Getty Gehrig Dieter (second from right) and his Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver teammates in 2021.
During a round of cuts on May 5, the Kansas City Chiefs once again parted ways with wide receiver reserve Gehrig Dieter. The lovable locker room favorite had seesawed on and off the roster since KC signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 2017.
Dieter’s career with the Chiefs was so filled with transaction notices that some fans jokingly speculated on his eventual return sometime early in the 2022 season, but his return now appears far less likely after Dieter, 29, announced his retirement on June 8.
“Gehrig Dieter will be back by week 3. Dude has 9 lives,” one fan tweeted.
ALL the latest Chiefs news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Chiefs newsletter here!
Dieter Calls It Quits
In an unexpected announcement, Dieter took to Twitter to reveal that his football career had come to an abrupt end. “I’ve decided to retire from football! Thank you for everything KC. Been a crazy journey!” he tweeted.
I’ve decided to retire from football! Thank you for everything KC. Been a crazy journey!
In his post, Dieter included photos of him with Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill and his wife, Meg, as holds the first of his two daughters.
Dieter, a former Bowling Green State star (and Alabama transfer), was with the Chiefs organization — mostly as a practice squad warrior for head coach Andy Reid — for five years, recording two official NFL receptions for a total of 32 yards.
Dieter did add some work on special teams from 2018 through 2020, logging 124 snaps. After being unable to find his way on the field last season and getting cut this spring, the wide receiver appears to have decided to call it quits.
Known for being well-liked around the building, Dieter developed a strong bond with both Mahomes and Hill, which became evident on social media over the years.
He was actually one of four players that Hill acknowledged by name after being traded to the Miami Dolphins in March, and Dieter was the only practice squad player who could get away with publicly ragging on Mahomes. In some ways, the reserve wideout was a one-of-a-kind teammate, even if he never became a key contributor on the field.
Follow the Heavy on Chiefs Facebook page, where you can weigh in on all the latest KC-related daily content, analysis, features and more!
Transition at WR Presented Difficult Challenge for Dieter
The direction of the offseason made it tough for the Chiefs to hold on to a player like Dieter. With Hill gone, general manager Brett Veach searched for quantity and diversity at the position and that crowded the wide receiver corps.
Although the undrafted prospect battling for a roster spot from the moment he entered the league, the depth in front of him just became too overpowering in 2022.
The Chiefs’ depth at wide receiver might’ve been a bad thing for Dieter, but it’s a good sign for Kansas City. Roster spots won’t come easy this summer and the wide receiver room looks more competitive than ever.
Each pass catcher will attempt to prove two things during training camp. One: that he’s mastered the playbook and brought something unique to the table for Reid, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and their system. And two: that he’s built sufficient chemistry with Mahomes.
Anyone who can accomplish those two tasks — while also potentially serving a purpose on special teams — should have a place on the Week 1 roster.