Chiefs Historical Question
 

I was starting to think about the practice squad and all the talented players that could end up on the Chiefs practice squad and it got me wondering - has there been any Chiefs player that was signed to the practice squad that was elevated at some point and became a significant contributor?

I would define significant contributor as a player on Offense or Defense that receives above average snap counts at their respective position and produces (receptions, rushes if applicable)- special teams snaps don't count. Just to be clear just being on the active roster isn't qualifying - there has to be significant game action with moderate productivity.

*EDIT*

JJ Birden
Willie Davis
Byron Pringle
Tracy Simien

Joe Horn is the first to pop to mind. Byron Pringle could maybe make that list as well?

I'm sure there have been if we look back through history.

(Looks back through history.)

Willie Davis apparently started out on the practice squad.

Tracy Simien.

Gehrig Dieter

Tom Barndt.

Where are you finding this? I'm having a hard time digging up any info on who was on a practice squad at one point.

Has 8 games in 2 years for 32 yards on 5 targets (2 receptions) - not exactly qualifying

I don't know where it comes from, but I was looking at the wikipedia pages by year and they list a handful of practice squad players in some years.

Like this, and change the year to see other years:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_K..._Chiefs_season

I don't know where they're getting the information, and it's not complete, but it tends to make sense since it's a lot of undrafted or low-drafted guys.

Pellom McDaniels was on the 1992 practice squad in the above link, though I don't think he was ever a regular starter.

He gets credit for Mahomes since he’s his BFF

JJ Birden and Willie Davis

Fair

Tracy Simien

found a good source

1990-10-01 Chiefs • J.J. Birden signed free agent to practice squad

Interesting in light of the Jones situation

1990-09-12 Chiefs • Albert Lewis activated from reserve/did not report list

I need your source, man. I need it bad.

1990-04-25 Chargers • Willie Davis (Clark) signed UDbundle of sticksent
1990-05-02 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) signed free agent
1990-09-03 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) waived
1990-09-04 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) released
1991-02-22 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) signed free agent
1991-08-26 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) waived
1991-08-27 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) released
1991-08-28 Chiefs • Willie Davis (Clark) signed free agent to practice squad

http://www.prosportstransactions.com...&submit=Search

This site has listings, though I don't see a way to search for only practice squad transactions.

https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/

Ha! I remembered it on my own right as you posted it.

1996-04-21 Cardinals • 1996 fifth round pick (#161-Harry Stamps) • 1996 fifth round pick (#162-Dell McGee)
trade with Chiefs
• 1996 fifth round pick (#135-Joe Horn (b. 1972-01-16))
1996-04-21 Chiefs • 1996 fifth round pick (#135-Joe Horn (b. 1972-01-16))
1996-04-21 Chiefs • Joe Horn (b. 1972-01-16) 1996 NFL draft fifth round pick (#135 overall)
1996-06-26 Chiefs • Joe Horn (b. 1972-01-16) signed fifth round pick

2019-09-10 Chiefs • Byron Pringle waived
2019-09-12 Chiefs • Byron Pringle signed free agent to practice squad
2019-09-14 Chiefs • Byron Pringle signed from practice squad to active roster

CP filter strikes again!

Lol, little harsh on ole #84.

This year! Danny ****ING Shelton!

Tony Richardson and Brian Waters both spent time on the Cowboys practice squad, if that counts.

No dice

995-08-27 Chiefs • Tom Barndt waived
1995-08-28 Chiefs • Tom Barndt released
1996-02-27 Chiefs • Tom Barndt signed free agent to a 2-year contract

Nice!

