Key facts
- Chiefs sign offensive tackle Kellen Diesch, UFL champion with Louisville Kings
- Diesch waived Matt Waletzko to open roster spot on 90-man roster
- Starting LT Josh Simmons (back issue), guard Trey Smith (hip injury) sidelined; Matt Waletzko had knee injury
- Diesch: 6-foot-7, 303 lbs; made two starts during Louisville’s 2026 UFL championship season
- Never appeared in regular-season NFL game; spent time with six teams (Dolphins, Bears, Steelers, Browns, Patriots, Titans)
The signing
The Kansas City Chiefs signed offensive tackle Kellen Diesch to their 90-man roster on Thursday, August 20, 2026, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The move came after Kansas City worked out Diesch and fellow tackle John Campbell earlier in the week. To make roster space, the Chiefs waived backup offensive lineman Matt Waletzko.
Who is Diesch
Diesch, 6-foot-7 and 303 pounds, most recently played for the Louisville Kings in the 2026 United Football League season, where he made two starts during their championship run. He began his college career at Texas A&M before transferring to Arizona State, where he started all 15 games in his final season and earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors. Pro Football Focus rated him the conference’s top tackle that year, according to his UFL biography.
He signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and subsequently spent time with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans, though he has never appeared in a regular-season NFL game. Before joining Louisville, he played in the UFL with the Arlington Renegades and Memphis Showboats, as well as the Houston Gamblers.
Why the Chiefs needed him
Kansas City’s offensive line suffered multiple injuries during the final stage of training camp. Starting left tackle Josh Simmons missed consecutive practices with a back issue. Guard Trey Smith, a star player, battled a hip injury. Matt Waletzko, the player being waived, had been sidelined by a knee injury. Backup tackle Chu Godrick also missed practice. The timing added urgency because the Chiefs faced two preseason games in a six-day span: a visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, August 23, followed by hosting the Seattle Seahawks on August 28.
Diesch’s addition gives head coach Andy Reid another tackle option who can take snaps and compete for a reserve role. His experience, despite never appearing in the regular season, and his championship credentials from the UFL made him an intriguing depth pickup for a team focused on protecting franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — Chiefs sign UFL champion to help protect Patrick Mahomes · Chiefs waive backup offensive lineman to sign UFL player · Chiefs sign OL Kellen Dietsch
- Sporting News
- NBC Sports
Featured photo: elisfkc2 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)