Kansas City Chiefs release running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. —The Kansas City Chiefs released running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, the player announced on social media.

During his Chiefs career, he had 441 rushing attempts for 1,845 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“To Chiefs Kingdom, it’s all love and support,” he said on X. “The love I received during troubling times will forever be unmatched by you guys! With love!”

The Chiefs selected him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft after he helped the 2019 LSU Tigers win the national title.

Edwards-Helaire will also be remembered in Kansas City for his contributions off the field.

He was nominated for the Uvalde Foundation for Kids Heroism Award after protecting a teenager during the parade shooting at Union Station.

The foundation recognized him for shielding a teenager who lost track of his father when the shooting began.

In a surprising turn of events, the Kansas City Chiefs have officially waived former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, marking the end of his tumultuous tenure with the team. The decision comes as Edwards-Helaire found himself buried deep on the depth chart, struggling to regain his footing after a challenging start to the season.

Edwards-Helaire, who was drafted by the Chiefs in 2020 following a standout career at LSU, expressed his gratitude to the Kansas City community in a heartfelt message on social media. “Love you, KC. A family I didn’t know I needed. Y’all made a kid from Baton Rouge’s dreams come true,” he wrote. “It’s all love, and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys. With love, Edwards-Helaire.”

The running back burst onto the scene as a rookie, rushing for 803 yards and four touchdowns, playing a crucial role in the Chiefs’ journey to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, his subsequent seasons were marred by injuries, which hindered his ability to maintain a starting position. As the team’s depth chart evolved, Edwards-Helaire found himself overshadowed by rising star Isaiah Pacheco.

This season, Edwards-Helaire began on the NFL’s Reserve/Non-Football Illness list, as it was revealed that he was battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Reports indicated that his struggles with PTSD were linked to a traumatic incident in 2018, when he and a fellow LSU football player were involved in a robbery that escalated into a shooting. The incident, which resulted in the death of the robber, was ruled justifiable by prosecutors, but it left a lasting impact on Edwards-Helaire.

In a candid interview at the beginning of the season, Edwards-Helaire opened up about his mental health challenges, stating, “Sometimes I’m admitted into the hospital. Something I can’t stop throwing up, and it’s just… I don’t know anything pretty much to stop it. Real bad dehydration. But it’s really just mentally not being there.” He described living with PTSD as “no small feat,” acknowledging the overwhelming nature of his experiences.

As the Chiefs move forward without Edwards-Helaire, fans and teammates alike will remember his contributions during his time with the team. While his career in Kansas City has come to an end, the hope remains that he will find healing and success in the next chapter of his life. The Chiefs organization and their supporters continue to rally around him, recognizing the challenges he has faced both on and off the field.