11 months in the past, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs declined the fifth-year possibility of former 2020 first-round working again Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Those that observe the crew absolutely anticipated the transfer, simply provided that the four-year veteran had been changed by Isiah Pacheco halfway by way of the 2022 season. Pacheco would rush for 830 yards and 5 touchdowns.
And so the scenario grew to become settled: Edwards-Helaire would hold his spell function for 2023, then discover a new dwelling for the 2024 season as soon as he hit unrestricted free company.
Or so we thought.
As is thought now, it didn’t actually work out that means. Final week, the Chiefs signed Edwards-Helaire to a one-year contract for him to stay in Kansas Metropolis.
“You actually simply have a look at issues and name it a spade, a spade for lots of issues,” mentioned the working again, recalling the method on a media name on Monday. “I wasn’t the starter. Choosing up a fifth-year possibility for a man who was in rotation and simply wanting on the quantity, issues, cap area, as a soccer man and a participant, you see these issues, and a few folks name it the writing on the wall — [but] you bought to name it the precise sport that we’re enjoying.”
Edwards-Helaire knew that, with the function change, naturally, his numbers would decline — and Kansas Metropolis can be unwilling to commit $5.5 million for 2024 two years upfront.
Relatively than concentrating on that, he turned his consideration to enjoying as greatest he might within the function he was given. Edwards-Helaire completed the 2023 season with 86 touches for 411 yards and two touchdowns, including 15 playoff touches for 60 yards within the playoffs.
Free company got here subsequent for the primary time in his professional profession.
Edwards-Helaire described his private free-agent journey as “gradual” and “completely different,” declaring he and his brokers explored completely different situations elsewhere however in the end landed on Kansas Metropolis as the most effective match.
Picture by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Photos
“KC actually is dwelling,” mentioned the previous LSU product. “I left Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the place I used to be born and raised and drafted to the center of the nation. All people was telling me it was the most effective place on Earth, and the one factor I might do was embrace it. I used to be doing the factor that I like — enjoying soccer — and grew probably the most in these final 5 years. [I] received engaged, really found out what life is. Shopping for properties, serving to my mother with issues, serving to my dad and mom. It’s simply someplace that I really feel like I grew to become a person.
“[In 2020], I used to be 20 years previous, leaving school, probably not understanding what was occurring. And previous to that, I used to be nonetheless only a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, child at LSU simply doing the factor that I wish to do is play soccer after which earlier than you knew it, the snap of a finger, I used to be shifting 12 hours away from dwelling. So that is actually my subsequent spot, and it’s dwelling, and I wish to proceed that. [I] nonetheless can do the issues that I like — journey four-wheelers, hunt, fish. It’s form of like that second sportsman paradise for me. And it’s even higher that I’m right here doing the factor that I like and simply enjoying ball.”
Over the previous 4 seasons, it could be cheap to say that Edwards-Helaire drew criticism from Chiefs followers based mostly on his draft place. Because the working again struggled over time resulting from harm and different points, the fan base’s commentary hasn’t at all times been rosy.
Talking on Monday, he roughly defined that he understood.
“All people’s passionate concerning the issues that they love and the issues that they watch,” mentioned Edwards-Helaire. “A variety of it’s pure emotion. I’ve mentioned issues, did issues out of emotion that, by way of ardour… You’re taking these punches, roll with it, it builds armor, and it lets you recognize that the followers in KC actually imply properly, but it surely retains you in your toes with a view to, hold issues rolling, like profitable Tremendous Bowls. It’s no mediocre factor. I’m not shying away or shy of championships. I’ve at all times form of been on championship groups. And after I’m not in a championship, I’m normally very shut. So it’s simply that, that factor that I keep it up my shoulder that I wish to proceed to do and be round championship crew and championship employees.”
Edwards-Helaire referenced the season’s last stretch when he was referred to as for 2 spot begins in Weeks 14 and 15 towards the Buffalo Payments and New England Patriots, respectively. A reminder of what he might do got here within the recreation towards the Patriots, when he took a perfectly-timed display up the sector for 48 yards as a part of a 101 scrimmage-yard efficiency.
“Having that begin and if I needed to be that spark in that scenario, I knew if it wasn’t one play, it needed to be a number of,” mentioned Edwards-Helaire of the efficiency. “And that’s after I felt like I wanted — I had that recreation with a view to begin stacking these issues. After which from that time on, it was identical to it was a unending cycle. It was prefer it was an avalanche, and we simply stored rolling with these issues. All people seen that we are able to catch the ball, everyone see that we are able to run these screens. All people seen that we are able to do these issues with a view to win the sport in strain moments and strain conditions, irrespective of the crew, irrespective of the the world. I really feel like that was a type of, these issues that we would have liked.
“And yeah, I’ll say it was, it was a semi-spark for me and people issues of understanding, ‘Simply get again to who you might be. And, and, and at all times simply be your self.’”
The ultimate piece that made returning a no brainer for Edwards-Helaire is the truth that he will get to play with each quarterback Patrick Mahomes and, maybe much more importantly, tight finish Travis Kelce.
“[Kelce’s] somebody that’s been in my nook after which picked me up from my lowest of lows after which after I was on my highest of highs simply been there making an attempt to place a rocket on my again,” mentioned Edwards-Helaire. “I simply knew this was the proper place for me to not solely change into a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion however proceed the legacy of the Chiefs and proceed the issues that I’m doing as a participant.”
