Ben VanSumeren might be a bigger part of the Kansas City Chiefs’ plans than a practice squad signing would typically suggest
The Kansas City Chiefs signing a fullback to the practice squad is not for nothing. Ben VanSumeren could become a bigger part of the team’s plans than currently realized.
Fullback is back on the menu for Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid. The team hasn’t had a fullback on the roster or practice squad since 2022. They played around with Carson Steele getting some snaps at fullback, but he only saw action at running back for Kansas City. Now, the team has signed former Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills FB Ben VanSumeren to the practice squad.
VanSumeren actually started his collegiate career as a running back before transitioning to linebacker at Michigan State. He went undrafted as a linebacker, and the Eagles had him play that spot for two years. There, he won a ring against Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX, though he didn’t play in the game due to a season-ending injury.
Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, Philly had him convert back to fullback. He got injured on the opening kickoff, another season-ender, and that was that with the Eagles. The Bills signed VanSumeren this offseason. He says that his experience at linebacker has influenced how he plays fullback.
“It wasn’t all that foreign to me when I started,” VanSumeren said during Bills training camp. “I grew up playing offense. Originally a receiver in high school. I started off as a running back in college before transitioning to linebacker… Learning the defense, too, made it easier to play offense. The original transition wasn’t all that heavy. The playbook stuff, learning some of the terminology on the offensive side, was a little bit difficult, but the play is just the play… I think you get a really good understanding of the angles. I think you get a good understanding of where you’re at in reference to the ball, too. You can get a pretty good idea of the leverage, and the retrace, and all the stuff you’re taught on defense. And to combat that as a blocker is big.”
Typically, a practice squad signing shouldn’t incite much excitement. However, this one has the potential to be more impactful. Remember, the Chiefs can effectively have 55 players on the active roster every week via practice squad elevations. Kansas City can elevate VanSumeren three times before they’ll need to sign him to the active roster. As things stand, that could be part of the Chiefs’ plan as soon as VanSumeren is ready to play.
The Chiefs want to run the ball more, and VanSumeren could be a part of that plan
It’s no secret that the Chiefs want to run the ball more effectively and efficiently during the 2026 NFL season. Training camp showed this with an increased emphasis on the under-center run game with Kenneth Walker and Emmett Johnson now in the fold. The addition of VanSumeren, with only three running backs on the 53-man roster, is an eyebrow-raiser. He can block from any alignment, not just as a true fullback, but as an H-Back on the wing.
When you consider the Chiefs’ history of putting two running backs on the field, it was more common when Eric Bieniemy was last in charge. The Chiefs ran 61 plays of 21 personnel (2 RBs, 1 TE), roughly 3% of the offensive plays over the past two seasons per SharpFootballAnalysis. They ran 22 plays of 22 personnel (2 RBs, 2 TEs), which accounted for 1% of the team’s total offensive plays. What does it look like when you compare that against the past two seasons that Eric Bieniemy was offensive coordinator (2021 and 2022)? The Chiefs ran 91 plays of 21 personnel (4.2%) and 30 plays of 22 personnel (1.4%). They ran 125 plays (5.7%) with two running backs on the field.
It might seem like a marginal difference. The numbers under Bieniemy still rank toward the bottom of the league. However, a return to heavy personnel could significantly impact this offense. Especially if the Chiefs lean into the play-action passing game more than they have in years past. Running the ball effectively can open up the passing game in a way that just hasn’t been there for Kansas City in recent seasons.
Special teams also plays a part here
There’s also reason to get excited about VanSumeren’s impact on special teams. In 2023, he played just over 40% of the Eagles’ special teams snaps. In 2024 with Philly, he played over 47% of the team’s special teams snaps. Dave Toub has often had fullbacks as his top special teams leaders, whether it has been Anthony Sherman or Mike Burton. That could also be something on the horizon for VanSumeren in Kansas City.
