You can never have too much talent in the NFL. The Chiefs certainly don't think so, adding a handful of new faces to their roster in the hopes of rounding out a roster they hope is capable of capturing a third consecutive Lombardi Trophy in 2025.
Marquise Brown, Samaje Perine, and Xavier Worthy are among the highest-profile new additions on Kansas City's roster. So, too, is Carson Steele, an unheralded rookie running back who ground his way to the bigs one broken tackle at a time.
The 6-1, 227-pound halfback enters the league with little fanfare, at least when compared to some of his drafted counterparts. Don't be alarmed, however. Legions of Chiefs fans believe Steele could make an impact on Andy Reid's roster from the get-go. Given Kansas City's history with player development, that might not be a far-fetched view, either.
Here's what you need to know about Steele, one of football's true renaissance men.
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Who is Carson Steele?
Steele is a 21-year-old tailback who earned a roster spot with the Chiefs after failing to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Greenwood, Ind., native has developed quite a reputation during his brief football career.
Steele came to prominence at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, racing for 1,659 yards and 31 touchdowns in his senior season.
For his efforts, Steele was rewarded with two-star billing. He committed to play at Ball State in Muncie, Ind., an hour away from his hometown.
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Steele proceeded to conjure up magic during his two seasons with the Cardinals, recording 891 yards and six touchdowns on 192 carries as a freshman, emerging as one of the MAC's best runners.
If Steele's freshman year was the kindling, this sophomore season was the spark. The then-Ball State talent piled up 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns, racking up All-Conference honors for the 5-7 Cards in the process.
Following his stunning 2022 campaign, Steele entered the transfer portal. His stock had risen considerably since his matriculation to college, as 247 Sports rated him four-star recruit.
He eventually landed at UCLA, Steele was similarly effective in Bruins blue-and-gold, recording totals of 847 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He didn't handle all the rushing responsibilities as a junior — TJ Harden also played a sizable role in Chip Kelly's offense.
Nevertheless, his penchant for crunching blows in open field made appears to have made quite the impression on Kansas City's staff, so much so that it opted to hand the lively running back an offer as an undrafted free agent.
Steele has made the most of his opportunity thus far. Following an impressive preseason run-in which saw Steele find the end zone, he was named to KC's 53-man roster. Following Clyde Edwards-Helaire's designation to the non-football illness list, he could figure to see more playtime in the coming few weeks.
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Carson Steele pet alligator
In addition to Steele's prowess for inflicting punishment on opposition defenders, he also possesses another unique piece in his collection: he owns a pet alligator.
The lizard, named "Crocky-J" — a nonsensical moniker Steele came up with himself — has been a fixture in the golden-locked tailback's life since he was a boy. They've had their fair share of wars; the number of objects Crocky-J turned into ruins is ever-expanding.
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Nevertheless, the raucous reptile is a part of Steele's identity.
“He kind of represents me, especially a kid from the Midwest coming to L.A. with blond hair, doesn’t look like he should be from Indiana, you know?” Steele said, per the Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch. “Might as well throw in an alligator.”
Carson Steele nicknames
Steele has sported a number of monikers during his gridiron career, being dubbed "Thor," "Fabio," and "Man of Steele" during his time at Ball State. One publication called him the "most interesting man in college football." We'll see if that designation lasts during his time in the big leagues, too.