Chiefs Kingdom Calls for Reunion After Ex-Fan Favorite Waived by New Team
Popular former Kansas City Chiefs undrafted rookie Esa Pole just hit waivers again in Week 8, as the New York Jets chose to cut him from their 53-man roster on October 23.
The promising offensive tackle prospect began his NFL career with the Chiefs, but failed to survive the 53-man cutdown in August. The KC Star’s Sam McDowell reported that Pole was a candidate for the KC practice squad at the time, but that changed after he was unfortunately claimed off waivers by the Jets.
Now, if Pole clears waivers on October 24, he could return to Kansas City on a practice squad deal — assuming there is still mutual interest on both sides. And the fans of Chiefs Kingdom seem to want that to happen.
Chiefs Fans Eye Esa Pole Signing After Week 8 Cut News
“The Jets have waived OT Esa Pole. He is subject to waivers until 3 pm on Friday. If he clears waivers, he is free to sign to any 53-man roster or practice squad,” KSHB 41 beat reporter Nick Jacobs relayed on October 23.
The post gained a lot of attention among Chiefs fans who follow Jacobs, as it drummed up 100-plus likes and several pro-reunion comments.
“Hopefully no one else sees this and he clears waivers and can come back to KC where he should have been all along,” one KC supporter replied.
Another agreed, writing: “Bring him home [Brett] Veach.”
And a third Chiefs fan simply responded: “Pleeeeeeeease! 🙏”
Finally, KC radio host Carrington Harrison joked that “Esa Pole is First Team Chiefs Twitter.” Referencing the love for the rookie UDFA on social media.
With first-round pick Joshua Simmons away from the team indefinitely, it would make sense for Kansas City to bring back Pole. They could even claim him off waivers themselves, but then they’d have to cut someone off the 53-man roster to free up a spot.
We should find out if Pole clears waivers on October 24. If he does, he can take as long as he needs to decide on his next NFL landing spot.
Pre-Draft Scouting on Former Chiefs Prospect Esa Pole
For those who have forgotten what Pole brings to the table, below is his pre-draft scouting report from NFL Network draft expert Lance Zierlein.
“A developmental tackle/guard prospect with NFL size [6-foot-5], Pole should continue to improve with coaching,” Zierlein wrote before the April 2025 draft.
Continuing: “He has played football for just four seasons with two at the FBS level. His technique needs work but he showed clear signs of improvement and plays with adequate football intelligence. He has the lateral foot quickness to make zone blocks and mirror rush counters but doesn’t always play as powerfully as he’s built. Whether he lines up at tackle or guard at the next level, he’ll need more refinement on a practice squad early on.”
As you can see, Pole was viewed as a prospect with nice size and physical traits/raw ability, but he was also seen as a developmental rookie. And, to be clear, that was the Chiefs’ plan.
They had hoped to sneak him onto the practice squad, where they could work with Pole and coach him up, improving technique and strength. Although the Jets threw a wrench in that plan early on, it’s possible that KC could get a second chance in Week 8.
Nico Hoerner And Cubs Claim Prestigious Defensive Awards
The Chicago Cubs had one of the finest defensive seasons in Major League Baseball in 2025. In the eyes of one publication, they were the best.
The Fielding Bible has been presenting awards for the league’s top defensive players for the past 20 years. In 2023, the publication added a defensive player of the year. This season, it added a defensive team of the year. The Cubs earned the team award, while second baseman Nico Hoerner was also selected for a position award.
The Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 by claiming a National League wild card berth. They defeated the San Diego Padres in the wild card round before losing a five-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers in the division series. The Brewers went on to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
In winning the site’s first team-based award, the Fielding Bible pointed out that the Cubs had 84 total defensive runs saved. The only team better in the category was the Texas Rangers at 89. The Rangers set a Major League record for fielding percentage in a season.
In giving the award to the Cubs, Fielding Bible’s editorial lead Mark Simon wrote that Chicago was the only team with a positive DRS from eight of its nine defensive positions. Right field was the only one not in the positive.
That included Hoerner, who led all second basemen in DRS. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, was second in DRS at his position. Left field Ian Happ and starting pitcher Matthew Boyd were third in DRS at their positions while third baseman Matt Shaw was fourth.
That balance won out over the Rangers’ historic fielding percentage and league-leading DRS.
"Cubs management built a team that prides itself in defensive excellence and that showed up all over the field," Simon wrote. "They were especially strong up the middle and at some of the game's most important positions.”
Not surprisingly, six Cubs are finalists for National League Gold Gloves, with the awards to be announced next month. Chicago finalists include Hoerner, Shaw, Happ, Boyd, Crow-Armstrong and catcher Carson Kelly,
In selecting Hoerner, he became the second Cubs second baseman to win the award, along with Darwin Barney in 2012. Hoerner had 17 DRS to lead all second baseman and charged an MLB-best 15 plays saved better than the average second baseman on balls hit to his right, per Fielding Bible.
