It’s no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs will see some players depart this offseason. That’s a natural part of the NFL calendar, as free agency sees plenty of doors open elsewhere.
Whether it’s a trade pickup from during the season, a rental from the prior offseason or even a familiar in-house face, multiple pieces will find new homes in the next month-plus. On both the team and fan side, it’s oftentimes harder to see a member of the latter group leave town.
For the first time in his career, defensive back Nazeeh Johnson could experience that reality.
Nazeeh Johnson Confident in Chiefs Return: ‘The Chiefs Know What I Can Do’
How does the 2022 seventh-round pick feel about it? The Marshall product, who came back to Kansas City as a restricted free agent in 2025, is now an unrestricted free agent and will be free to sign with any club in mid-March. It’s an exciting prospect for players, albeit one that leaves plenty of uncertainty as well.
In a story for the Winchester Star, Robert Niedzwiecki spoke with Johnson about it all. The veteran defensive chess piece didn’t lack confidence that a return to the Chiefs makes some sense for everyone.
“I think [the Chiefs] are going to bring me back,” Johnson said. “I can test the market and see how much I’m valued, but the Chiefs know what I can do. We can’t have communication right now because of the [free agency rules], but I have a good understanding with them. They know my talent level. Now, it’s just seeing how other teams value me. Do other teams see me as a safety, do they see me as a corner, a nickel? But the thing I can rest my hat on is that I’m a special teams person. I can make plays on special teams, and I’m also someone that can play defensive snaps.”
Johnson then doubled down on his special teams prowess.
“I’m a good asset to any program,” Johnson said. “Especially to the Chiefs. I just went out there and proved it. With the new kickoff rule, you can make a good living being a special teams player. It’s like another form of defense or another offensive player. It gives people that are on the bubble or may not be a starter in the coaches’ eyes a chance to get that NFL paycheck.”
Since entering the league in 2022, Johnson has appeared in 29 regular-season games. He missed all of 2023 due to injury, in addition to all but two contests in 2025. Despite that, he believes a role — and a new contract — on a team awaits.
Should Kansas City Be Interested in Signing Johnson Back?
Of course, it takes two to tango. Johnson can be as interested as he wants in coming back to the Chiefs, but they must also see eye-to-eye with him. Familiarity seems to be a staple for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and special teams coordinator Dave Toub. That works in Johnson’s favor, but his on-field performance might not.
The 2024-25 campaign was Johnson’s most extensive on defense. In that season, he surrendered 23 catches on 42 targets with an ugly 107.7 passer rating. According to Pro Football Focus, among 135 cornerbacks with 200+ snaps played, he was tied for 111th with a 53.9 overall grade. In coverage, his 51.2 mark sat 115th.
That season, Johnson spent most of his time as a boundary corner. He did log 12 snaps in the slot, per PFF, in addition to 40 in the box and 13 along the defensive front. At his core, however, he gave way to options like Trent McDuffie and Chamarri Conner in nickel looks. Johnson came into Kansas City as a safety, only to bounce around a bit thereafter.
Now a four-year vet, Johnson is certainly a trusted special-teamer. He’s also still just 27 years old, meaning he should be in or entering his athletic prime. On the other hand, he doesn’t have a tremendous track record of success in coverage. He’s also got serious knee and shoulder injuries under his belt, which could be a red flag for prospective suitors.
It’d be a significant surprise if Johnson broke any franchise’s bank this offseason. In free agency, he profiles as much closer to a veteran minimum player than someone who will land double-digit millions per year. That could spell good news for Kansas City should they seek to re-sign him.
Johnson is making it clear that he believes they should want to.
Homegrown Chiefs DB Breaks Silence on Free Agency & Possible Return