If you thought Andy Reid was done tweaking after Super Bowl LIX, think again. First, the protection for Patrick Mahomes. That was clearly primary, as the Eagles’ D sacked #15 for a total of 6 times. Then, obviously, the defense. There were some bright moments from KC’s defense, but those moments hid the bad ones. So, obviously, if we could observe that. The Big Red surely did!
Now, the man’s been in the lab. And while all eyes were on the flashy additions, the Chiefs just quietly brought back one of their most reliable—and overlooked—defensive chess pieces: linebacker Jack Cochrane.
Now, Cochrane isn’t grabbing headlines like a top-10 draft pick or a free-agent splash. But that’s kind of the point. He’s the guy who does the dirty work—special teams grunt, rotational linebacker, plug-and-play when someone goes down. And he does it without fuss. You need those guys if you’re trying to stay on top.
Remember, Cochrane went undrafted in 2022. Since then, he’s appeared in 54 games for the Chiefs, mostly making his mark on special teams. He’s got 43 tackles, a pass breakup, and a knack for being in the right place when things get chaotic. Missed the end of last season with an injury? Sure. But when healthy, the guy’s a quiet enforcer—and Kansas City clearly values that.
Pair this move with the recent signing of defensive end Janarius Robinson, and you start to see Reid’s pattern. He’s shoring up the defense with players who bring toughness, versatility, and depth. Robinson’s got the size (6’5″, 263 lbs), the wingspan (hello, 35 inches), and just enough juice off the edge to give offensive lines something extra to think about.
But it’s Cochrane’s return that says a lot about how the Chiefs operate. While the league focuses on big splashes, Kansas City keeps building with purpose. One under-the-radar signing at a time.
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