Nnadi ended the 2025 season with 16 tackles, including 10 solo tackles, over 15 games.
Nnadi signed a one-year contract with the Jets, but he ended up being traded back to the Chiefs before the start of the regular season for a conditional 2027 draft-pick swap. Finding himself back in familiar circumstances, the defensive tackle was able to log five more tackles (seven more solo tackles) than in the 2024 regular season. The 29-year-old was able to prove he can still be an effective run defender at this stage of his career, and he will surely be an attractive target for any team looking for a cost-effective lineman familiar with 4-3 defenses.
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Chiefs' Jerry Tillery: Reliable on one-year deal
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Tillery finished the 2025 season with 20 tackles (eight solo), including 1.5 sacks, and added a fumble recovery over 17 games.
Tillery was a reliable depth defensive tackle, playing 17 percent to 52 percent of defensive snaps per game throughout the entire 2025 season. The 29-year-old has been a Charger, Raider, Viking, and Chief throughout his tenure in the NFL, and 2026 could mark a return to one of those franchises or a new destination entirely for the lineman heading into his ninth season.
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Chiefs' Mike Danna: Disappointing down year
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Danna ended the 2025 season with 25 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks, and added one interception over 15 games.
Danna ended up playing in two more games than in the 2024 regular season, yet he ended with 2.5 fewer sacks and 16 fewer tackles. This is likely because Danna was playing more snaps in 2024, as the 2025 Chiefs defense saw more rotational play from rookie Ashton Gillotte. If Danna cannot increase his impact in 2026, he may lose the starting role to Gillotte and be forced to take a more secondary role in the Chiefs' defense.
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Chiefs' Charles Omenihu: Productive on one-year deal
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Omenihu finished the 2025 season with 28 tackles (15 solo), including 3.5 sacks, over 17 games.
Omenihu signed a one-year deal to stay in Kansas City, a decision that resulted in an increase in production that will be useful in him negotiating his next contract. As a rotational defensive end behind starters George Karlaftis and Mike Danna, he logged 2.0 more sacks than in the 2024 regular season and 22 more tackles. He did so while playing the same number of games as he had in the past two regular seasons combined, proving that the 28-year-old still has the durability to survive an NFL season. Omenihu will enter the 2026 season as a free agent, and it is unclear if he will seek another contract with Kansas City or if he will take his talents elsewhere.
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Chiefs' Ashton Gillotte: Sees rotational volume as rookie
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Gillotte ended the 2025 season with 38 tackles (14 solo), including 1.5 sacks, as well as one interception over 17 games.
Gillotte saw defensive snaps in every game of the season, logging 25 percent or more of the team's defensive snaps in all contests except the Week 1 matchup with the Chargers. The third-round rookie will likely see a similar amount of snaps and opportunities in Year 2, as starting defensive ends George Karlaftis and Mike Danna will both remain with the Chiefs for the foreseeable future.
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Chiefs' Jaden Hicks: Maintains role as depth piece
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Hicks saw snaps at strong safety and slot cornerback as he worked to amass 42 tackles (29 solo), including 0.5 sacks, and four passes defensed over 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Hicks saw an uptick in defensive snaps during his sophomore campaign, jumping from 312 as a rookie in the 2024 regular season to 445 in the 2025 season. While the defensive back was utilized as a Swiss Army knife in multiple areas of the secondary, he maintained his role as a special-teams contributor throughout the season as well. Hicks will head into his third year with a shot to take over at slot cornerback full time if the Chiefs do not sign or move someone to replace Mike Edwards, whose one-year deal is up.
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Chiefs' Nohl Williams: Strong rookie campaign
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Williams ended the 2025 season with 48 tackles (30 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and seven passes defensed over 17 games.
Williams was a consistent special-teams contributor who earned a shot at being a full-time defensive starter toward the end of the campaign. The cornerback ended the season strong with 23 of his 48 total tackles coming in the last five games, along with his sole sack and four of his passes defensed. The third-round rookie has the potential to be a consistent starting cornerback for the Chiefs, as Jaylen Watson (groin) and Mike Edwards are on expiring deals.
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Chiefs' Chris Jones: Down year in 2025
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Jones recorded 29 tackles (15 solo), including 7.0 sacks, and two passes defended across 17 games with Kansas City during the 2025 campaign.
Jones had one of the least productive seasons of his career, as his 29 tackles marked his lowest total since 2021, when he missed three games. However, despite the dip in production, the 2016 second-round pick still managed to lead the team in sacks once again. Jones will look to bounce back and help the Chiefs return to the playoffs during the 2026 campaign.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Another solid season in 2025
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Cook recorded 85 tackles (50 solo) and six passes defensed in 17 games with Kansas City in 2025.
After emerging as a starter last season, Cook remained one of the Chiefs' top producers in their defensive backfield in 2025, notching new career highs in total tackles and in passes defensed. It might have been a bit disappointing that he could not come away with any interceptions, but he almost certainly did enough in the final year of his rookie deal to earn a second NFL contract and a big raise, whether that be in Kansas City or elsewhere. He is currently on track to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
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Chiefs' George Karlaftis: Posts career-high stops in 2025
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Karlaftis accumulated 48 tackles (25 solo), including 6.0 sacks, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery across 16 games in 2025 with the Chiefs.
