The Kansas City Chiefs never got to see what they might have had in Kyle Long last season after convincing the offensive lineman to return after previously retiring from the game. Now it appears that no one will get that chance again with the news that Long has, once again, decided to leave the game.
Long answered a fan’s question on Twitter earlier this week when asked directly if he was planning on suiting up again in 2022 for his ninth season in the league. He responded that he’s a “full-time dad now” in a short response that signaled his decision yet didn’t include any of the typical “goodbye to the game” pageantry.
Long originally waved goodbye in 2020 in a year where it was perhaps a bit easier to sit out due to the uncertainty of going forward with the season with the global spread of COVID-19. Long had dealt with serious injury issues in the seasons leading up to ’20, so when he retired the first time, it made sense despite his Pro Bowl-caliber talent.
Former Kansas City Chiefs lineman Kyle Long has apparently decided to walk away from the game of football once again.
Last spring, however, the Chiefs went about completely reinventing their offensive front early in free agency with the signing of Long along with former New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney. Long wasn’t given a major deal, so expectations there were measured, but the potential was exciting if he was once again healthy.
Unfortunately Long was unable to get back on the field for the Chiefs after suffering a preseason leg injury that kept him out of training camp. From there, he was lost for much of the regular season and by the time the team was able to activate him, the line was largely set. It was telling that Andrew Wylie remained on the right side in light of Lucas Niang’s injury even when Long was ready to go.
Long leaves the game with 76 total career starts for the Chicago Bears and three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons to begin his career.