Arrowhead Pride
On Friday, Kansas City’s pass rusher discussed recovery from last postseason’s torn ACL, the challenge Buffalo presents, and George Karlaftis’ big game.
For the second consecutive season, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu will play in the AFC Championship game. He hopes this one has a happier ending.
Last January, against the Baltimore Ravens, Omenihu made his presence known early, delivering a key sack of star quarterback Lamar Jackson before leaving the game with a knee injury. Unfortunately, the injury was later revealed to be an ACL tear, which kept him from playing in Super Bowl LVIII two weeks later and ultimately sidelined him until Week 12 of the 2024 season.
In last week’s Divisional Round win against the Houston Texans, Omenihu seemed back in his playoff routine as he delivered a sack and forced fumble against quarterback C.J. Stroud. Speaking after Friday’s practice, the pass rusher credited Chiefs assistant strength and conditioning coach Greg Carbin, assistant athletic trainer Tiffany Morton, and his own faith with bringing him back to this level.
“Tiffany Morton and Greg — those two have been very central on my come back from this injury,” he remarked. “Then God at the forefront of it all, I’ve had a lot of nights where I’ve prayed about this and my recovering and being at where I need to be to help this organization win big games — and it’s happened. I hope it continues to happen because that’s truly what I want — to give back to everybody that has been patient with me in my time here.”
The Chiefs signed Omenihu in the 2023 offseason from the San Francisco 49ers, the team they ultimately faced in the Super Bowl. He confirmed the familiarity made missing the matchup even more difficult.
“It was super tough,” he recalled. “It being my former team, it being the biggest stage you can play on — and big stage is what I thrive on. What I love, what I want, what just keeps me searching for the next thing to do is to play in big moments and make plays. So, it was it was tough. It was crazy, but hopefully, we get the opportunity to do it again.
“I’ve had a couple anxious nights where I’ll be up to like one o’clock in the morning listening to music [and] just telling myself everything will be good leading into this game because it’s going to be 363 days from when I got hurt. So, it’s a big thing for me.”
To get another chance at the Super Bowl, the Chiefs will need to get past the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Omenihu has a healthy respect for the challenge ahead quarterback Josh Allen presents.
“I think he’s a beast,” Omenihu declared. “I think Josh Allen is top five in the league, bar none. I think this has been his best year. I have the utmost respect for him. To be honest, I think he’s a baller.”
Part of what makes Allen...
