The Kansas City Chiefs front office has once again found a way to sign a key starter to a lucrative contract extension despite massive existing deals with Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones and Travis Kelce.
This time it’s defensive end George Karlaftis who has agreed to a four-year, $93 million contract extension that includes $62 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported. Daily Mail has since confirmed the details of the deal.
Karlaftis has recorded 24.5 sacks over three seasons in Kansas City, reaching three Super Bowls and winning two.
A native of Athens, Greece, Karlaftis picked up football after his father died when he was 14 and the family moved back to his mother’s native Indiana. He ultimately enrolled at Purdue, where he grew to 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds before being drafted with the 30th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Since then, Karlaftis has been an extraordinary contributor for two Super Bowl champions and an AFC title winner.
Over three NFL seasons, Karlaftis has 24.5 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries. He was even solid in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, recording a sack and four total tackles.
Karlaftis has signed a four-year, $93 million extension, Daily Mail confirmed Sunday
The Chiefs previously reached a deal with Trey Smith, who also got a four-year extension
Smith is one of the unsung heroes of a Chiefs team led by Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes
Karlaftis isn’t the first Chiefs player to get a massive extension heading into the 2025 season.
Right guard Trey Smith signed a similar four-year, $94 million deal.
With both Smith and Creed Humphrey on the offensive line, Kansas City now has the highest-paid guard and center in the NFL after agreeing a record deal with the former.
Humphrey signed a four-year extension of his own worth $72m with $50m guaranteed in August 2024, which remains the record for a center.
The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Smith in February in order to maintain control of the coveted lineman for another season, albeit at the hefty salary of $23.4m.
