{"id":772446,"date":"2026-02-24T05:09:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/772446\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T05:09:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:09:21","slug":"kansas-city-chiefs-release-two-time-super-bowl-champion-in-latest-brutal-offseason-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/772446\/","title":{"rendered":"Kansas City Chiefs release two-time Super Bowl champion in latest brutal offseason move"},"content":{"rendered":"

By BEN NAGLE, US SPORTS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 16:31 EST, 23 February 2026 | Updated: 16:41 EST, 23 February 2026 <\/p>\n

The Kansas<\/a> City Chiefs have released veteran pass rusher and two-time Super Bowl<\/a> champion Mike Danna ahead of the 2026 NFL season.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs are in cost-cutting mode after missing the playoffs, as Andy Reid<\/a> heads into a rebuild and sheds the dead weight of some of his older stars.<\/p>\n

While Travis Kelce<\/a> will be among the veteran names afforded a roster spot – if he decides to play on – the same cannot be said for Danna, who has now been released.<\/p>\n

The team announced the decision on social media, along with a message to Danna that simply read: ‘Thank you.’<\/p>\n

A year remained on the 28-year-old’s contract, but none of his scheduled base salary was guaranteed heading into 2026.<\/p>\n

The move frees up $8.94 million in cap space for Kansas City, who will take on a dead money charge of just $2.17m by releasing the pass rusher.<\/p>\n

\"Mike <\/p>\n

Mike Danna smiles as he walks off the field for the final time as a Kansas City Chiefs player<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The defensive end (wearing 51) celebrates after sacking Chargers QB Justin Herbert<\/p>\n

Danna is a two-time Super Bowl-winning player alongside Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, having helped the team lift the Lombardi in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.<\/p>\n

He burst onto the scene in 2023 by racking up 6.5 sacks and 47 quarterback pressures in 16 starts, which went on to earn him a huge three-year extension worth $24m.<\/p>\n

Danna’s stock has since fallen, though, and he was much less effective in 2025 as the Chiefs struggled to reach the same heights as recent years.<\/p>\n

In 2025 he played 15 games – starting 14 – but tallied just eight solo tackles, compared to 20 the year before and 32 the year before that.<\/p>\n

\"Danna <\/p>\n

Danna runs onto the field to high-five Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the 2023 season<\/p>\n

Danna has only ever played for the Chiefs, being drafted in 2020 out of Michigan with the 177th overall pick.<\/p>\n

While he has been cut by the Chiefs, Danna is expected to find a landing spot elsewhere, with Fox Sports predicting a number of different options.<\/p>\n

Per reports, San Francisco, Green Bay and Detroit all have major need at the edge position and see Danna as a potential option for 2026 and beyond.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At 28, Danna still has good years left in the tank and would be seen as an affordable option for multiple Super Bowl-chasing teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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