With the 2026 NFL season just around the corner, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted their kickoff luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

At the event, the team introduced several new members of the club that joined via trades, waiver wire claims, and practice squad signings. Each newcomer brings value to the club in different ways, and the team wasted no time getting them into their new digs. Here’s a quick look at what jersey number each new player will wear, plus an update on one of the team’s 2026 NFL Draft picks.

New Chiefs OT Diego Pounds to wear his college jersey number

Diego Pounds is one of the lucky players to have worn the same number at practically every stop. At Millbrook High School, he wore No. 61. At UNC, he wore No. 61. At Ole Miss, he wore No. 61. With the Baltimore Ravens, he wore No. 61. Now, with the Kansas City Chiefs, he will wear… you guessed it… No. 61. It’s a bit of a weird number for an offensive tackle, but it has a good track record. Offensive linemen like Tim Grunhard, Mitch Morse, and Rodney Hudson wore it with the Chiefs. It was also worn by Pro Football Hall of Fame LB Curley Culp.

Joshua Ezeudu to wear No. 73, historically a solid interior O-Line nubmers

Trade acquisition Joshua Ezeudu is wearing No. 73 in Kansas City. He wore No. 75 at both UNC and with the New York Giants, but this change feels rather fitting. Nick Allegretti was the last to wear the No. 73 with the Chiefs, and that’s who Ezeudu should strive to be as a backup O-Lineman. Allegretti was reliable, versatile, and tough as nails. Other guys like Jeff Allen and Zach Fulton also previously wore the No. 73 in the Andy Reid era. Chiefs RT Dave Hill also wore it during his 12-year NFL career spanning the AFL and early NFL days.

Let the comparisons to former Chiefs LB Leo Chenal begin for Jack Pyburn

I already said I anticipate Jack Pyburn playing the Leo Chenal/Ethan Downs hybrid SAM linebacker/edge rusher role in Kansas City. His jersey number choice doesn’t change that thought at all. Pyburn will wear No. 54, which linebackers has historically worn during the Andy Reid era. Dezman Mosses first wore it in 2013. Damien Wilson in 2018. Nick Bolton during his rookie season. Then Leo Chenal wore it from 2022-2025.

Bryson Eason finally gets an actual D-Line jersey number with the Chiefs

Bryson Eason wore No. 20 with the Tennessee Volunteers in college. When he joined the San Francisco 49ers, he ended up with No. 67. Those two numbers simply aren’t right for a defensive lineman. In Kansas City, he’ll get No. 94, which is loads better. Malik Herring last wore it with the Chiefs. Before that, guys like Taco Charlton, Terrell Suggs, and Tyson Jackson wore it.

New Chiefs RB Nate Carter to wear No. 35

No. 35 is a good running back jersey number for Kansas City. Christian Okoye set the standard, but during the Andy Reid era, Charcandrick West wore it too. Most recently, the defense wore it, with guys like Charvarius Ward and Jaylen Watson wearing the number. Carter wore No. 38 with the Atlanta Falcons. He wore No. 26 with the Michigan State Spartans and No. 5 with the UConn Huskies.

New Chiefs FB Ben VanSumeren gets a classic fullback number

Nos. in the 40’s tend to look best on fullbacks, safeties, and linebackers in the NFL. Ben VanSumeren will wear the No. 47 jersey with the Chiefs, which makes sense given that he’s played both linebacker and fullback in the NFL. Jon McGraw was probably the most notable Chiefs player to wear No. 47, but TE Baylor Cupp and LB Darius Harris wore it most recently.

Why Chiefs QB Garrett Nussmeier switched to a storied No. 19 jersey

Chiefs rookie QB Garrett Nussmeier officially changed his jersey number to No. 19 from No. 14. Why? Well, P Matt Araiza already wears No. 14. Nussmeier was only allowed to wear it during the offseason and preseason. Now that he made the 53-man roster, he was forced to choose a new number. His decision? To pick up the jersey number once worn in Kansas City by a guy named Joe Montana. Chris Oladokun was the last QB to wear that number for the Chiefs. Before that, it belonged to the wide receiver room, with guys like Kadarius Toney, Marcus Kemp, and Jeremy Maclin wearing the number.