Emmanuel Ogbah has drawn the eye of Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach on more than one occasion over the years. Apparently, the interest is still there, as the Chiefs have officially reached an agreement with the defensive end to return to the team on a one-year deal.
ESPN reporter Adam Schefter broke the news of Ogbah's return to Kansas City, a move that makes sense on multiple levels and should ease the nerves of fans who felt unsteady about the team's depth on the edge.
That the Chiefs were searching for veteran pass-rushing help was no secret. They were all-in on Cam Jordan before the New Orleans Saints legend decided to return to the team that drafted him following a long offseason courtship. Since then, the Chiefs have patiently surveyed the free agent market as others (such as Jadeveon Clowney) have signed with new teams.
Ogbah was always a likely candidate to join the Chiefs given his history with the team. The Chiefs not only employed Ogbah for a year in 2019, but they were reportedly pursuing a reunion back in 2024 as well. Ogbah chose the Miami Dolphins instead, and the Chiefs eventually pivoted to a minor preseason deal with the Arizona Cardinals to land Cam Thomas.
The Chiefs finally got the reunion they've been aiming for with Emmanuel Ogbah.
Ogbah most recently suited up for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025 but was reduced to a rotational role, making minimal impact, with seven pressures and a half-sack in 383 defensive snaps. Expectations should be proportional upon his return to Kansas City, but it's notable that he had 5.5 sacks in only 10 games (and 4 starts) in his first go-around with the Chiefs before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season.
What's most important with Ogbah's arrival is that the depth chart looks a bit more substantive toward the bottom. The Chiefs have George Karlaftis to anchor one side and Ashton Gillotte, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and rookie R Mason Thomas fighting for reps as well. But the drop behind those four is precipitous—with undrafted players like VJ Anthony, Ethan Hurkett, and Anthony Dunn up next—and even the top of the depth chart has questions.
Before the '25 season, Ogbah was still a full-season starter playing 75% of all defensive snaps with 19 pressures and 5 sacks for the Dolphins. It's possible that being back in Steve Spagnuolo's defense helps to unlock whatever is left in the 32-year-old tank. If nothing else, Ogbah's presence brings a veteran into the mix of youngsters and gives the Chiefs more competition for a depth chart that looked dangerously thin.
Add us as a preferred source on Google