Drue Tranquill Begins First Season With Chiefs

Linebacker Drue Tranquill finished his first week of training camp as he prepares for his first season with the Chiefs after being picked up in free agency this offseason.

Tranquill played his four years of college football at Notre Dame before getting drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Spending his first four years in the NFL with the Chargers and going up against the Chiefs offense, he said that he is thrilled to be joining the defending Super Bowl champions.

“It feels like we couldn’t beat them in the fourth quarter,” Tranquill said. “Division games are always exciting. I am excited to be apart of Chiefs Kingdom and go after another ring this year.”

During the 2022 season with the Chargers he had five sacks and one interception.

In free agency there were 11 teams interested in picking up Tranquill. After talking with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid, he felt like Kansas City was the best fit to continue his football career. 

“I felt really valued here and that led to my decision to come here,” Tranquill said. 

Joining the Chiefs linebacker squad, Tranquill is the oldest of the group but is learning from the younger linebackers, Nick Bolton, Willie Gay, Leo Chenel, Jack Cochrane, Cam Jones, and Cole Christiansen.

“It’s an honor to be here and playing for coach Spags and the defending champs,” Tranquill said. “We have so many great guys in that room that I am trying to learn from each and every day. It’s certainly different from the defense I played on in LA, but football is football and I have picked up things throughout my career that have helped me learn this defense."

Spagnuolo said he has been impressed with Tranquill throughout training camp playing all three base linebacker positions. 

“It’s nice to have a guy like him that can do more than one thing,” Spagnuolo said. “It tells you that he is an intelligent player.”