Former Chiefs preseason sensation finds new home with New York Giants

The New York Giants decided to sign a familiar face to Kansas City Chiefs fans on Monday when they signed former Chiefs wide receiver and returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the active roster.

The Giants announced a series of moves following their loss in Week 1 to Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings, mostly on the practice squad, but Smith-Marsette gives the team a new candidate to try out on offense and special teams.

The move to sign Smith-Marsette was made in the wake of losing special teams ace Gunner Olszewski, who is also a wide receiver, before the game on Sunday to a groin injury. Giants head coach Brian Daboll failed to give a specific timeline for his return but noted he would miss multiple games.

The Giants are taking a chance on a former receiver/returner who stood out with the Chiefs just over a year ago.

Smith-Marsette will be a familiar name to Chiefs Kingdom for having won their hearts in the team's preseason just over a year ago. The team's wide receiver was crowded with young prospects at the time who were filled with potential—at least it seemed—and the Chiefs were having a problem making everyone fit between the likes of Justyn Ross, Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and others.

Meanwhile Smith-Marsette's strong performance in preseason games for the Chiefs put pressure on the front office to either make him fit or lose him to a waiver claim. The Carolina Panthers stepped up and traded for him in a swap of seventh-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Unfortunately for both the Panthers and Smith-Marsette, things didn't work out for the long-term and the wideout was released shortly before active roster cuts were due this season. He did, however, appear in all 17 games for the Panthers and led the NFL in total punt returns with 34. He returned one for a touchdown and remains a plus on special teams.

Smith originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 who also spent time in '22 with the Chicago Bears before joining the Chiefs. He's now with his fifth NFL team.