The Kansas City Chiefs brought back a familiar face this week, trading with the New York Jets to re-acquire defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi. It was something the veteran lineman didn’t see coming.
“Honestly, it was a little bit of a surprise,” Nnadi told reporters on Wednesday. “I was getting my body right for the next day at work — and then the GM called me and said, ‘Hey, just want to let you know, we traded you back to KC.’”
Nnadi had signed with the Jets in March after seven seasons in Kansas City. While in New York, he recorded five total tackles during three preseason games before being dealt back to the team that drafted him in 2018.
During the Jets’ training camp, Nnadi noticed the contrast with what he experienced at Chiefs’ camps in St. Joseph.
“It was completely different,” Nnadi explained. “It hit me when I got there — like, ‘I’m not in St. Joe any more.‘ Part of me missed being in the dorms, being out and away from it all, seeing that nice little dude on the field. It’s a different change of pace. It was definitely different [with the Jets] — but every team does things differently.”
However, what he missed most wasn’t the dorms or the drills. It was the bonds he built over years in Kansas City’s locker room.
“[I missed] the camaraderie with my teammates,” said Nnadi. “When I first got to the [Jets], I always thought like, ‘Man, I miss my D-line room. I miss the fellas. I miss the guys in the locker room.’”
The welcome back has been warm — especially from fellow defensive lineman Chris Jones, who was the first one to call Nnadi once the trade was announced. That set the tone for the rest of the team.
“It does mean a lot having my guys be so happy to see me from yesterday and today and the day before,” Nnadi said, clearly gratified. “A lot of guys have been happy to see me back: players, coaches and everybody. Even the janitorial crew — like my dog Pistol Pete? Everyone’s just happy to see me back.”
Nnadi has learned, however, that NFL business can move fast. What looked like a new beginning on another team has come full circle, landing him right back in Kansas City. But regardless of how he got here, Nnadi knows all that matters now is putting in the work — and showing he belongs on the team’s roster once again.
The 29-year-old knows what he brings to the Chiefs’ defensive line. He played in 115 games with Chiefs, collecting 222 tackles and 5.0 sacks. Last season, he suited up for all 17 games, finishing with 11 tackles while adding four more in the playoffs.
“Getting traded — of all things — is part of the business,” Nnadi said. “But at the same time, I’ve got to focus on my business. For me, I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder because I was gone and I came back. They’re bringing me back for a reason — so in my mind, I’ve just got to stay focused on what I’ve got to do.
“In the words of a great speaker, ‘Be where your feet are.’”
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