A familiar face has returned to the Kansas City Chiefs, albeit in a new role, this summer.

Former Chiefs offensive lineman Cameron Erving is back with the team, not as a player but as a coaching protege, taking his first steps into life on the sideline during the preseason. And according to Andy Reid, he’s already making a strong impression.

“Cam’s just getting into it,” Reid said following Sunday’s training camp practice in St. Joseph. “But he can give them that side of just having played, so there’s merit to that. He’s got a knack [for it]. He’s a good communicator, and it looks like he’s a real good teacher.”

The Chiefs brought Erving on board, along with Juan Castillo, as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program. Over the last three decades, the Walsh Fellowship has helped former players and minority coaches to gain greater experience and connections in the league by sponsoring shorter offseason or preseason stints with various teams.

Cam Erving is hanging out with the Chiefs in training camp with an eye toward a coaching career.

Erving, a former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, spent three seasons with the Chiefs from 2017 to 2019. The Chiefs dealt for Erving shortly before the 2017 season got underway by sending a fifth-round choice to the Browns. The Chiefs would go on to keep Erving with a two-year contract extension the following autumn.

Erving suited up at both tackle and guard during his tenure with the Chiefs and was part of the team’s Super Bowl LIV run. While he’s played up for multiple teams in his NFL career, his stint with Kansas City was the most stable (and successful) of his playing days. Now, he returns to the same franchise in a very different capacity, trying his hand at coaching for the first time.

After starting his career in Cleveland as a former first-round pick, Erving bounced around the league for another four seasons after the Chiefs decided to part ways with him before the 2020 campaign. Dallas signed Erving after K.C. declined to pick up Erving’s option, but he’d only see the field in six games for the Cowboys that year.

The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints served as Erving’s homes for his final three seasons in the NFL. He remained a spot starter throughout but was never able to find a long-term home in a starting five for any team—including the one that drafted him. Still, his versatility was a very useful commodity for teams dealing with injury concerns up front.

Reid remains an obvious fan of Erving, and it’s always fun to see a player turn the corner and become a leader of men.

The nature of the Walsh Fellowship means that Erving’s tenure will likely end when the Chiefs wrap up their work in St. Joseph, Missouri. However, with Reid in his corner, Erving has a good chance of finding a place to earn his stripes if he wants to keep coaching.