The Kansas City Chiefs released Clyde Edwards-Helaire after five seasons with the team, the running back shared on social media Monday.
“To Chiefs kingdom, it’s all love,” he wrote. “And the support I had in the troubling times will be forever unmatched from you guys!”
Love ya KC! A family I didn’t know I needed, y’all made a Kid from Baton Rouge dreams come true!
To Chiefs Kingdom , its all love and the support I had in troubling times will forever be unmatched from you guys! With love! ❤️ 💛-Clydro ✌🏾
— GLYDE (@Clydro_22) December 16, 2024
Edwards-Helaire has not appeared in a game after starting this season on the non-football illness list, stemming from his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder — a condition he shared on X this summer. During training camp, the 25-year-old had intermittent absences that were later attributed to his PTSD. Some of his symptoms included flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety.
He was reinstated from the non-football illness list in Week 7, but didn’t crack the Chiefs lineup ahead of Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine and Carson Steele.
Edwards-Helaire revealed the origin of his PTSD in August, sharing that in 2018 he said he and his best friend got into a “self-defense situation.”
That incident, on Dec. 22, 2018, took place in Edwards-Helaire’s hometown of north Baton Rouge, La. Edwards-Helaire was selling an electronic item to a man, Kobe Johnson, who then attempted an armed robbery on Edwards-Helaire and his friend, according to Baton Rouge police. Edwards-Helaire pulled out a legally registered handgun and fired multiple shots, killing Johnson, who was 18 years old. Upon speaking with police, Edwards-Helaire was released that night and not charged.
The next week, the East Baton Rouge district attorney said the shooting was justified. Ten days after the incident, Edwards-Helaire was on the field for LSU’s Fiesta Bowl win against Central Florida.
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Chiefs’ Clyde Edwards-Helaire hopes to help others by sharing his experience with PTSD
A few years ago, Edwards-Helaire was diagnosed with PTSD and cyclic vomiting syndrome, a chronic condition in which people can experience cycles of severe nausea, vomiting and exhaustion that can last from a few hours to a few days.
In August, Edwards-Helaire credited his parents and members of the Chiefs’ medical and support staff with helping him better recognize and treat his symptoms. Earlier this year, he said he wanted to try to be a more positive influence for other people living with PTSD.
“I felt it was at least my job to step up and talk about the things that some people feel vulnerable enough to not talk about,” Edwards-Helaire said. “I’m probably the most level-headed and clear that I’ve probably been in the last five or six years. I’m 25 years old. I’m just trying to live the rest of my life healthy.”
Edwards-Helaire was the Chiefs’ first-round pick in 2020 and was the starting running back for the bulk of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He played in 48 games with Kansas City, making 32 starts, rushing for 1,845 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also tallied 89 receptions for 765 yards and seven touchdowns.
The LSU product’s best season was his rookie campaign where he led the team in rushing with 803 yards. An ankle injury in 2022 and the emergence of Pacheco in the team’s Super Bowl run relegated Edwards-Helaire to a backup role for the team’s title repeat in 2023.
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(Photo: David Eulitt/ Getty Images)
