Derrick Gore will return to KC Chiefs for another season in 2022

The Kansas City Chiefs had a handful of minor roster decisions to make about the team’s exclusive rights free agents (ERFA) heading into a new league year. Fortunately, the majority of them are promising young talents who could factor into making even bigger contributions in 2022, and that’s certainly true of running back Derrick Gore.

On Wednesday, Kansas City Star reporter Herbie Teope had word that the team had tendered a qualifying offer to Gore, which means he’ll be back for another season with the Chiefs in ’22.

As an exclusive rights free agent, Gore’s situation simply means that he has no contract for ’22 yet but he has also not accrued more than 3 seasons in the NFL. That gives the Chiefs the exclusive rights to him and that he must accept their offer to play, if they extend one.

The Kansas CIty Chiefs have decided to tender an offer to exclusive rights free agent Derrick Gore.

For the Chiefs, Gore is a desirable asset in that the backfield is a bit thin heading into the offseason. There’s certainly no reason to panic at a position that’s quite simple to fill, but Gore is a known quantity as a player who can get to the edge and generate yards. The Chiefs are bringing back Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the lead back for next year, but they’re also watching Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon hit free agency.

Other ERFAs for the Chiefs included Chris Lammons, who finds himself in legal trouble and is likely to just watch his contract expire with no further action from the team, and Jody Fortson, who was also given an offer earlier on Wednesday.

Last season with the Chiefs, Gore had 51 carries for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 8 passes for 105 more yards.