Key Takeaways:
– Former Kansas City Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend has signed with the Houston Texans on a two-year, $6 million deal.
– Tommy Townsend says he would never rule out coming back to Kansas City and intends to cherish his time there.
– New recruit Ryan Rehkow is expected to compete with Matt Araiza for the Chiefs’ punting position.
Body:
Following their back-to-back victory, the Kansas City Chiefs are pushing hard for a Super Bowl three-peat. The team has retained several significant starters, but their punter, Tommy Townsend, has left to join the Houston Texans. While Townsend’s exit brought upon mixed emotions among fans, a new rivalry is brewing in the punting department for the Chiefs.
Swift Changes Post Super-Bowl Win
The transition of Townsend was almost predictable after the Chiefs signed Matt Araiza shortly after securing their back-to-back championship. Townsend, a 27-year-old who joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020, did not remain unemployed for long, bagging a two-year, $6 million contract with the Texans.
Cherished Kansas City Memories
Upon his return to Kansas City for Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce’s second annual musical festival, Townsend had a heartwarming interview with Fox 4 KC’s Harold R. Kuntz on May 18. Describing his feelings, Townsend called returning to Kansas City “incredible” and mentioned that it had become a second home for him. He expressed his fondness for Chiefs Kingdom and his teammates and accepted that he would indeed miss them.
Talking about the possible door leading back to Kansas, Townsend said, “It’s really hard to be with the same team your whole career. So, I’m grateful for my time in Kansas City and I never want to rule out not coming back. That’s something I would love to do eventually.”
Career Highlights and New Beginning with Texans
During his four-year tenure with the Chiefs, Townsend exhibited commendable skills. He punted 59 times for 2,776 yards in the last season, averaging 47.1 yards per punt. An impressive 40.8% of his punts were down/fair caught inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. He also completed 3 passes for a total of 40 yards on fake punts.
Looking forward to his time with the Texans, Townsend showed enthusiasm about taking on his former team as an opponent. The Florida alum has already marked Week 16 on his calendar when the Texans are scheduled to travel to Arrowhead on December 21. He shared his excitement about playing a typical cold weather Kansas City game and meeting his former team members.
The Chiefs Training Camp Might Heat Up
While the Chiefs have re-signed defensive tackle Chris Jones and restructured Kelce’s contract this offseason, some exciting competition is expected at their training camp. The Chiefs have signed Ryan Rehkow, who went undrafted from BYU, head coach Andy Reid’s alma mater. In 2023, Rehkow recorded 68 punts for 3,289 yards, averaging 48.2 yards per punt. With a 42% inside-20 rate at BYU, Rehkow is anticipated to give Matt Araiza a tough competition for the Chiefs’ punting job.
As the new NFL season draws nearer, the excitement among Chiefs’ Kingdom continues to rise. Despite some beloved faces moving on, the spirit of competition and the prospect of emerging stars keeps the fans eager for more.