1989-05-03 Steelers • Tracy Simien signed free agent
1989-09-04 Steelers • Tracy Simien waived
1989-09-05 Steelers • Tracy Simien released
1989-09-07 Steelers • Tracy Simien signed free agent to developmental squad
1990-02-02 Steelers • Tracy Simien player became an unrestricted free agent
1990-03-30 Saints • Tracy Simien signed unrestricted free agent
1990-09-03 Saints • Tracy Simien waived
1990-09-04 Saints • Tracy Simien released
1990-12-01 Chiefs • Tracy Simien signed free agent to practice squad
1991-02-22 Chiefs • Tracy Simien signed free agent

1994-04-28 Cowboys • Tony Richardson signed undrafted free agent
1994-08-28 Cowboys • Tony Richardson waived
1994-08-29 Cowboys • Tony Richardson released
1995-02-08 Chiefs • Tony Richardson signed free agent

1999-04-23 Cowboys • Brian Waters signed undrafted free agent
1999-09-05 Cowboys • Brian Waters waived
1999-09-06 Cowboys • Brian Waters released
2000-01-11 Chiefs • Brian Waters signed free agent
2000-03-06 Chiefs • Brian Waters signed free agent

We can't leave out this NFL Hall of Famer
https://i.ibb.co/wrHXY0M/s-l1200.webp

LMAO

Well, you're going to have to correct wikipedia, then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_K..._Chiefs_season

I don't have editing privileges :p

I hate it when a source that I like isn't perfect. I use that transaction database occasionally, but here's an article from September 5th, 1995, that shows the Chiefs signing Barndt to their practice squad.

https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/199...7482810273600/

Kansas City -- Signed cornerback Perry Carter, tight end Willy Tate, linebacker Don Davis and offensive linemen Tom Barndt and Ron Florine to the practice squad.

(And I'm not trying to start an internet fight. It's an interesting question. I'm just wondering why this transaction would be missing.)

Nice find! I don't understand why the practice squad isn't tracked more accurately like the starting roster - Simply for the stories you can dig up like JJ Birden, Willie Davis and Joe horn type success stories.

Chiefs had some good success with NFL Europe players - Brian Waters and Mike Maslowski are two that didn't get on the practice squad but played over there.

I'm really enjoying the resurgence of the XFL and the USFL - I'd love to see NFL Europe make a come back

Yeah, you gotta think that there are records somewhere. In 1995, organizations certainly had reasonably well-developed computer records, but I bet the backup systems weren't ideal, and the data certainly wasn't networked. I wonder where a place like the transaction database is getting their data. If they're scraping news stories, which seems implausible, they're certainly going to miss transactions, especially minor ones like practice squad moves.

And if they were imperfect in the 1990s, the 1970s and earlier are going to be really spotty. I still chuckle at the story of George Allen trading away a draft pick twice when he was with the Commanderskins, and no one noticed until draft day when two teams tried to pick. They probably kept the records on a cocktail napkin in an ash tray on Pete Rozelle's desk.

I think the NFL will eventually get some sort of minor league affiliation with the XFL or USFL.

Y'know, I love football and all, but I've seen these leagues come and go and I've never developed one iota of interest in them. I think I need to know the players and continuity of the stories they bring, and as an adult I don't really have the desire to invest a few seasons to build that momentum.

When I was a kid, football was new and exciting and I learned the players and got myself into that do-loop of watching players come and go. I wonder if I would be a football fan if I hadn't seen a game until I was 30.

If you knew say the St. Louis Battlehawks were the Chiefs affiliate and had some of our training camp and practice squad stars you might follow them and watch a few games.

I dunno. I never watched the WLAF when there were Chiefs prospects assigned to them. Maybe I saw a game or two, but that was it.

I may be an outlier, because I don't really follow any sports other than the Chiefs. I don't watch baseball or basketball, and I don't watch college football. I pretty much just watch the NFL, and in recent years that's even been narrowing a bit to only the Chiefs.

Agreed - I used to be an avid baseball fan and a passive basketball fan but I rarely watch anymore.

Hmmm. Bobby Sippio was elevated from the practice squad in Sept 2007 and played a full season. Let's check his stats....

LMAO LMAO LMAO