BREAKING: Kansas City Chiefs Launch Groundbreaking Support Program for Released Players
In an unprecedented move that is sure to set a new standard for NFL teams, the Kansas City Chiefs have unveiled a pioneering 3-year support program for players whose careers have come to an end. As the first team to introduce such an initiative, the Chiefs are taking significant strides in ensuring that former players have the resources and guidance they need to transition into life after football.
A Bold Step Toward Player Welfare
The Chiefs’ new program is designed to support players who are released from contracts or retire from the sport, providing them with comprehensive resources to help them navigate their post-football careers. This three-year assistance plan includes career development, educational stipends, mental health support, financial counseling, and family guidance, with the goal of offering a smooth transition to civilian life.
“We recognize that life after football can be a challenging and uncertain time for many players,” said Chiefs’ general manager Brett Veach. “Our program is here to ensure that they have the tools they need to not only cope with the transition but thrive in the next phase of their lives. From finding new careers to managing financial challenges, we are here to support them every step of the way.”
Ongoing Financial Assistance for Stability
One of the key features of the program is the financial support provided to former players each month, ensuring they can manage living costs while adjusting to life outside of the NFL. The Chiefs are committed to providing former players with the financial stability necessary to build a secure future as they embark on new professional and personal journeys.
“The financial assistance will help ease the burden of the transition period, allowing our former players to focus on building their next chapter without the immediate pressure of day-to-day financial worries,” Veach added.
Emphasizing the Chiefs’ ‘Family First’ Philosophy
This initiative is a clear reflection of the Chiefs' strong commitment to their players’ well-being. The team’s “family first” ethos is now extending far beyond the football field, demonstrating that the Chiefs care deeply about their players’ futures, even after their playing days are over.
“We consider our players family, and we want them to succeed both on and off the field,” said Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid. “This program is designed to give them the support they need to find their next purpose, build their careers, and be mentally and emotionally healthy throughout the process. We’re committed to their well-being, no matter where their journey takes them.”
A Game-Changing Model for the NFL
With the launch of this groundbreaking program, the Kansas City Chiefs are leading the way for other NFL teams to follow suit. By offering a support system for players transitioning out of the game, the Chiefs are setting a new benchmark for player welfare in the league.
“We’re hopeful that other teams will see the value in this and start offering similar programs for their players,” said Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. “Our players deserve the best, and we want to be at the forefront of ensuring that they’re supported throughout their careers and beyond.”
Vikings Get Huge Update on LB Blake Cashman Ahead of Week 7
Coming out of their bye week, the Minnesota Vikings got some positive news on a key defensive starter. LB Blake Cashman, a former fifth-round pick of the Jets whom the Vikings signed in 2024, has been on Injured Reserve (IR) since Week 1 after sustaining a hamstring injury in the team’s Week 1 game against the Bears.
But in great news for the Vikings, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced during his Monday press conference that the team is opening the 21-day practice window for Cashman. When a player returns from IR, the team can activate a 21-day window during which the player can practice with the team, but does not count against an active roster spot until he’s ready to return to game action. The team can fully activated him at any time in that window, but if they don’t before the 21 days expire, the player reverts to IR and cannot be activated again that season.
“[I’m] also excited to open up Blake Cashman’s [practice] window, we’ll open [it] up today,” O’Connell said. “We’ll go out for some on-field work today to kinda get the week kicked off. …It’ll be great to get Cash back on the practice field, we’re opening that window up, and he’s done a heck of a job getting himself ready to go. And we’ll give him the week of preparation and see where he’s at towards the tail end of the week.”
O’Connell also announced that QB J.J. McCarthy, RT Brian O’Neill, G Donovan Jackson, and C Michael Jurgens all returned to practice on Monday after missing the Vikings‘ Week 5 game against the Browns in London.
LB Blake Cashman is Critical to the Minnesota Vikings Defense
Stephen Maturen/GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 29: Andrew Van Ginkel #43 and Blake Cashman #51 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrate after sacking Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
“I think a guy like Blake Cashman coming back is critical as well,” O’Connell said later in his press conference. “Because he assumes that ‘green dot’ position and we have just seen since we got Blake, when he is out there, and we’re playing the kind of defense we’re accustomed to seeing, Blake’s got a lot to do with it. So [we’re] very excited to get him back.”
The “green dot position” refers to a literal green dot sticker that one player on each side of the ball wears on the back of their helmet. Only one player for each team is allowed to wear one on the field on any given play, but the green dot designates which player is allowed to talk to the coaches on the sidelines through the helmet communication systems. On offense, that’s always the quarterback. On defense, it’s typically the middle linebacker, but it can also be a safety or other linebacker position.
For the Vikings defense, that player is Cashman. He’s responsible for getting the defense set, communicating the playcall to the rest of the unit, making sure everyone’s in the right spots, and calling out any audibles or adjustments based on what the offense is doing. More than just what he offers during the play, Minnesota is getting the quarterback of their defense back.
It’s a Good Time for the Minnesota Vikings to Get Healthy
While they aren’t quite dealing with the catastrophic level of injuries teams like the Ravens and 49ers are, the Vikings are maybe in a tier below that alongside the Chargers as teams that have still lost a lot. 10 combined Minnesota starters and the backups that replaced those starters were out or dealing with injuries in Week 5.
But now, the Vikings are getting some of those pieces back at the perfect time. Minnesota plays the Eagles, Chargers, and Lions over the next three weeks, and each team is currently 4-2. It’s a tough stretch, but the Vikings are getting back the manpower to handle it.
