Undrafted rookie Carson Steele never played fullback in college. Now he could make the Chiefs (2024)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Much to his surprise, Carson Steele heard the chants from a large group of Kansas City Chiefs fans after Monday’s training camp practice. Steele’s smile grew wider and wider the louder the chants grew.

“CAR-SON! CAR-SON! CAR-SON!”

While sitting in a golf cart and waiting to talk with reporters, Steele did something few players would do: He stood up and ran about 50 yards to greet the fans, which created a roar that crescendoed when he arrived. Steele spent a few minutes signing balls, signs and hats. He took a few selfies with fans, too.Many of them became fans of Steele on Saturday night when the undrafted rookie fullback made a stellar debut in the Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“It’s awesome,” Steele said. “It’s really a true blessing. My phone was blowing up a little bit (Saturday night). Everybody was so excited for me and I celebrated that night a little bit.”

In front of a small group of family members and friends, Steele was the biggest winner among the players trying to earn one of the final spots on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.

Playing most of his snaps as a bigger-than-usual running back, the 6-foot, 230-pound Steele led the Chiefs with 29 rushing yards, as each of his four carries was memorable. Steele’s first touch was spectacular. In the second quarter, he gained 20 rushing yards while breaking three tackles, a highlight reminiscent of former six-time Pro Bowler Mike Alstott.

“I saw a little bit and then didn’t, so I decided to put my head down and go,” Steele said. “I love to establish (a physicality, saying), ‘Hey, we’re not here to mess around.’ I try to get in there and run through everybody and go for it.”

We have to think Carson Steele qualifies as a preseason #AngryRuns alert 🚨 @kylebrandt

📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1gIOEjHfYq

— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024

One of the funnier aspects of the play was how Steele finished his run. After he reached the perimeter, running through the tackling attempt of cornerback Erick Hallett II, Steele kept seeking contact, to the point he almost trucked Chiefs receiver Justyn Ross, who was blocking Jaguars cornerback Tre Flowers. Ross gave Steele some flack when they returned to the huddle.

“I kind of pushed him out of the way to keep on going,” Steele said, smiling. “But he was blocking, kicking butt for us, so I’m not mad at it.”

Each time Steele touched the ball, he gained yards, including a 5-yard gain that featured him breaking a tackle near the line of scrimmage.

“You saw what he was as a running back and he’s learning the fullback spot, as needed,” coach Andy Reid said. “If he’s going to make the team, he’s got to be a good special teams player and he’s got to be able to carry the ball and stay aggressive like he’s doing right now. He had a productive day.”

Another reason Steele has a strong case to make the initial roster is that Reid is a traditionalist who values having a versatile fullback. Last season, the Chiefs, for the first time in Reid’s 11 seasons in Kansas City, didn’t have a fullback, with tight end Noah Gray occasionally filling the role. Before camp, Steele added five pounds to have more of a fullback frame.

Carson Steele powers his way in for the score!

📺: #KCvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/32aWEpeSjI

— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024

Steele, 21, had never been a fullback in high school or college before joining the Chiefs. But his rugged running style intrigued NFL scouts before the draft. As a sophom*ore at Ball State, Steele had 1,556 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns in 12 games in 2022, making him the top available running back in the transfer portal. He joined UCLA last year and thrived in the offense under former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly, leading the Bruins with 847 yards and eight touchdowns.

Growing up in the Indianapolis area, Steele would watch highlights of Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson before every game.

“Even though we have different styles, I’d love watching him on YouTube,” Steele said. He later added of his own game: “Growing up, north and south was my big thing, straight up and down and being an older-styled running back trying to push through everything.”

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Steele graded as the 31st-best running back in this year’s draft class.

“Steele won’t wow with his ability to create with speed or lateral quickness, but he runs with vision and urgency and has pass-catching value,” Brugler wrote in “The Beast.” “His chances of earning an NFL roster spot likely will hinge on his development in pass protection and special teams coverage.”

When Steele wasn’t selected in the draft, he chose to sign with the Chiefs because of the success Reid has had with fullbacks — including Anthony Sherman, Michael Burton, Leonard Weaver and Jon Ritchie. Steele loved the idea of potentially playing in the Chiefs’ backfield alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes and running back Isiah Pacheco in short-yardage situations.

The Chiefs’ 16-play drive in the second quarter against the Jaguars ended with a perfect scenario for Reid to evaluate Steele in a short-yardage situation: fourth-and-goal from the Jaguars’ 1-yard line. Steele reached the end zone for the rushing touchdown and was congratulated by several teammates, including Mahomes and Pacheco, when he reached the sideline.

His first NFL TD. Celebrate it, rook!#EasyToCelebrate | @budlight pic.twitter.com/3gefEMuKfX

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 11, 2024

Steele’s teammates have already given him a nickname: Crocodile, which is a reference to his longtime pet alligator.

“I got him in second or third grade as a Christmas present,” Steele said. “He’s probably around four or five feet. I named him Crocky-J when I was younger because I thought it sounded a little better. He’s probably 100 pounds. He’s in a big aquarium back home” in Greenwood, Ind.

Although Steele didn’t block for another ball carrier against the Jaguars, he had a nice chip block to help right tackle Lucas Niang on a completion by quarterback Chris Oladokun. The next test for Steele will come in Saturday’s home exhibition against the Detroit Lions when the Chiefs see how well he can block for Pacheco and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

“I’m excited … to keep pushing through and learning how to be able to block out the backfield,” Steele said. “It really helps my game to be able to do everything.”

Injury update

• Linebacker Nick Bolton (left elbow) and receiver Kadarius Toney (back) returned to the practice fields after missing Saturday’s game. Safety Justin Reid (quad) was a limited participant for the first time in camp.

• Andy Reid said wide receiver Marquise Brown didn’t need surgery Saturday night to repair the sternoclavicular dislocation he sustained on the game’s opening snap and is back in Kansas City. Brown could miss the Chiefs’ Sept. 5 season opener. In most instances, the timeline for a full recovery is four to six weeks.

• McKade Mettauer, the undrafted rookie guard, sustained a torn MCL in his left knee in Saturday’s game. Reid said Mettauer will not need surgery.

• Edwards-Helaire (illness), defensive tackle Chris Jones (shoulder), offensive tackle Wanya Morris (bruised right knee), safety Bryan Cook (excused for personal reasons), receiver Jaaron Hayek (shoulder) and defensive end Charles Omenihu (recovering from a torn right ACL) didn’t participate.

(Photo: Corey Perrine / Florida Times-Union)

Nate Taylor has been a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Kansas City Chiefs since 2018. Before that, he covered the Indiana Pacers at The Indianapolis Star for two years. He has also been a sports features writer for The New York Times and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A Kansas City native, he graduated from the University of Central Missouri. Follow Nate on Twitter @ByNateTaylor