The Chiefs are giving Kam Arnold another shot, and that alone says plenty about where he stands in the team’s linebacker picture.
Kansas City signed the former Washington Commanders linebacker to a reserve/future contract on January 5, 2026, after he spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad late in the season. For a roster that always has to be built with depth in mind, Arnold gives the Chiefs a name worth watching as they sort through the bottom of the linebacker group.
Arnold’s path to this point started at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in Orchard Lake, Michigan, where he was a three-star athlete in the 2020 class. He drew offers from several FBS programs, including Boston College, Iowa State, Air Force, and Buffalo, but he ended up at Boston College and stayed there for his entire college career.
At Boston College, Arnold made the move from safety to linebacker and became a four-year starter. He played in 54 games and finished with 257 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 12 pass deflections, three interceptions, and four forced fumbles. In 2025, he was on pace for a strong season before a season-ending injury stopped it short.
His pro day numbers help explain why he still has NFL value. Arnold measured 6-foot-5/8 and 227 pounds, with 31 7/8-inch arms, 9 1/4-inch hands, and a 76 5/8-inch wingspan. He also posted a 38-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-3 broad jump, a 4.59-second 40-yard dash, a 4.21-second 20-yard shuttle, and a 7.07-second three-cone drill.
Arnold first signed with the Washington Commanders after the 2025 NFL Draft, but they waived him on August 26, 2025. He later landed with Kansas City, and now he gets a fresh chance to stick.
A look back at his 2024 college tape shows why the Chiefs might be intrigued. Arnold flashed real ball skills, read plays well, and came away with multiple turnovers thanks to his instincts and quick hands.
He also showed he could tackle in space, taking good angles and finishing with sound wrap-up technique. The source view is that, without the injury, he could have been a Day 3 draft pick.
He won’t have an easy path to the roster. Arnold has to beat out former UDFA find Cooper McDonald and veterans Jack Cochrane and Cole Christiansen if he wants a spot on the final 53-man roster. If he turns heads in training camp and the preseason, the back end of the linebacker room could change quickly, with some veterans potentially landing on the practice squad or off the roster entirely.
For now, though, the message is clear: the Chiefs saw enough to bring Kam Arnold back for another look, and he’ll have to turn that opportunity into something more.
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