It's often described as the most difficult day in the NFL season: Cut-down day. Teams whittle their rosters from 90 to 53 in a matter of hours. A little over a thousand players received the crushing news on Tuesday that they did not make the 53-man roster of their NFL team.
The Kansas City Chiefs had to inform several of their own players of the bad news this week, with dozens of now "former Chiefs" making their way to the waiver wire. Some of them returned on the practice squad but many are left to wonder what's next.
That's also true for a lot of familiar faces around the NFL as former Chiefs try to further their careers. Here's a list of players who were once in the Chiefs organization who received a pink slip this week.
OL Jackson Barton - Arizona Cardinals
The 29-year-old offensive tackle won a Super Bowl ring as a reserve with the Chiefs in 2019 and was trying to catch on in Arizona.
OL Ike Boettger - Carolina Panthers
The athletic interior lineman spent all of nine days as a Chief in 2018. He spent most of his career with the Bills before signing with the Colts in 2023. He tried to catch on with both the Lions and Panthers this offseason but came up short.
CB DiCaprio Bootle - Carolina Panthers
The 26-year-old former Nebraska Cornhusker has yet to make an opening-day 53-man roster. Bootle signed with Kansas City in 2021 and did play a role later in the season that year and was a part of the Super Bowl winner in 2022, but was cut a third time in August of 2023. Bootle landed in Carolina last year, playing in 8 games, starting 2 of them.
FB Michael Burton - Denver Broncos
The 32-year-old fullback has played for six teams in his career and won a Super Bowl as a Chief in 2022.
OL Geron Christian - Tennessee Titans
The former third-round pick played sparingly with the Chiefs in 2022, but earned a Super Bowl ring that year. He played primarily on special teams and did get a few snaps in blowout wins over the Cardinals and 49ers that season.
S Adrian Colbert - Chicago Bears
The journeyman safety spent two weeks with the Chiefs in late summer of 2020.
OL Cam Erving - Houston Texans
A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, Erving won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs as a valuable reserve on the offensive line. The versatile lineman played three seasons in a Chiefs uniform.
TE Jody Fortson - Miami Dolphins
A fan favorite, the 6'6" pass catcher couldn't find a home in Miami. Fortson has a tempting skill set and should catch on with someone soon. The 28-year-old tight end caught 14 passes for 155 yards and 4 touchdowns as a Chief.
WR Daurice Fountain - Detroit Lions
A popular player among fans, Fountain was a part of the Chiefs' practice squad in 2021 and played in 2 games.
LB Darius Harris - Dallas Cowboys
The undrafted free agent played four seasons with the Chiefs. Harris played 40 games in a Chiefs uniform, including 7 playoff games. The special teams stalwart will try to catch on elsewhere in 2024.
DE Demone Harris - Atlanta Falcons
The 28-year-old edge rusher came off the practice squad and was part of a Super Bowl winner in the 2019 season. Harris retired in 2023 but decided to give it one more shot this summer with the Falcons.
CB Lonnie Johnson - Houston Texans
The former second-round pick came up short in his second stint with the Texans, who traded Johnson to the Chiefs in May of 2022. Kansas City released Johnson in August of that year.
CB Chris Lammons - Indianapolis Colts
The 28-year-old corner spent three seasons in Kansas City, primarily as a special teamer. Lammons played in 33 games as a Chief, including 3 playoff games. He earned a ring for his role on the 2022 Super Bowl winner, but by that time he had been waived and was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
RB La'Mical Perine - Pittsburgh Steelers
Perine began his career with the Jets and had a cup of coffee with the Chiefs before trying out for the Steelers. Still just 26, he will try to revive his career elsewhere.
DT Mike Purcell - New England Patriots
Most known for his stint with the Denver Broncos, Purcell spent most of 2017 on the Chiefs' practice squad.
WR John Ross - Philadelphia Eagles
The speedy wideout has the distinction of being drafted one slot ahead of Patrick Mahomes, and while Ross never developed into a star in Cincinnati, he keeps getting opportunities because of his tantalizing speed. Ross failed to make the Chiefs roster in 2023 but went on to play 10 games for the Giants, where he garnered 224 yards and a touchdown.
DE Breeland Speaks - Jacksonville Jaguars
General manager Brett Veach has had a ton of success in the NFL draft, but his first-ever (official) selection was an absolute flop. After being released from the Chiefs, Speaks tried to catch on with the Raiders, Cowboys, Giants, Cowboys again, Bills, 49ers, and Jaguars, but has yet to make his mark in the NFL.
CB Reese Taylor - Denver Broncos
The undrafted free agent made the Chiefs' initial practice squad in 2023 but couldn't hang on in Denver.
WR Cody Thompson - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One of the all-time preseason heroes among Chiefs Kingdom, Thompson was a special teams standout and fan favorite who ended up being somewhat of a surprise cut in August of 2019.
LB Damien Wilson - Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys draftee played two seasons in Kansas City as an important piece to the Chiefs' defense. Wilson started all 35 games (including 6 playoff games) in his Chiefs career. After he left Kansas City, Wilson played with the Jaguars and Panthers, but couldn't make the roster in his second stint at Dallas.
K Matthew Wright - Pittsburgh Steelers
In the Chiefs' 2022 Super Bowl season, Wright filled in nicely for the injured Harrison Butker. His most memorable kick was a then-franchise-record 59-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders.