Chiefs Best Free Agent Pickups In The Andy Reid Era
By Ken Coltharp
KC Chiefs’ best free-agent deals during the Andy Reid era: QB Chad Henne
2018 (Two years/$6.7 million), 2020 (Two years/$3.25 million), 2022 (One year/$2 million)
Chad Henne came to the Chiefs as a journeyman in 2018 as a backup for Patrick Mahomes. Henne won the job but didn’t have to do much during his first few seasons in Kansas City. Then, in Week 7 of 2020 against the Denver Broncos, everything changed. Patrick Mahomes ran what could turn out to be his last QB sneak and wrenched his knee during the play. Henne took over to lead the Chiefs to a 43-16 win, which gave the Kingdom some confidence that Henne could perform if called upon. Henne’s second opportunity came with much higher stakes.
In the Divisional Playoff of that year against the Cleveland Browns, Mahomes left the game after suffering a concussion in the third quarter with the game very much still in the balance. After converting a fourth and inches on the very next play, Henne kept the ship steady for the rest of the game. His brightest moments came on a third and 15 scramble for 12 yards to get to a fourth and short, and then he completed a quick pass to Tyreek Hill to seal the game.
Henne was called upon two years later in a similar situation. In the 2023 Divisional Round against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Patrick Mahomes had his ankle rolled up on in the first quarter. Chad Henne entered in the second quarter as it became apparent that Mahomes could barely move on that foot. All Henne did was lead the Chiefs on a 98-yard TD drive which was the longest in the Chiefs’ playoff history. Henne went 5 of 7 with a touchdown to Travis Kelce on that drive and delivered when the Chiefs needed him the most. Without Henne’s heroics, the Chiefs may very well be one Super Bowl lighter.