Tamba Hali released by Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to purge the defense of several veterans, the latest being one of the franchise’s all-time greats in Tamba Hali.

While it was an expected move by NFL analysts and fans alike, it’s still a bit difficult to stomach the idea of the Kansas City Chiefs defense without Tamba Hali being a part of it. Yet that will be the reality moving forward with the news that the Chiefs have decided to release Hali, per Adam Schefter.

Hali’s release was expected given lack of on-field production in 2017 and the cost of keeping him on the roster. Hali had signed a 3-year, $21 million extension as recently as 2016, and a cap hit of nearly $9.4 million this coming season simply wasn’t anything the Chiefs could afford to stomach. It was also a decision made easier knowing Hali had made only 2 starts over the last two seasons combined.

The Chiefs have already released several key defensive players this offseason, including longtime veterans like Derrick Johnson, the team’s all-time leading tackler, and Ron Parker, who has been a valuable and versatile contributor in the secondary for a half-decade. This also doesn’t include the trade of Marcus Peters to the L.A. Rams. With the addition of Hali to that list of former players, the team’s locker room is going to be dramatically different in 2018—one that is going to need a new set of leaders to emerge in the process.

Hali is now a free agent and it will be interesting to see if there’s a market that develops around the aging pass rusher. Certainly guys like Elvis Dumervil and Dwight Freeney continue to find meaningful work in the NFL as situational pass rushers because of their strong experience and ability, even into their mid-thirties.

Hali has played in 177 total games with the Chiefs dating back to his rookie season in 2006, when he was the team’s first round pick. He leaves the Chiefs with 89.5 career sacks and 33 forced fumbles. One day he will undoubtedly be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame as one of the franchise’s best ever pass rushers.