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Mike Pennel
Mike Pennel
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Michael Maurice Pennel Jr. (born May 9, 1991) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes, the Arizona State Sun Devils and the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2014, and has also played for the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Chicago Bears.

Key Information

College career

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Pennel played college football at Scottsdale Community College, Arizona State University and Colorado State University Pueblo. He was suspended indefinitely by Arizona State in 2012 for comments he made over Twitter and transferred to Colorado State University Pueblo.[1][2]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+14 in
(1.94 m)
332 lb
(151 kg)
33+38 in
(0.85 m)
9+78 in
(0.25 m)
5.23 s 1.82 s 3.03 s 4.84 s 7.94 s 28.5 in
(0.72 m)
8 ft 8 in
(2.64 m)
23 reps
All values are from NFL Combine/Pro Day[3][4]

Green Bay Packers

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After going unselected in the 2014 NFL draft, Pennel signed with the Green Bay Packers on May 12, 2014.[5] Pennel joined Jayrone Elliott as undrafted players to make the Packers' roster. During his rookie season in 2014, Pennel made 13 game appearances with 8 tackles.

In 2015, Pennel appeared in all 16 games with 5 starts, recording 24 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.[6]

On February 19, 2016, Pennel was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season due to violating the league's substance abuse policy.[7] Pennel was then suspended for the final four games of the season for again violating the league's substance abuse policy.[8] In the 2016 season, Pennel finished with seven tackles and a pass defended.[9]

On January 9, 2017, Pennel was released by the Packers.[10]

New York Jets

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On February 6, 2017, Pennel was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.[11] He re-signed with the Jets on March 16.[12] He played in all 16 games in 2017, recording a career-high 35 tackles.

On March 16, 2018, Pennel signed a three-year contract with the Jets.[13]

On February 19, 2019, the Jets declined the option on Pennel's contract, making him a free agent at the start of the new league year.[14]

New England Patriots

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On March 14, 2019, Pennel signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots.[15] On August 26, Pennel was released by the Patriots.[16]

Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)

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On October 19, 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Pennel.[17]

On January 19, 2020, Pennel helped the Chiefs defeat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game.[18] In Super Bowl LIV, Pennel recorded one tackle in the Chiefs' 31–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.[19]

On April 6, 2020, Pennel was re-signed to a one-year contract.[20] On August 25, he was suspended for the first two games of the 2020 season.[21] On September 23, he was reinstated from suspension and activated to the roster.[22]

Chicago Bears (first stint)

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On June 18, 2021, Pennel signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.[23] On August 24, he was placed on injured reserve and released from the Bears on August 31.[24]

Atlanta Falcons

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On September 15, 2021, Pennel was signed to the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons.[25] On October 5, Pennel was promoted to the Falcons' active roster after cornerback Isaiah Oliver suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against the Washington Football Team.[26]

Chicago Bears (second stint)

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On June 13, 2022, Pennel signed with the Bears.[27] He was released on September 9 from the 53-man roster, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.[28][29] Dieter Eiselen was promoted to the active roster in his place. On September 12, in a flurry of moves, Pennel was promoted to the active roster.[30] In Week 6 against the Patriots, he was ejected for delivering a blind-sided block that concussed center David Andrews.[31] Pennel appeared in all 17 games for the Bears, where he recorded 26 total tackles and one forced fumble.

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

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On October 24, 2023, Pennel was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad.[32] Pennel helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVIII, where they defeated the 49ers 25–22 which gave Pennel his second Super Bowl ring.[33] Pennel had six tackles in the game and was instrumental in limiting the effectiveness of the 49ers' running game in the second half.[34]

On March 13, 2024, Pennel re-signed with the Chiefs.[35]

On March 24, 2025, Pennel re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year contract.[36] On August 26, he was released as part of final roster cuts.[37]

Cincinnati Bengals

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On September 1, 2025, Pennel was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad.[38] He was elevated to the active roster for Week 1, and signed to the active roster on September 9.[39] On October 28, Pennel requested and was granted his release by the Bengals.[40]

Kansas City Chiefs (third stint)

