The Kansas City Chiefs are adding some depth to their quarterback room, officially signing Jake Haener to a reserve/future contract as confirmed by the NFL’s transaction wire on Monday. The move won’t become official until the new league year kicks off on March 11, but it’s a clear signal that Kansas City is preparing for a unique offseason - one that starts with uncertainty under center.
Haener isn’t a household name, but he’s not without pedigree. He began his college career at Washington, starting four games in 2018 before transferring to Fresno State, where he made 33 starts from 2020 to 2022.
Chiefs fans might recognize a couple of his former teammates - wide receiver Nikko Remigio and tight end Tre Watson - who are also in the Kansas City system. That familiarity could help Haener hit the ground running in offseason workouts.
Before the 2023 NFL Draft, Haener made waves at the Senior Bowl, earning MVP honors and boosting his stock enough to be selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round, 127th overall. But his rookie campaign never got off the ground. A six-game suspension for a banned substance sidelined him early, and he didn’t see the field after being reinstated.
In 2024, Haener got his first real taste of NFL action. With Derek Carr battling injuries throughout the year, Haener appeared in eight games for the Saints.
One of those came under the bright lights of “Monday Night Football,” when he took the field at Arrowhead Stadium after Carr exited with an oblique injury. It was a tough spot, but one that gave the Chiefs a firsthand look at Haener’s poise and potential.
Across that stretch, he completed 18 passes for 226 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception.
Fast forward to 2025, and a coaching change in New Orleans altered Haener’s trajectory. The Saints opted to build around second-round pick Tyler Shough, leaving Haener the odd man out. He was waived during final roster cuts and spent the season on the Saints' practice squad.
Now, he heads to Kansas City at a critical moment for the reigning champs. Patrick Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL and LCL suffered in December, and while the hope is he’ll be ready by training camp, there are no guarantees. Until then, the Chiefs are thin at quarterback - Chris Oladokun was the only healthy passer on the roster before Haener’s arrival.
Let’s be clear: Haener isn’t being brought in to compete for the starting job, and his signing doesn’t change the expectation that Kansas City will pursue a more experienced veteran to help steer the ship through offseason activities. But with Mahomes sidelined and depth at a premium, every arm matters - especially one that’s already logged snaps in the league and has some chemistry with current weapons.
Don’t be surprised if the Chiefs continue to add to the quarterback room, whether through the later rounds of the draft or by targeting a top undrafted free agent. For now, Haener offers a low-risk, potentially high-reward option who knows what it’s like to step into the fire - and that’s exactly the kind of insurance Kansas City needs as it navigates an offseason filled with more questions than usual at the game’s most important position.