The fourth-year pro looked like he was on his way to a career year after opening the season with 4.5 sacks and 20 combined tackles through the first five games of the regular season. Karlaftis wasn't able to carry that momentum for the rest of 2025, but his combined tackles were one more than his previous career high set in 2023 (across 16 regular-season games). The 2022 first-rounder signed a four-year, $93 million contract extension in July and will be a cornerstone of the Chiefs' defense for years to come.
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Chiefs' Chamarri Conner: Career year in 2025
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Conner totaled 117 (75 solo), including 2.0 sacks, two passes defended, one interception and two forced fumbles across 17 games with Kansas City during the 2025 campaign.
Conner had the best season of his career, setting new personal bests in tackles and sacks while starting every game for the first time. The 25-year-old proved to be one of the Chiefs' most productive defenders, finishing second on the team in tackles behind Nick Bolton's 154 (73 solo). Conner should continue to serve as Kansas City's starting strong safety during the 2026 campaign.
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Chiefs' Drue Tranquill: Eclipses 100 tackles in 2025
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Tranquill recorded 103 tackles (55 solo) including 2.0 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 17 games with Kansas City in 2025.
Tranquill was once again a steadying presence at linebacker next to Nick Bolton this season, and thanks to a higher defensive snap count (881) than last year (760), he was able to tally 100-plus tackles for the first time since 2022 with the Chargers. With that said, his per-snap tackle production was slightly down from 2024, and he was sometimes viewed as a liability in coverage. He will turn 31 in August, but he still figures to play a significant role in the Chiefs' front seven in 2026.
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Chiefs' Nick Bolton: Bright spot in forgettable season
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Bolton recorded 154 tackles (73 solo) including 1.0 sacks, six passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble in 17 games with Kansas City in 2025.
Bolton retained his role as the Chiefs' top linebacker after they signed him to a three-year, $45 million contract back in March, and he led the team in total tackles for the second straight year. In fact, his season tackle total was tied for the seventh-best in the league. He has reestablished himself as one of the better linebackers in the NFL and projects as a strong IDP option for 2026.
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Chiefs' George Karlaftis: Unavailable for Week 18
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Karlaftis (rest) is inactive for Sunday's contest against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Karlaftis will get a breather in the regular-season finale with Kansas City already eliminated from the postseason. In his absence, Charles Omenihu is a top candidate to take over as a starter on the defensive line versus Las Vegas.
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Chiefs' Jerry Tillery: Good to go for season finale
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Tillery (personal) is active for Sunday's contest against the Raiders, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.
Tillery dealt with a personal matter Friday and missed the team's final practice of the week, but he'll now be good to go for Week 18. The 29-year-old will operate in his typical role as a top reserve option behind Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi at defensive tackle versus Las Vegas.
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Chiefs' Jerry Tillery: Questionable with personal issue
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Tillery (personal) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Tillery was a fresh addition to Friday's injury report and did not participate in practice due to a personal issue he was attending to. It is unclear whether or not this issue will be resolved in time for Sunday's contest. If the 29-year-old's circumstances prevent him from suiting up, Mike Pennel and Zacch Pickens will likely see an increased number of rotational snaps at defensive tackle behind starters Chris Jones and Derrick Nnadi.
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Chiefs' George Karlaftis: Questionable yet healthy
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Karlaftis (rest) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Karlaftis was a limited participant throughout Week 18, but his injury status is listed as non-injured rest. The defensive end signed a four-year, $93 million contract with the Chiefs in July. The team may just be looking to protect a valuable asset ahead of the 2026 season, as Kansas City missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 campaign. If Karlaftis is inactive for Sunday's game, he will end the season with 48 tackles (25 solo), including 6.0 sacks, and two passes defensed through 16 games.
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Chiefs' Derrick Nnadi: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Nnadi (illness) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
Nnadi had to miss last Kansas City's past two games due to an illness, but he appears to be feeling better. With a full practice in tow to begin week 18 prep, it's likely the veteran defensive tackle will be able to return to action for the Chiefs' season finale Sunday against Las Vegas.
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Chiefs' Bryan Cook: Registers eight stops Christmas Day
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Cook tallied eight tackles (four solo) and one pass defense during the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday.
Cook played every single defensive snap and finished tied for the fourth-most tackles on the Chiefs during Thursday's loss. The fourth-year safety is up to 79 combined tackles through 16 regular-season games, surpassing his previous career high of 78 tackles (in 17 regular-season games) in 2024. Cook will look to add to his total in the Chiefs' regular-season finale against the Raiders in Week 18.
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Chiefs' Chamarri Conner: Double-digit stops vs. Denver
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Conner recorded 10 tackles (seven solo) during the Chiefs' 20-13 loss to the Broncos on Thursday.
Conner played every single defensive snap and finished Sunday's game as the Chiefs' second-leading tackler behind Nick Bolton (12). It was Conner's fourth game in which he's posted double-digit stops and first since Week 8 against the Commanders. The third-year safety is up to 113 tackles (73 solo), including 2.0 sacks, one pass defense and two forced fumbles through 16 regular-season games.
