Chiefs land NFL preseason sack leader and end his historic LSU pursuit

In a wild series of events, the Kansas City Chiefs have picked up the NFL preseason's leader in sacks, Jack Pyburn, after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. In the preseason, Pyburn logged 4 sacks over two games against the Jets and Jaguars. His performance impressed the Chiefs enough that they were willing to make a waiver claim on the young defensive end.

Earlier this month, Pyburn made his intentions clear: If he cleared waivers, he would file a lawsuit to return to LSU. This lawsuit would have been historic litigation for football as a whole, as Pyburn would have become one of the first players ever to play in an NFL game and then return to school. But with this signing with the Chiefs, Pyburn has revealed that he will not file that suit and plans to stay with Kansas City for 2026.

The ruling on Pyburn's return to college was expected to be heavily contested, as the SEC announced that players who had participated in NFL games would not be able to return. This lawsuit would have stemmed from a recent NCAA rule change labeled "the five-for-five rule," which gives all college football players five years of eligibility with no exceptions. The Chiefs have already felt the impact, with two of the team's UDFA prospects, Omari Evans and Wessley Bissainthe, also candidates to return.

The Chiefs knew they wanted depth on the defensive line, especially after the team's struggles to produce up front in 2026. The waters for the Chiefs' defensive line became muddy quickly, as Omarr Norman-Lott was placed on the PUP list and Ethan Downs suffered a major injury in camp. The Chiefs picked up Emmanuel Ogbah, hoping his veteran presence could provide depth, but released him on Sunday in the hope that they could add more to their defensive end room.

Pyburn provides the depth the Chiefs were looking for and will serve as a traditional 4- or 5-tech defensive end off the bench in Kansas City. In my 2025 draft report, this is what I wrote about Pyburn as a prospect:

"A very traditional edge rusher, Pyburn plays with his hand in the dirt and can make an impact in both the run and the pass game. He has solid power and is not afraid to go straight into a tackle's chest to push them back into the quarterback. He has decent length despite his lack of height; he uses his violent arms to create leverage early in his pass-rush reps. He has good bend to get to the backfield, and I have been impressed with his effort in the run game. He is not the flashiest player, but he is as consistent as they come and will be a great fit as a hand-in-the-dirt edge rusher. "

Matthew Chabot

This is exactly what the Chiefs have been looking for: a player who may not be flashy but provides consistent and reliable play as a defensive end. Pyburn logged only three career sacks in college but was able to surpass that total in just two NFL preseason games. His frame leaves something to be desired at 6-foot-4 with just 30 7/8-inch arms, but his strong base and ability to generate power caught the eyes of NFL draft scouts.

The expectation for Pyburn is not that he will take over the game. The Chiefs are hoping that he can be a fourth or fifth defensive end who can come in and play a rotational role. Pyburn has what it takes to have a long NFL career as a depth defensive end, and Brett Veach wanted to ensure the Chiefs gave him the chance to prove it.

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