Chiefs headlines for Thursday, February 20
The latest
The individuals — Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, Bastian Orellano Morales, Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, and Sergio Ortega Cabello — are members of a South American theft group, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in Tampa on Tuesday. The group members range in age from 20 to 38. They were charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, according to the complaint.
Each person faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The group allegedly stole valuables worth over $2 million from athletes’ homes while they were away or playing in games at the time of the invasions. The complaint includes a photo of three of the men — Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes and Freraut — and a fourth individual whose identity is redacted posing with a damaged safe and several watches allegedly stolen from the home of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis Jr. The photo is timestamped Nov. 2, 2024, according to the criminal complaint.
10 Big Questions About the 2025 NFL Offseason | The Ringer
9. Will Travis Kelce retire?
It’s possible that one of the most—if not the most—recognizable faces in the NFL could hang ’em up this offseason. The Chiefs have reportedly given Kelce until mid-March to decide whether he wants to come back for another season in 2025.
Kelce has an $11.5 million roster bonus that’s due on March 15, the effective deadline for him to make the call. If he retires, he’d be going out on a low note—just four receptions on six targets for 39 yards in the Super Bowl loss, all of which came in the second half. But that result was perhaps emblematic of a reason that Kelce could want to walk away, as it’s becoming clear that years of hits and extended seasons have taken a toll on him. Kelce has started more than a full season’s worth of playoff games since Mahomes came to Kansas City in 2017.
Kelce also, obviously, has a lot of opportunities waiting for him outside of football, and a rather famous girlfriend he might enjoy spending more time with if he chooses to walk away.
32 biggest NFL offseason questions: Will Cowboys give Micah Parsons a record deal? | FOX Sports
Is Travis Kelce coming back, and does he have much left?
The Chiefs have reportedly given their 35-year-old, Hall of Fame-bound tight end a month to make a decision on his future, so they know going into free agency what they have to do. What is already clear, though, is that Kelce has been on a steep decline the last two seasons, and was a shell of his old self with a career-low 8.5 yards per catch in 2025 (97-823). He is still a focal point of the Chiefs’ offense and a favorite of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but the Chiefs need to decide if that’s a wise strategy if Kelce wants to play another season. He was targeted 133 times by Mahomes in the regular season — 35 more times than anyone else. It might be time to start working in another tight end (Noah Gray was only targeted 49 times) or finding a true No. 1 receiver and making him the focus of the offense instead.
Unrestricted free agents: DeAndre Hopkins (WR), Justin Reid (S), Charles Omenihu (EDGE), Marquise Brown (WR), D.J. Humphries (LT), Joshua Uche (EDGE), Tershawn Wharton (IDL), Carson Wentz (QB), Derrick Nnadi (IDL), Justin Watson (WR), Samije Perine (RB), Nick Bolton (LB), Mike Pennel (IDL), James Winchester (LS), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR), Kareem Hunt (RB), Mecole Hardman (WR), Marlon Tuipulotu (IDL), Jody Fortson (TE), Trey Smith (RG)
Projected cap space: $941,128
Team needs: T, G, DT, EDGE
A retool at tackle is what the Chiefs need, especially how Kansas City got blown off the ball by Philadelphia’s edge rushers in Super Bowl LIX. Guard will be a priority, especially if Trey Smith leaves. The return of Rashee Rice will help at wide receiver.
Bills focused on building best roster, not just beating Chiefs | ESPN
Building the Buffalo Bills’ roster to take down just one team — the Kansas City Chiefs — isn’t a philosophy they’re interested in.
“You never want to build your team to beat one team. In fairness to the Chiefs, you never really know it’s going to be them every year. Although it has been them,” McDermott said. “I look at it like, how do we put a team together against whoever it is every year. Whatever team shows up in these rounds, and coach at a level and have the personnel at a level, all of us, starting with me, to be at a level that we can beat them — whoever it is.”
The Bills’ season has ended against the Chiefs in four of the past five years, including in this year’s AFC Championship Game. Getting past Kansas City in the playoffs — despite winning four of five regular-season meetings since 2020 — is a hurdle the team has struggled to clear.
Around the NFL
Chargers to Host NFL Game in Brazil During 2025 Season’s Opening Weekend | Bleacher Report
Per an official announcement from the NFL on Wednesday, the Chargers will be the designated home team at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo on Friday night during the first week of the regular season.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in November that the league was hoping to play at least eight international games in 2025.
Wednesday’s announcement about the Chargers in Brazil brings the number of confirmed designated home teams for international games to seven. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets will play in London.
The Indianapolis Colts will be the designated home team for a game at Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Spain will host its first-ever regular-season game, with the Miami Dolphins as the host club.
George Pickens Lists Aaron Rodgers As a ‘Dream Teammate’ As Steelers Rumors Swirl | SI
Whichever team, if any, decides to pull the trigger on Rodgers will be bringing in a 40-year-old with very recent injury history and some unique baggage. At the same time, they’ll be bringing in one of the greatest to ever play the position who showed some flashes late in the season to suggest he could regain his former form.
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens, it seems, would welcome the opportunity to play with Rodgers as he named the future Hall of Famer as one of his “dream teammates.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Roster: 4 players from 2024 signed to new teams
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The most familiar is the veteran running back that Kansas City waived from its active roster in mid-December. After he cleared waivers, Edwards-Helaire was then signed to the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, from which he was elevated to appear in two late-season games, gaining 70 yards on 16 touches. It looks like the Saints liked what they saw in the former first-round pick. On Thursday, they signed him to a Reserve/Futures contract for 2025.
LB Swayze Bozeman
The Chicago Bears signed Bozeman to a Reserve/Futures contract on Friday.
Signed as a UDFA in 2024, the former Mississippi State player spent 2024 on the Chiefs’ practice squad. He was elevated for six games last season: the maximum of three regular-season games and all three playoff games. He spent all but a handful of his snaps on special teams.
Social media to make you think
“[Patrick Mahomes] is their largest investment. You need to protect him. … It’s about his future which I’m sure they feel like is hopefully at least another decade.” @tthasselbeck on why the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line is the No. 1 issue this offseason ✍️ pic.twitter.com/0vv5fKsBGw
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 18, 2025
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