Chiefs: Could 2024 Be The Return of the FB?

Laddie Morse

All-Pro Fullback Anthony Sherman exited the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason of 2021. Yep, after the 2020 season “The Sausage” — as he was affectionately known as — retired, and the Chiefs moved on with Michael Burton as their FB, Burton played one more year with the Chiefs, two total, but only had 5 carries for 7 yards his last year in K.C.. He now plays for the abominable Broncos.

Burton’s production, or lack thereof, may be the reason Andy Reid chose to move on without a FB last season. This year, although UDFA Carson Steele is making his bid to be that guy, at 6-foot-0 and 228, the cards may be stacked against him because he’s a bit light in the britches, as they say. Not only that, but the Chiefs will likely go with four Tight Ends in Travis Kelce, Jared Wiley, Noah Gray and Irv Smith. Consequently, Carson Steele may be on the outside looking in, when all is said and done. Plus, there are also other TEs available on the 90-man roster like Gerrit Prince from UAB and Baylor Cupp out of Texas Tech. Both much bigger than Steele.

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Carson Steele

Steele played his college ball at Ball State then moved on to UCLA… in his last year. He gained 3,294 yards in his three years of college but obviously moved on to UCLA so he could get higher visibility. Although Steele only gained 847 yards while at UCLA here’s one of his TDs (should have had it on the jump to the end zone)… nevertheless, they got it on the QB tush-push (0:22):

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Steele only runs a 4.75 – 40 yards dash but looks faster here. If Steele is to make the roster, he will likely have to impress Special Teams coach Dave Toub. Reid may end up wanting to use Steele as a ram rod near the goal line but that’s also when he’s had success with Isiah Pacheco. Reid loves backs who can catch the ball:

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The Chiefs currently don’t have a RB#3 so Steele may have a chance there. However, as I’ve already mentioned above, they could end up going with Four TEs so that would likely eliminate the necessity of carrying an extra RB, ie: FB. That’s where Steele’s competition is then… from a TE. Irv Smith is 6-foot-2, and goes at 240 lbs.. It’s then hard to see Steele beating out Irv Smith unless he does something spectacular in Training Camp. That’s possible, but not likey.

While Steele was at Ball State he garnered the nicknames of: “Thor”, “Fabio”, and “Man of Steele”… but that may have had as much to do with his long blond hair and physique as anything else. He did have a 1,500 + yard season at Ball St. — in 12 games — so that’s nothing to sneeze at. While at Center Grove High School, Steele was honored as Mr. Football for the state of Indiana:

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Since Steele was in the second grade, he’s owned a Pet Crocodile named “Crocky-J”:

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Steele’s Pet Crock has obviously grown to 4 or 5 feet in length. While the Chiefs love their “characters” they must be able to play the game first and foremost, and do it at a high level. I’m not so sure Carson Steele fits the K.C. mold.

You may be able to tell I’m not a big fan of Carson Steele or think he has a good chance to make the 53-man roster and you’d be right for thinking that way. What do you think about Steele’s chances?

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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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