KC Chiefs: Five moves Brett Veach deserves more credit for

Signing Mike Pennel

This may seem like another move that’s not the most valuable ever made but it is one that does qualify as underrated. It’s not every year that a team can sign a player off the street in the middle of October that goes on to be an above-average player on a super bowl winning defense.

The Chiefs signed Pennel on October 19, 2019, after he spent the first five years of his career in Green Bay and New York. Pennel has never been a superstar in the NFL, but for the Chiefs, he was everything that they were hoping for at the time.

Brett Veach and the Chiefs front office banked on getting another rotational run stuffer who could contribute a little on passing downs. In 2019, over 205 snaps, Pennel earned a PFF overall grade of 68.4 ($) (with 60.0 considered “average), including a run defense grade of 69.3.

But his most important contribution to the Chiefs was a pressure and QB hit that led directly to a Beshaud Breeland interception of Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl LIV. At the time, the Chiefs were winning 7-3 and went on to take a 10-3 after the ensuing drive. The Chiefs would of course go on to win 31-20.

Although not the most impactful signing by Brett Veach, you can argue that this signing was one of the moves that led to a super bowl win for Kansas City and is one that should not be forgotten.