Former Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop is being placed on injured reserve, which means former Chiefs kicker Cairo Santos is in.
For all of the kicking failures around the NFL, it’s amazing to see former Kansas City Chiefs kickers succeeding for other teams. While teams like the Chicago Bears or Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Los Angeles Chargers have been through recent woes at the position, the Chiefs seem to know where to find a kicker when they need one.
Fortunately the Chiefs are happy to share with the rest of the league. The Tennessee Titans were wise to scoop up Ryan Succop when he became available in 2014. After a few years in K.C., Succop signed a one-year deal, then a three-year extension and, most recently, a five-year contract to stay with the team. Clearly they like what they see.
Succop, however, was recently placed on injured reserve, per Adam Schefter, which means the Titans have to turn elsewhere to fill his shoes. Enter another former Chiefs kicker in Cairo Santos.
Santos was the Chiefs replacement for Ryan Succop with the Chiefs in 2014 and went on to stay with K.C. for the next three seasons until a groin injury forced him to miss the bulk of the preseason. The team signed Sam Ficken as a temporary fill-in, but Santos returned and Ficken was cut loose. However, the team knew that sort of injury can linger and the Chiefs had a guy they liked—that special teams coach Dave Toub liked, actually—on another practice squad.
Santos was cut loose with an injury settlement shortly after the Chiefs claimed Harrison Butker from the Carolina Panthers. Butker is now enjoying a new five-year extension of his own.
Here’s hoping Succop heals up well enough to return and that Santos performs admirably in his place. It’s always fun to see former Chiefs still doing well in the NFL, and the league likely appreciates the fact that at least someone can identify a successful kicker these days.