The departure of veteran safety Justin Reid left a significant hole in the Kansas City Chiefs' secondary, and the front office didn't stray far from the formula by re-signing a reliable replacement. Mike Edwards, who signed a one-year deal to return to Kansas City last week, shared his thoughts on the franchise during his Zoom press conference on Wednesday.
"In the first time, I was coming into a first time (with) a new team. You know, I was in Tampa for the first four years, and then coming to a new team, so it was kind of different for me," said Edwards. "Then, knowing that they (Kansas City) had just won a Super Bowl a year prior, so I was trying to get adjusted as best as I could. I knew what kind of guys that they had over here, but I didn't really know exactly who was over there, so it was kind of a little bit hard to get adjusted, but once the Chiefs and the players and all the coaches were real family-oriented and brought me into their world. I feel like during the season I was trying to get acclimated to the playbook and everything that comes with it, being on a new team."
During the 2023 season in Kansas City, Edwards recorded 51 total tackles, five passes defended, and an interception. Edwards played with the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
Having déjà vu 😄 @M__Edwards7pic.twitter.com/cHjev3v0sg
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 8, 2025
"Now, I feel like I kind of know everything about them – the whole players, all the players, and the coaches and (I) know the playbook so it won't be too hard as far as getting ready for a new team because I'm kind of already familiar with everything. I feel like it will be a different direction as far as taking on a leadership role with J-Reid (Saints safety Justin Reid) being gone," said Edwards. "He had that – I mean, he's one of the select few guys that I know that has that type of leadership style that he puts on and shares with his teammates and everything, so I'll try to pick up as best as I can and follow his footsteps and try to take on that role being the older guy in that room, I guess. As year seven, it sounds crazy to say, but yeah, so I take on that role and I feel like I can do that just because I feel like I have that respect from the coaches and my fellow teammates and knowing the playbook like I said and trying to get on that role as best as I can. So, as soon as I get there (on) day one, I'll just try to take on that role for sure."
Edwards comes back with the knowledge of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system and Super Bowl experience to help transition from Reid and bridge with the younger players.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs DB Mike Edwards discusses leadership in his second stint
