The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back veteran cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, according to his agents, the Katz Brothers, who told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move reunites Sneed with the franchise that drafted him in 2020 and helped him win two Super Bowls.
Sneed returns after a turbulent stretch in Tennessee, where the Titans released him on March 13 in a move that cleared $11.4 million in salary cap space. He had originally joined Tennessee on a four-year, $76 million contract after Kansas City traded him there in 2024.
A reunion after injuries limited his time in Tennessee
Sneed, 29, never found much stability with the Titans because injuries kept interrupting his availability. He appeared in 12 games over two seasons in Tennessee and spent time on the physically unable to perform list last season while recovering from a knee procedure in May and a lingering quad issue.
His 2025 season was cut short again after another quad injury in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. He finished with 26 tackles and three passes defended before landing on injured reserve and missing the final 10 games.
What Sneed brings back to Kansas City
Before the move to Tennessee, Sneed built his reputation in Kansas City as a physical, versatile defender. The Chiefs selected him in the fourth round in 2020, and he leaves Tennessee with 10 interceptions, 43 passes defended and 352 tackles across six NFL seasons.
His return also gives Kansas City a familiar name in a secondary that has changed significantly this offseason. The Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and also saw fellow 2025 starter Jaylen Watson leave in free agency, again for the Rams.
Chiefs continue reshaping the cornerback room
Kansas City has added to the position in multiple ways while rebuilding its depth chart. The team traded up in the 2026 draft to select Mansoor Delane and also signed Kader Kohou and Kaiir Elam in free agency.
Sneed’s arrival adds experience to that group and restores a player the Chiefs know well from both his early development and his championship years in Kansas City. His return comes with some uncertainty because of the injuries that slowed him in Tennessee, but it also gives the Chiefs a proven defender with extensive playoff and regular-season experience.
Off-field case was dropped in May
Sneed also dealt with an off-field legal issue that drew attention last season. He was indicted last November by a grand jury in Dallas County, Texas, on a misdemeanor charge of failure to report a felony tied to an incident in December 2024.
According to the allegation described in the case, Christian Nshimiyimana, who owns an exotic car rental business, said Sneed and his personal assistant arrived at the dealership in a rented Lamborghini Urus and shot at him while he was inside his vehicle. Sneed’s attorney later said the charge was dropped in May.
The Chiefs now add back a cornerback who knows the organization, the scheme and the pressure of winning at the highest level. For a defense that has already undergone several changes, Sneed’s return gives Kansas City a familiar veteran option as the secondary continues to take shape.
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