In Kansas City, culture isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the blueprint. Especially since Andy Reid took over in 2013. You see it in the way players talk about each other. You see it in how they show up for their coaches. And yeah, you even see it in the T-shirts. Remember midseason 2024? Defensive guys rocking “In Spags We Trust” like it was gospel.
Now we’ve got a new layer to that story — courtesy of veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel. After re-signing with the Chiefs, he summed it up with four words that said everything: “Until KC stops calling, we gonna keep answering.”
Pennel is coming back for Year 13, and it’s not just nostalgia. The Chiefs lost Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton in free agency and needed depth. They already signed Jerry Tillery — a move that looked like a possible transition plan. But as the roster shifted, the front office circled back to someone who knew the building, the system, and the culture. Pennel played all 17 games last year, started a career-high seven, and handled 30% of the defensive snaps.
And if you’ve forgotten what Pennel brings when the lights are brightest, rewind Super Bowl LIV. Niners had the ground game rolling… until Pennel wrecked a run and flipped the energy. That one stop helped turn the tide. He was mic’d up that night too — pure chaos in the best way: “I’M A BEAST DOWN HERE… HIT ME!” The man was a one-man riot in the trenches en route the 31-20 dub.
That kind of presence — vocal, violent, and vibe-setting — is what you need when January football gets real. Pennel’s not here for the nostalgia tour. He’s here to plug gaps, fire up the room, and maybe make one more championship moment.
Mike Pennel Interview
Chiefs DT @TheBeastPennel joined former #Chiefs TE @JasusTD89 and cohost @DashOfNews to discuss his offseason, his love for the Chiefs organization, and just how much he wanted to stay with #ChiefsKingdom. If Mike Pennel isn’t one of your favorites on… pic.twitter.com/HgejTRE2FS
— Chief Concerns (@ConcernsChief) April 17, 2025
Still, this wasn’t just a football decision for him. It was personal. “My son motivating me, going, ‘Oh, we still playing football? We still playing in Kansas City?’” Pennel said. “Yeah, yeah—so we got to do it.” He didn’t need to sell it hard. The love for the locker room and the leadership speaks volumes: “If the franchise and coaches still believe in me to come back for year 13… by all means — I’m there.”
Mike Pennel is the guy and this re-signing was more of a continuity sticking to the system players like a glue. Chris Jones already pointed out how Spagnuolo once offered Pennel his own car after someone stole Mike’s just before the game 9 clash against the Broncos last season.
That’s the kind of trust that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. It’s the kind that wins playoff games in January. And apparently, it’s the kind that gets you one more year in red and gold. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the kind that might push Brett Veach to change his draft plans.
Andy Reid and Brett Veach might look for a ‘new juice’ in draft
There’s a twist in Missouri with regards to their draft plans. Brett Veach, the mastermind behind Kansas City’s draft room, might be more open to skipping night one of the NFL Draft than we thought. Yep, the same GM known for trading up in Round 1 is now publicly toying with the idea of moving back. “I think that could be in our wheelhouse,” Veach said, suggesting Kansas City might trade out of the first entirely. Wild, right?
But before you assume he’s just bluffing—nah, this isn’t poker. There’s actual strategy behind it. According to The Athletic, the Chiefs have just 12-13 players with a true “first-round grade” this year. In a typical draft, that number’s closer to 15-19. So if Veach doesn’t see a player at 31 worth the premium slot? He’s not reaching. Not even for a shiny pass rusher or a flashy wideout.
Per Nate Taylor: “If the Chiefs are unable to acquire Josh Simmons or another left tackle prospect in the first round, Veach could pivot his plans toward selecting an ascending defensive lineman with plenty of pass-rushing juice.” In simple words, they are improving the security for Patrick Mahomes and that’s it. No, grasping of straws in an already stacked roster.
So, Veach is eyeing what he calls a “secondary wave” of talent. That meaty chunk of Day 2 players with starter potential. It makes sense, too. Kansas City has no fifth- or sixth-round picks this year. So, that’s a massive 93-pick black hole they’ll be sitting through. You think Veach, the guy who once flipped a seventh-rounder into Charvarius Ward, is just going to chill for three hours? No shot.
However, yes, of course, all of this hinges on one big “if.” Veach says they’re always open to calls from teams trying to jump up for a quarterback, but those calls? “Haven’t happened yet,” he deadpanned. He hears that suggestion every year—“just trade back with a QB-needy team”—and every year… crickets. “Maybe this will be the year,” he added, half hopeful, half laughing.
So while trading down feels possible, maybe even probable, don’t get too comfy. Brett Veach’s unpredictable by design. Patience has always been the cakewalk for the Chiefs heading into the draft. This year, those tactics shouldn’t really change, either. But the intrigue’s going to keep building, that’s for sure.
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