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Chiefs OL Esa Pole is a candidate for more opportunities next season
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- Chiefs OL Esa Pole is a candidate for more opportunities next season
The Kansas City Chiefs were hit with numerous injuries along the offensive line during the 2025 season. One of the productive surprises from the injuries was the emergence of undrafted rookie free agent Esa Pole .
During Week 14 against the Houston Texans , the Chiefs were without three of their offensive linemen. The game began with the loss of reserve left tackle Wanya Morris , so Pole was thrust in as relief. In the first regular-season game of his career, and against one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, he performed tremendously well.
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The game ended in a devastating loss for Kansas City , but the former Washington State standout gave up just three pressures on 42 pass-blocking snaps throughout the night. None of the Texans' pressures on Pole ended in a sack of quarterback Patrick Mahomes .
"So after the game, I mentioned I was proud of him (Esa Pole) because he had no reps in practice for the most part and then just a couple of fill-in things. "I thought he did a nice job for what he was asked to do," said head coach Andy Reid in his press conference after Week 14. "We just picked him back up here, and he again had limited reps and jumps, and I mean, he's a rookie." He jumps in and did some pretty good things against what I think is a pretty good football player."
Pole allowed only one sack in 275 offensive snaps played as he finished the 2025 season as the starting left tackle. He played in five games total, starting four, proving to be a potential option next season and beyond.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs OL Esa Pole is a candidate for more opportunities next season
