© Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesHead coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs addresses the media during Super Bowl LIX Opening Night at Caesars Superdome on February 03, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mike Edwards was part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, led by Tom Brady, that beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. The safety eventually joined forces with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, celebrating a ring with them in the 2023 NFL season. After bouncing around the league last year, he’s back at Arrowhead aiming to embrace a bigger role for Andy Reid.

Earlier in April, Edwards signed a one-year deal to play for the Chiefs in 2025. With his return, the team not only reunites with a player familiar with the system, but also addresses the hole left by Justin Reid, who signed a three–year, $31.50 million deal with the New Orleans Saints this offseason.

Edwards, who will turn 29 in May, is ready to become the leader Reid needs in the secondary after the departure of a key player. Last week, he shared this with the media.

“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,” Edwards said, via Chiefs Wire.

“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.“

Mike Edwards’ experience with the Chiefs

A third round pick out of Kentucky in the 2019 NFL Draft, Edwards joined the Bucs in the same year as Brady. That season, Tampa Bay went the distance by beating the Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium.

While that night was painful for Mahomes, Kelce, and Reid, Edwards’ successful experience eventually proved helpful for Kansas City. In 2023, the safety racked up 51 total tackles, five passes defended, and an interception, contributing to the Chiefs’ road to Super Bowl LVIII.

Last season, Edwards spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans before going back to the Buccaneers. He moved again this offseason, hoping to establish himself in Kansas City.

Edwards explains the difference with previous stint in KC

“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,” Edwards said. “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.”

Edwards could help mentor Jaden Hicks, who is entering his second year in the league. This is his chance to finally stay with a team for more than one season, something he doesn’t achieve since his first stint with the Bucs, which lasted four years.