may have been more significant than Mahomes let on. A source told Rapoport that “it’s amazing how good [Mahome’s] looked considering the issue.”
Chiefs Lose RBs Coach To College Ranks
- The Chiefs lost the Super Bowl yesterday, and they’re also losing a staff member. Kansas City running backs coach Deland McCullough is leaving to become an associate head coach at Indiana University, sources told FootballScoop (Twitter link). The news was confirmed in a subsequent tweet from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who notes that McCullough’s ultimate goal is to become a college head coach.
Chiefs’ LDT, Damien Williams Likely To Return
The Chiefs found their way back to the Super Bowl, despite losing guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and running back Damien Williams to COVID-19 opt-outs. However, both players are expected to return for the 2021 season, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy Expected To Agree To Extension]
Duvernay-Tardif, a medical school graduate, was the first NFL player to exercise his right to opt out. Since then, he’s been volunteering at a long-term care facility in Quebec. Duvernay-Tardif was set to play on his five-year, $42.36MM deal. Instead, his contract has tolled, meaning that his deal will resume in 2021 and extend through the 2022 season. The Chiefs surely wish they could have him back today, given that they’re down multiple starters on the front five.
Williams, 29 in April, was inconsistent in the 2019 regular season, but he came up big in the playoffs. Williams scored six touchdowns in the postseason and could have won the Super Bowl LIV MVP award if not for Patrick Mahomes‘ performance. In that game, “Playoff Damien” managed133 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns en route to his first ring.
Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy Expected To Agree To Extension
It was surprising to see Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who took head coaching interviews with six of the seven teams with an HC vacancy this offseason, fail to receive a single offer. Of course, the Chiefs will surely be happy to have one of Andy Reid‘s top lieutenants back in Kansas City in 2021, but there are some formalities to sort out first.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Bieniemy’s contract will expire after today’s Super Bowl, which means that he will technically be a free agent. However, the two sides are expected to work out a new deal without much issue, thereby continuing the Bieniemy-Patrick Mahomes partnership for at least another year.
The new contract could include a raise, given Bienemy’s success during his tenure as the Chiefs’ OC and his status as a hot head coaching candidate. The only reason that an extension was not already in place is because KC simply believed Bieniemy would land a head coaching job elsewhere, and once it became clear that wasn’t going to happen, the playoffs were in full swing and there just wasn’t time to have those discussions.
Both Bieniemy and the Chiefs continue to expect that he will get a shot as a head coach, perhaps as soon as 2022. Until then, the 51-year-old will remain an integral part of the most prolific offense in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/6/21
Here are the latest NFL minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Signed to reserve/futures contract: OL Jordan Steckler
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: T Eric Fisher (story), LB Willie Gay
- Promoted: WR Marcus Kemp, LB Chris Lammons, QB Matt Moore
- Activated from IR: TE Deon Yelder
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: G Ted Larsen, QB Drew Stanton
Chiefs C Daniel Kilgore Cleared To Play In Super Bowl
Daniel Kilgore is back on track to appear in Super Bowl LV. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Chiefs center has been cleared to play on Sunday. The player will presumably be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list this afternoon.
Kilgore, along with wideout Demarcus Robinson, received haircuts last weekend from a barber who tested positive. The veteran offensive lineman spent the past week sitting on the reserve list, but he consistently tested negative throughout the week. After completing his five-day clearance period, Kilgore will be able to travel with his team to Tampa Bay today.
Kilgore, 33, caught on with the Chiefs late in the preseason. He started three games for Kansas City between Week 6 and Week 8, but he only appeared in three more regular season games the rest of the way, with two of those outings seeing him collect a total of only five offensive snaps. Kilgore appeared in the Chiefs’ win over the Bills in the AFC Championship, playing on six special teams snaps.
With Robinson and Kilgore off the reserve list, it’s looking like no players will have to miss the Super Bowl due to COVID-19 concerns. Rapoport tweets that both the Chiefs and Buccaneers have exclusively returned negative tests this week.
Chiefs’ Britt Reid Involved In Car Accident
Chiefs outside linebackers coach Britt Reid was involved in a multicar accident Thursday night in Kansas City, the organization revealed in a statement.
Reid, the 35-year-old son of Chiefs HC Andy Reid, was driving a vehicle that struck two other cars that were sitting on the entrance ramp of a highway. Two young children suffered injuries in this accident. One of the children, a 5-year-old, suffered life-threatening injuries, Tod Palmer of KSHB 41 Kansas City reports.
Reid admitted to having two or three alcoholic drinks and taking prescription Adderall before this accident occurred, according to a police report. A Kansas City Police Department officer detected “a moderate odor of alcoholic beverages” and indicated Reid’s eyes were “bloodshot and red,” according to to the TV station. Reid was transported to a local hospital for unspecified injuries, according to ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter). Authorities have not charged Reid, but Russini adds he is under investigation for driver impairment.
“The organization has been made aware of a multi-vehicle accident involving outside linebackers coach Britt Reid,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “We are in the process of gathering information, and we will have no further comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”
This accident occurred when a Dodge Ram truck Reid was driving collided with the left front of a Chevrolet Impala that was motionless on the side of a highway near the Chiefs’ Kansas City, Mo., facility, Palmer reports. The Impala had run out of gas, and the driver called for assistance. Another car, a Chevy Traverse, arrived and parked in front of the disabled vehicle. Reid’s truck struck both vehicles; it slammed into the rear of the Traverse. The latter vehicle had two children, the other a 4-year-old, in the backseat. The 4-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Palmer adds.
The eighth-year Chiefs assistant has encountered legal issues in the past. Reid previously served five months in prison for a 2007 road rage incident and pleaded guilty to DUI and drug charges in a separate 2008 incident.
Britt Reid has been with the organization since Andy Reid’s arrival in 2013. The Chiefs are due to leave for Super Bowl LV in Tampa on Saturday. Britt Reid will not be with the team for the Super Bowl, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports (on Twitter).
Chiefs’ Demarcus Robinson Cleared To Practice
Demarcus Robinson is on track to play in the Super Bowl. The wide receiver was cleared to practice on Friday, ending his stint on the Reserve/COVID-19 list (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Sammy Watkins, Chiefs On New Contract]
Robinson came in close contact with a barber who tested positive for the coronavirus. The timing was unfortunate but, thankfully, Robinson has tested negative every day since then. Barring any changes, he’ll be eligible to take the field in Super Bowl LV.
The Chiefs are still awaiting the final go-ahead for reserve center Daniel Kilgore, who also received a haircut from the same barber. Kilgore got his trim one day after Robinson, so he’ll need an extra day of zero positives before rejoining the team. If Kilgore’s final test comes back negative, he’ll be able to regroup with the Chiefs on Saturday — just in time for the big game.
Robinson, who splits WR3 duties with Mecole Hardman, finished the regular season with 45 grabs for 466 yards and three touchdowns. Kilgore, meanwhile, hasn’t seen as much time on the field, but the Chiefs will be counting on him for depth in the wake of several offensive line injuries.