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On October 29, 2025, Pennel was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' active roster.[41]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2014 GB 13 0 8 7 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2015 GB 16 5 25 16 9 1.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0
2016 GB 8 0 7 5 2 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2017 NYJ 16 3 35 20 15 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2018 NYJ 16 7 27 16 11 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2019 KC 8 0 24 13 11 1.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2020 KC 14 1 29 13 16 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2021 ATL 10 0 21 9 12 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2022 CHI 17 2 26 16 10 0.0 0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1
2023 KC 3 0 4 2 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2024 KC 17 7 25 10 15 3.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0
Career 138 25 231 127 104 5.0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1

Postseason

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2014 GB 2 0 1 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2015 GB 2 0 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2019 KC 3 2 7 2 5 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2020 KC 3 0 1 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2023 KC 4 3 12 7 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2024 KC 1 0 1 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 15 5 24 10 14 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia

Michael Maurice Pennel Jr. (born May 9, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Undrafted out of Colorado State–Pueblo after initially attending Arizona State, he signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2014 and has since played for seven teams, including the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and currently the Cincinnati Bengals. Over his 12-season career through 2025, Pennel has appeared in 128 games with 52 starts, recording 241 total tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery, serving primarily as a rotational interior lineman valued for run defense. His most notable achievements include winning two Super Bowl championships with the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVII, where he contributed as a depth player on the defensive line.

Early life and high school

Childhood and health challenges

Mike Pennel was born on May 9, 1991, in , weighing 9 pounds and 11 ounces, exhibiting a notably robust physique from infancy with a and prominent . At around three to six months of age, he was diagnosed with , a condition causing disproportionate growth with his right side larger than the left, which increased his risk for certain tumors. At age two, during a routine checkup that included an ultrasound and , Pennel was diagnosed with , a rare form of affecting approximately 500 children annually in the United States, with tumors present on both s. Treatment began immediately with surgery to excise the tumors, during which surgeons removed more than one-third of one kidney in an incision spanning from hip to hip, followed by 18 months of weekly using an experimental drug cocktail administered at in . Pennel achieved remission and surpassed one-, five-, and ten-year cancer-free benchmarks, though he endured regular oncologist visits—initially monthly, then quarterly, and eventually annual—which instilled a persistent of recurrence and led him to doubt his survival into adulthood until his high school years. Despite these challenges, by age 12 he had grown to 6 feet tall and 215 pounds, channeling his physical development into early football participation starting at age five. The ordeal, as recounted by his Terri Pennel, involved significant family strain from repeated trips between Topeka and Kansas City for treatment.

High school career

Pennel attended Grandview High School in , where he played football as a defensive lineman. He was coached by John Schultz during his time there. Pennel joined the Grandview Wolves roster by 2008, participating in the team's program amid a period when the school competed in Colorado's high school classifications. Following graduation, his high school experience laid the groundwork for football, though detailed performance statistics from his prep career remain limited in public records.

College career

Scottsdale Community College

Pennel began his collegiate football career at , playing as a defensive lineman for the Fighting Artichokes in the (NJCAA). As a in 2010, he recorded 34 tackles. In his year of 2011, Pennel amassed 37 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two sacks, earning All-American honors for his performance. His standout play at Scottsdale drew significant recruiting attention, with ranking him as the No. 6 and No. 36 overall prospect nationally. Initially committing to the , Pennel decommitted and signed with following his sophomore season. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing approximately 335 pounds, he was valued for his size and run-stuffing ability during his time at the .

Arizona State University

Pennel signed with Arizona State in February 2012 following two standout seasons at Scottsdale Community College, where he was projected as a potential immediate starter on the defensive line due to his size (6-foot-4, 330 pounds) and JUCO production of 37 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two sacks as a sophomore. He enrolled for the 2012 season under head coach Todd Graham, appearing in five games primarily as a rotational defensive tackle. In limited action, Pennel recorded four tackles (all solo) with no sacks or tackles for loss, contributing minimally to a Sun Devils defense that finished the year 8-5. His tenure was derailed by disciplinary issues, including multiple suspensions for conduct violations. On October 2, 2012, Arizona State suspended him indefinitely, effectively ending his time with the program amid reports of clashes with coaching staff. Pennel did not play after early-season appearances and subsequently transferred to Division II for the 2013 season, where he could resume eligibility without further NCAA complications. This brief stint at the FBS level highlighted unfulfilled potential, as pre-season expectations positioned him as a key interior lineman but off-field problems overshadowed on-field contributions.

