The Kansas City Chiefs were supposed to end the drought this year—if you want to call it that.
More than 15 years have passed since the Chiefs were able to employ a Mr. Irrelevant following the annual NFL Draft, and up until a few minutes before the 2025 edition was closed, they were going to make the final selection in this year's event.
Instead, the Chiefs didn't want to announce a new draft class without making sure to add a running back. Hence, they packaged their two remaining seventh-round picks—including the Mr. Irrelevant pick at No. 257—in exchange for No. 228 overall to take SMU RB Brashard Smith
What does Mr. Irrelevant even mean?
Mr. Irrelevant is the title given to the last player chosen in every NFL Draft since 1976, a tradition by former NFL receiver Paul Salata. As Salata explains, "We established Irrelevant Week to drive home an important message – that it’s not a negative to be picked last in the NFL Draft; rather, it’s an honor to be drafted at all."
Along with the title comes an invitation to "Irrelevant Week" in Newport Beach, California — a celebration complete with an "Arrival Party", time at Disneyland, media opps, and plenty more activities. The week culminates in the awarding of the (un)heralded Lowsman Trophy, a fun twist on the Heisman Trophy featuring a player fumbling a football.
Chiefs' history with Mr. Irrelevant
The Chiefs haven't had a Mr. Irrelevant in their draft class for quite some time. The last one was Ryan Succop, who is actually one of the bigger success stories for any final draft choice. He was Scott Pioli's final selection back in 2009, and he went on to become one of the more notable kickers in Chiefs' history.
Before Succop, the Chiefs only had one other Mr. Irrelevant. That was in 1970, when the draft lasted an incredible 17 rounds and Kansas City went with defensive back Rayford Jenkins out of Alcorn A&M. He never played a single snap in the NFL.
Perhaps next year will be the year, but the good news is that this drought is definitely much easier to live with for Chiefs fans than others.