Chiefs sign former Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to one-year deal, report says
We’ll go ahead and open it up to questions if you guys wanna fire away. Kenneth, why, why was Kansas City *** fit for you? Um, Cause it’s *** winter coach when *** culture, you know, um. Oh no, it’s always, yeah, it’s *** winning culture, you know, um. Watching over the years, I’ve been to plenty of Super Bowls and you know they know how to win, so I feel like it’s *** great fit for me. If you came out of the draft in *** year where the Chiefs needed *** running back. Did you have any conversations with them then ahead of the draft? Um, no, not that I know of. Uh, I know I met, you know, the owner when I was at coming out of college with the Doak Walker Award. We just ended up running into each other, but, uh, other than that, I never really had conversations with him. Can you go back to just that, that weekend, what that draft experience was like for you though? Um, you’re saying when I got, when I got drafted, um. It was *** lot, you know, you didn’t know where you were gonna go, what teams were really interested in you, so, um, but when I did get drafted, it, it meant *** lot to me, you know, going to Seattle, so, uh, it was, it was *** great experience. I’m from *** pretty decent sized family. Just what does this mean to everybody for you to get this contract and, you know, have that and that generational wealth. Yeah, uh, it means, means *** lot, you know, all the work that you put in as *** kid, you know, and the sacrifices my parents made for me, uh, and my siblings, uh, you know, uh, and you see it and it’s paying off, it means *** lot. Do you look back to the sacrifices your parents made to this moment? Yeah, definitely, uh, always, you know, my, my pop’s still with me and, you know, still making sacrifice for me and helping me to be better, *** better version of myself each and every day. Kenneth, the Chiefs made it pretty clear that they wanted you, um, once you got to free agency. Just what did it mean because of, like you said, their winning culture that they sort of targeted you as their, their big prize? Yeah, uh, it means *** lot, you know, uh. You feel appreciated and wanted, you know, that’s, that’s what everybody wants. So, uh, I’m just happy to get in here and be able to get to know the guys and work. Kenneth, you’ve made it to the league. You’ve won *** Super Bowl. You’ve been Super Bowl MVP, and now you’ve got the contract. What’s that next driving force for you? Um. Just trying to go get another one, you know, um, I know we got *** lot of great, great guys on the team, uh, like I said, I’m ready to get to know them and, um, you know, just go out there and do my best, you know. There’s *** lot of contact that you had with with Patrick Mahomes just so far. Have you had any exchanges with him? I’m sure he’s quick to congratulate you. Yeah, yeah, definitely, uh, when I got, uh, when I came here, uh, you know, he tweeted out and, you know. Uh, commented on my Instagram too, so, and then we talked on the phone and text each other, so, um, and I was able to see him today, so it was cool to meet him, real gen genuine person. What is it about football that you love? What is it about football that I love, um. That’s *** lot I love about football, you know, but the feeling, the adrenaline, the, you know, the excitement you get when you go out there and put on the pads and, uh, I’m just competitive, so. Yeah. What was the process like since the Super Bowl as far as, you know, knowing whether or not you were gonna be able to stay in Seattle and then becoming *** free agent and the Chiefs, you know, expressing their interest. What was that period of time like for you? Um. Just being patient, honestly, you know, you gotta be patient. You don’t know who really wants you. um, it’s kind of like I guess the draft in *** sense where you don’t know where you’re gonna go, um, but yeah, I would say just really being patient and let my agents do do their job. You said it’s good to feel wanted, obviously besides lucrative contract. How did the Chiefs show that, show that to you in the process, um. Talking to my agents, I mean, I didn’t talk to them, but I wasn’t able to talk to them much, obviously, so, um, but you know, uh, when I got my contract finished, it pretty much shows that they wanted me here. What did the, what were the conversations like with Andy Reid? Oh, it was great, you know, we talked about everything, um. Not just football, we talked about life, honestly, you know, I like photography and he knew that, so we talked about that and you know all type of stuff so it was cool to get to meet him and you know understand who he is. How do you think your offense. I think you make *** great impact, you know, we got *** lot of guys that got speed on this team and *** lot of great players like I said before, so everybody’s just going to come together as *** team. And historically this hasn’t been *** team that’s run it *** whole lot. Do