This newcomer is excited to contribute, help Chiefs continue winning. And he’s needed
Chiefs coach Andy Reid certainly knew what guard Kelechi Osemele could do on the field before the team signed the veteran offensive lineman two weeks ago.
AFC West divisional games between the Chiefs and Raiders, a team Osemele played for from 2016-18 before joining the New York Jets in 2019, provided plenty of opportunities for evaluation.
And the Chiefs gleaned some first-hand knowledge about him when Reid and his staff coached at the 2017 Pro Bowl, in which Osemele made the second such appearance of his career.
The Chiefs coach came away from the experience thoroughly impressed. He couldn’t be happier to have Osemele on his roster now.
“I sure like him,” Reid said Tuesday during a Zoom call. “We had him in the Pro Bowl one year; I liked him there as a guy. I’m glad he’s with us.”
When Osemele found out while in San Francisco that the Chiefs wanted him, the feeling was mutual.
“I was at the park with my girlfriend and got the call,” Osemele said. “It was somebody’s birthday party, so I kind of had to walk somewhere to get somewhere quiet. I was pretty excited. I was fired up. I was pretty hyped.”
So much so, in fact, that Osemele admits he made a humorous social media blunder when it came to the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback.
“The first thing I thought of was playing with (Patrick) Mahomes,” Osemele said. “I accidentally leaked his phone number because I had the Instagram. I did a video and it had his number up there, and I had to take it down real quick. I was so excited that I didn’t think about it.”
From a personal and professional point of view, Osemele understands that he’s joining a consistent winner — a team fresh off a Super Bowl championship. The 31-year-old lineman now has an opportunity to potentially win another championship ring for the first time since his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012.
“I thought immediately this would be a beautiful way to kind off cap off a long NFL career,” Osemele said.
For the Chiefs, the team in Osemele has a starting-caliber player, an important consideration given the fact that starting right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has decided to opt out of the 2020 regular season.
Reid wouldn’t commit to Osemele being LDT’s clear replacement, though. He said the free-agent signing provides another piece to evaluate during training camp.
“It builds depth for us and competition,” Reid said. “As you know, that generates good offensive line play or any position play when you have that kind of competition.”
“So, (offensive line coach) Andy Heck works all those guys in. He keeps a rotation going and they’re all kind of interchangeable there, the way that Andy does it.”
The Chiefs’ top two considerations at right guard project as Osemele and veteran Mike Remmers, who joined the team on a one-year deal during free agency. Andrew Wylie, a former starter, will also compete for playing time.
Osemele brings notable credentials to this training camp battle. The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder proclaimed himself healthy after a shoulder injury that ended his time with the Jets last season. He has started 96 games over the past eight seasons. He was once regarded among the NFL’s elite interior offensive linemen, evidenced by a first-team All-Pro selection in 2016 and the two Pro Bowl appearances (2016-17) on his resume.
Whether he’s told to play on the right or left side of the offensive line, Osemele embraces any opportunity to contribute to the Chiefs’ success.
“I’m pretty open,” he said. “They kind of just said I’m going to be in the rotation. I’m learning the playbook right now.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of wrinkles to learn. But in any way, shape or form, I’m able to help, I’m just excited to do my part and help a franchise that knows how to win continue to do so.”
