Linebacker Derrick Johnson has played all 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Even though he’s scheduled to become a free agent in a few weeks, the Chiefs are hoping to bring Johnson back for season No. 12.
According to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star, Chiefs general manager John Dorsey said the team has been speaking with Johnson’s agents about keeping him in Kansas City.
“We are going to move this thing forward,” Dorsey said. “Anytime you become the all-time leading tackler for the Chiefs … we’re not going to let good football players go in this thing.”
After missing nearly all of 2014 due to an Achilles tear, Johnson bounced back with a great season last year for the Chiefs. He finished with 116 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. It was the fifth time in his last six seasons that he’s posted 100 tackles in a season.
Johnson may not be the highest priority among Kansas City’s impending free agents, but he’s a solid contributor that helped the Chiefs win a playoff game for the first time since 1993 and finish with one of the league’s Top 10 defenses.