you think that is going to change? Yeah, I mean, I guess so. I hope so. But yeah, I think it will, and you know those guys up front, they’re they’re going to do *** great job. I watched them on film and I got to talk to some of them, so I’m excited to be here. Does he have *** desire to play this year? Yeah, definitely. I’m sure if you’re *** competitor, you always want to be on the field, so. Um, yeah, definitely. No, no, not at all. We haven’t really spoken about that. They just told me they like what they saw on film, so. What does it mean that you’re going to be coached by two former running backs that Eric the enemy and Marco? Yeah, it means *** lot because they played the position, you know, so they were, I feel like it holds more weight that much more because they, they were in this position before and they played in this league, so. I think it’ll be cool. What have your interactions been like so far with Coach B enemy? Have you talked to him yet? He’s pretty intense, intense. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, the more he talks about it, the more intense he gets. So, um, it’s been cool, you know, but you, you want *** person like that who’s real passionate about the game. So I’m excited to get to work with him. How do you picture yourself playing in the air now? How do I picture myself playing in Arrowhead, um. How was that wait, say that again. I mean, how, how you, you imagine that like getting in the, in the, in our head like playing for the Chief for the first time. Oh, OK, OK, yeah, yeah, I got you. Um, it’ll be surreal, you know, finally get in there and the stadium, you know, I came my rookie year, but I was on the other side, so, uh, it’d be cool to have like be out there and playing and, you know, seeing all the fans. And what have you learned so far about Kansas City as far as the culture here in the Midwest? Oh yeah, y’all got *** good steak out here. You know, we went to *** steakhouse the other day and uh it was pretty good, so I’m excited to get to learn more about the area for real. Did you, uh, how close was the decision anywhere? Did you really court other teams? Did you have any place else that you really looked at, or was it here? Uh, it was the other place I looked at. Um, it was other places, but, you know, it wasn’t, this is where I want to be. How much better do you think you can get Kenneth with *** big opportunity like this? Uh, *** lot better, you know, you get put in situations and, you know, get opportunities. I feel like you got *** lot of chance to up your game. Is there anything you want to maybe display here that you maybe didn’t get the opportunity or just with more experience, uh. I guess just everything, bro, all around. I just wanna be *** better player. All right guys, uh, for phototox we’re gonna have you hold this up real quick and sip over the side, yep, do you need that. Oh no. Come on we need *** bigger room, don’t we? Yeah, smile for me. All right guys, thank you, Ken. Appreciate you.
Chiefs sign former Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to one-year deal, report says
Updated: 7:59 PM CDT Mar 12, 2026
The Chiefs are reportedly adding another running back to the backfield. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the team has agreed to a one-year deal with former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado.Demercado spent the past three seasons in Arizona.The 5-foot-9 running back rushed for 819 yards and three touchdowns on 126 carries during his time with the Cardinals. He also added 324 receiving yards and one touchdown on 50 catches.Last season, Demercado played 13 games and finished with 312 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards.Demercado joins a revamped Kansas City backfield that already added running back Kenneth Walker III earlier this offseason.Isiah Pacheco, the team’s starting running back in 2025, signed with Detroit. Kareem Hunt remains a free agent. Demercado played college football at TCU after beginning his career at Saddleback College.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
The Chiefs are reportedly adding another running back to the backfield.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported the team has agreed to a one-year deal with former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado.
Demercado spent the past three seasons in Arizona.
The 5-foot-9 running back rushed for 819 yards and three touchdowns on 126 carries during his time with the Cardinals.
He also added 324 receiving yards and one touchdown on 50 catches.
Last season, Demercado played 13 games and finished with 312 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards.
Demercado joins a revamped Kansas City backfield that already added running back Kenneth Walker III earlier this offseason.
Isiah Pacheco, the team’s starting running back in 2025, signed with Detroit. Kareem Hunt remains a free agent.
Demercado played college football at TCU after beginning his career at Saddleback College.