Former Chiefs land NFL deals after stints in AAF
By Matt Conner
Former Chiefs Rashad Ross and De’Vante Bausby both received new NFL deals after putting up impressive performances in the now-defunct AAF.
For a great majority of the players, staff, coaches, and personnel who served in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football, the experience ended in the worst way possible. Many involved are now left with expenses they cannot pay or forced upon them and confusion about the right way forward. However, for a few players, the AAF did exactly what they hoped it would.
The AAF was always seen as a development league, a way to turn heads so that NFL figures would give them a call when the season was over. The season terminated abruptly earlier this week, but that meant good news for a handful of former Kansas City Chiefs players.
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In fact, former Chiefs are the only ones cashing in the wake of the AAF’s demise. Kansas City execs came calling first, to re-sign cornerback Keith Reaser after letting him go last summer. However, it wasn’t long until the Carolina Panthers moved to sign wide receiver Rashad Ross and the Denver Broncos added cornerback De’Vante Bausby.
Ross was a practice squad member for the Chiefs back in the 2013 season when John Dorsey and Andy Reid first arrived. He lasted about six months, but was released after the Chiefs drafted a new class the next spring and decided to part ways. Ross is now with his ninth NFL team as he chases an elusive spot on a team’s active roster. Ross led the AAF in receiving touchdowns with seven.
Bausby entered the league as a rookie free agent for the Chiefs in 2015 and returned for a second stint in 2017 after spending time with the Chicago Bears in between. He spent time on the Bears active roster as well as the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 but was dropped after two years in Philly, so he went on to play in the AAF. There he turned enough heads to earn a chance in the AFC West once again as he hopes he can stick in Denver.