‘It’s been talked amongst ourselves the whole offseason’ – Chiefs DE George Karlaftis knows the defense must improve in key area
Hopefully George can lead the way in 2025.
The Kansas City Chiefs have had one of the best defensive units in the NFL over the past few years.
In 2024 it ranked eighth against the run, and ninth in total defense. However, it experienced a drop off in one key area, sacks.
After finishing second in sacks in both 2022 and 2023, the Chiefs’ defense fell all the way to 19th in 2024. While speaking to the media on Tuesday, defensive end George Karlaftis said improving the sack total has been a point of emphasis all offseason long.
Chiefs must improve sack total in 2025
“It’s been talked amongst ourselves the whole offseason,” Karlaftis said. “Definitely one of the motivators we have going into the season, just affecting the quarterback in any way we can, because that’s going to help our team win at the end of the day and our defense succeed. It’s definitely something that we’re going to strive for, getting the quarterback down, affecting the game and best way we can.”
Karlaftis’ sack total decreased from 10.5 in ’23 to eight in ’24, but he increased his quarterback pressures from 35 to 37. Still just 24 years old, Karlaftis is entering his prime and will hopefully get back to a double-digit sack total in 2025. The Chiefs clearly believe he will after giving him a four-year, $93 million contract extension back in July.
However, Karlaftis needs some of his fellow defensive ends to step up and help. Mike Danna had a disappointing ’24 season as his sack total dropped from 6.5 in ’23 to 3.5. K.C. is also banking on Charles Omenihu having a bounce back year after missing 11 games last season as he recovered from a torn ACL. Rookie Ashton Gillotte, who showed promise during training camp and preseason, will be in the mix as well
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