George Karlaftis agree to four-year, $93-million extension with Chiefs

Just a day before training camp kicks off at Missouri Western State University, the Chiefs locked in one of their defensive cornerstones for the long haul. Star edge rusher George Karlaftis has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $93 million contract extension, including a hefty $62 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter. The deal keeps Karlaftis tied to the reigning AFC champs through the 2030 season, giving Kansas City some serious long-term stability in the trenches.

Once the extension goes into effect, Karlaftis’ new average annual salary of $23.25 million will rank him as the NFL’s 10th highest-paid pass rusher—a big payday for a player who’s made a name for himself with relentless effort and production. Drafted 30th overall in 2022 out of Purdue, the 24-year-old has already notched 24.5 sacks over his first three seasons, second only to Aidan Hutchinson (28.5 sacks), the No. 2 overall pick that year.

Karlaftis posted a career-best 10.5 sacks in 2023 and followed it up with 8 more this past season. His 28 quarterback hits in 2024 put him in elite company—tied with Myles Garrett and Leonard Williams for the third-most in the league.

Kansas City's front office has been busy locking in its cornerstones, and general manager Brett Veach just put pen to paper on another major extension. After inking Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith to a four-year, $94 million deal earlier in the week, the Chiefs have now secured edge rusher George Karlaftis—another key piece in their title-chasing puzzle.

Since arriving in Kansas City, Karlaftis has been a model of consistency off the edge, piling up 24.5 sacks in just three seasons. His production has been driven by pure grit and an unrelenting motor, traits that have helped him thrive, particularly when working alongside All-Pro wrecking ball Chris Jones. With Jones often commanding double teams and collapsing pockets in a blink, Karlaftis was the one cleaning up and putting quarterbacks in the turf.

In 2024, the former first-round pick led the team with 8 sacks and logged a career-best 28 QB hits. He also chipped in with five pass deflections and 35 tackles, showing his all-around value. But when the stakes rose in January, Karlaftis stepped up big—registering four sacks and eight hits across three playoff games.

Kansas City didn’t hesitate to make him a long-term fixture in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. The new deal, which averages $23.25 million annually with incentives, actually puts Karlaftis just 10th among NFL pass rushers in terms of pay—making it a win for both sides. Now, with Jones, Nick Bolton, and Karlaftis all locked in, the Chiefs’ defense looks poised to keep terrorizing opponents.

And let’s not forget—Karlaftis has been to the Super Bowl every year since entering the league, lifting the Lombardi twice before falling to the Eagles this past February. With this extension, Kansas City is betting he’ll help them get back—and finish the job again soon.

The Kansas City Chiefs set a new high-water mark in 2024, racking up a franchise-best 15 wins and boasting the NFL’s ninth-ranked defense, surrendering just 320.6 yards per game. And while their bid for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat came up short, their run of dominance remains historic, seven consecutive AFC title game appearances and an NFL-first five Super Bowl trips in a six-year stretch.

Sure, Patrick Mahomes continues to prove he’s in a league of his own under center. But this level of sustained success doesn’t happen on offense alone. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense has been a game-changer, consistently showing up in crunch time and elevating the Chiefs on the biggest stages. With that in mind, it’s only fitting the front office is doubling down on keeping their defensive core intact. When you’ve got a winning formula, you don’t mess with it—you reinforce it.