The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing a veteran back into their secondary.
KC has signed safety Mike Edwards to a one-year deal, The Star has confirmed. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported the deal Thursday morning.
Edwards, who will turn 29 in May, previously was with the Chiefs during the 2023 season when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Edwards played in all 17 games then as the team’s third safety.
The Chiefs, outside of Edwards, figure to be young at that position this season after Justin Reid signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Fourth-year pro Bryan Cook returns for the final year of his rookie contract with KC, and next to him should be both third-year versatile player Chamarri Conner and 2024 rookie Jaden Hicks.
Edwards also will reunite with one of his college coaches in KC. Matt House, who was Edwards’ defensive coordinator at Kentucky from 2017-18, was added to the Chiefs’ staff as a senior defensive assistant in February.
After signing with Buffalo in free agency last season, Edwards also spent time with Tennessee and Tampa Bay. He started the Buccaneers’ final contest while contributing two tackles.
Edwards thanked Chiefs Kingdom in a social-media post after departing for the Bills, saying the group accepted him “with no hesitation.”
“Will always have a special place with me,” Edwards wrote on March 20, 2024.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo praised Edwards often during the 2023 season for his intelligence, saying he quickly picked up his new defense.
Coach Andy Reid also appreciated the safety’s contributions.
“You’re going to look at him and you’re not going to say that he’s the fastest guy, the biggest guy, strongest guy or any of that,” Reid said of Edwards that season. “He just knows how to play the game. He’s got great instincts. Smart, smart kid. Tough.”