Clyde Edwards-Helaire Glad to Be ‘Home’ With KC Chiefs for Another Season
Back on a one-year deal after free agency, Edwards-Helaire explained why he made his decision to return to Kansas City.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a concerted effort to retain plenty of their in-house free agents this offseason, with running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire being one of them. The veteran is back for another season where it all began for him, re-signing on a one-year deal.
That wasn't a lock entering free agency, but Edwards-Helaire's decision came less than a full month after the start of the league's legal tampering period. His 2024-25 contract has been signed, locking him in and giving Kansas City some depth in the backfield. Despite weighing his options and seeing what was out there for him, Edwards-Helaire won't experience a change of scenery.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Edwards-Helaire explained why he's so glad to be back at the second home he's known in his football playing days.
“KC literally is home," Edwards-Helaire said. "I left Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I was born and raised and (was) drafted to the middle of the country where everybody was telling me it’s the best place on earth. The only thing I could do was embrace it. I was doing the thing I loved, playing football and grew the most in these last five years. (I) got engaged, actually figured out what life is, buying homes, helping my mom with things, helping my parents, it’s just somewhere that I feel like I became a man.
"I was 20 years old leaving college not really knowing what was going on and prior to that, I was still just a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, kid at LSU just doing the thing I wanted to do which was play football. Before you know it, (with) the snap of a finger I was moving 12 hours away from home, so this is literally my next spot and it’s home and I want to continue that. (I) still can do the things that I love – ride four wheelers, hunt, fish, it’s kind of like that second sportsman paradise for me and it’s even better that I’m here doing the thing that I love and just playing ball.”
It's been a bumpy ride for Edwards-Helaire since he arrived in Kansas City. While he has over 2,500 all-purpose yards and nearly 20 touchdowns on his resume, he's also struggled to stay healthy and produce relative to his draft slot. Selected 32nd overall back in 2020, the former LSU standout was expected to be a featured piece in Andy Reid's offense. Instead of being Patrick Mahomes's right-hand man, however, Edwards-Helaire became a role player.
Even through that, Edwards-Helaire persevered and emerged on the other side. After not playing in Super Bowl LVII, he was active for a career-best 15 games this past regular season and then logged 58 snaps during the playoffs. Now a two-time champion, he helped himself in 2023-24 by solidifying his spot on a contending team.
Aside from being at home, what else drove Edwards-Helare to sign back with the Chiefs? His teammates, namely Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
"Honestly, my teammates were one of the biggest [reasons]," Edwards-Helaire said. "With growth being here the last four years, kind of understanding the offense I've been in [and] having Pat lead me in the direction of the things that he sees from a quarterback standpoint.
"And I've said it in multiple interviews, having Travis... personal level, from football to just on a daily basis, he's someone that's been in my corner and picked me up in my lowest of lows and then when I was at my highest of highs, he's been there trying to put a rocket on my back. You just have that camaraderie and just from upstairs on down, you just get those things."
With the 2024 NFL Draft approaching, Kansas City has its potential one-two punch at running back in Isiah Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire. There's wiggle room for another addition — potentially another reunion with Jerick McKinnon — either via the draft or free agency. This signing undoubtedly puts the team in a better spot from a depth perspective, and familiarity never hurts to have.
For the Chiefs, it provides them some insurance while maintaining a decent amount of flexibility. For Edwards-Helaire, he doesn't have to move and stays in an environment he's grown to love. This is a true win-win move for both sides, assuming things remain mostly the same in terms of a role. As it turns out, that might be a positive thing after all.
