With training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs set to commence soon, the reigning AFC champions have solidified their roster by signing George Karlaftis to a four-year extension valued at $93 million, including $62 million guaranteed, as reported by ESPN. This new deal allows Karlaftis to remain with the Chiefs until after the 2030 NFL season.

Karlaftis’ average annual salary of $23.25 million will position him as the 10th highest-paid pass rusher in the NFL when the extension becomes effective. The 24-year-old defensive standout, originally the 30th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from Purdue, has accumulated a total of 24.5 sacks, ranking second among his draft class, second only to Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions who has 28.5 sacks.

In the 2023 season, Karlaftis reached a career-high with 10.5 sacks, while also registering eight sacks this past season. His 28 quarterback hits placed him in a tie for third-most in the league alongside Myles Garrett and Leonard Williams. Known as “Furious George”, he played a crucial role in the Chiefs’ path to Super Bowl LVII and LVI, notably contributing significantly during the postseason this year.

The Chiefs recorded a franchise-record 15 wins in the 2024 season, concluding with the 9th ranked defense, allowing on average 320.6 total yards per game. They may not have clinched the first three-peat of the Super Bowl era, but Kansas City has consistently advanced to seven consecutive conference championship games, marking them as the first team to attend five Super Bowls in just six seasons. While Patrick Mahomes stands out as one of the league’s premier quarterbacks, the Chiefs’ recent achievements owe much to the strategies of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.