Colorado State University Pueblo

Pennel transferred to for his senior season in 2013, where he played defensive line for the ThunderWolves in . Starting all 12 games, he recorded 36 total tackles, including 15 solo stops, along with 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, and 2 fumble recoveries. His contributions helped the team achieve an 11–1 record, secure their third consecutive (RMAC) championship, and earn a berth in the playoffs. For his performance, Pennel earned First-Team All-RMAC honors.

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Pennel signed with the as an undrafted free agent following the . As a , he secured a spot on the 53-man roster and appeared in 13 games, recording 8 tackles. In 2015, Pennel played in all 16 regular-season games with 5 starts, accumulating 25 tackles (16 solo), 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. His role expanded as a rotational , contributing to the Packers' defensive line depth during their NFC North-winning campaign. Pennel began the 2016 season with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, marking his second such infraction after a prior issue. He returned in Week 5 and appeared in 8 games, logging 7 tackles (5 solo) and 1 forced fumble, primarily in reserve duty. Over three seasons with Green Bay, Pennel played in 37 games with 5 starts, totaling 40 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble, serving mainly as a interior lineman. The Packers released Pennel on January 9, 2017, prior to the divisional playoff game against the .

New York Jets

Pennel joined the as a , signing a one-year contract on March 22, 2017, following an earlier claim off waivers from the on February 7, 2017. During the 2017 season, he appeared in all 16 games, starting three, and recorded 35 total tackles (20 solo). The Jets re-signed Pennel to another one-year deal on March 18, 2018. In 2018, he started seven of 16 games played, accumulating 27 tackles (16 solo) and one fumble recovery. Pennel became an unrestricted free agent after the season and departed the Jets, signing with the New England Patriots in March 2019.

New England Patriots

Pennel signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the as an unrestricted on March 14, 2019, following two seasons with the rival . The deal included a $500,000 , positioning him as a projected starter on the defensive line amid the Patriots' efforts to bolster their interior defense after losing key players in . Prior to the signing, Pennel had appeared in 69 games with 15 starts across stints with the and Jets, recording 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks. During the 2019 preseason and training camp, Pennel struggled to adapt to the Patriots' defensive scheme under coordinator , who emphasized complex rotations and gap discipline. Pennel later attributed his challenges to insufficient coaching feedback, stating that he received limited snaps and direction despite entering camp as a starter , which hindered his preparation. He appeared in three preseason games, logging minimal snaps without notable statistical contributions, as the Patriots prioritized younger or more scheme-versatile linemen like and Adam Butler. The Patriots released Pennel on August 26, 2019, just before the regular season, forgoing the remainder of his contract guarantees after determining he did not fit their depth chart needs. Pennel did not appear in any regular-season or postseason games for , marking a brief and unproductive tenure that contrasted with his prior productivity in simpler defensive systems. Following his release, he signed with the in October 2019, where he thrived in a more straightforward role.

Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)

On October 19, 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive tackle Mike Pennel to their active roster. During the 2019 regular season, he appeared in eight games, primarily providing depth on the defensive line. Pennel contributed to the Chiefs' postseason success, playing in three playoff games, including Super Bowl LIV on February 2, 2020, where he recorded one tackle in the 31–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. His presence helped bolster the run defense during the Chiefs' championship run. Pennel re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year for the 2020 season. In 2020, he played in 14 games with one start, recording 29 total tackles, including a career-high 10 in a 26–10 win over the on October 5. His role focused on rotational duties and run-stopping, appearing in three additional postseason games that year. Following the 2020 season, Pennel departed the Chiefs as a , signing with the in 2021. Over his first stint with Kansas City spanning 2019–2020, he appeared in 22 regular-season games and contributed to the team's championship.

Chicago Bears (first stint)

On June 18, 2021, Pennel signed a one-year with the as a to bolster the interior line depth. During the preseason, he sustained a injury in the Bears' against the on August 21. The team placed him on injured reserve on August 24, 2021. Pennel was released by the Bears on August 31, 2021, with an injury settlement, prior to the start of the regular season. He recorded no statistics and did not appear in any preseason or regular-season games during this brief tenure.

Atlanta Falcons

Pennel signed to the ' practice squad on September 15, 2021, after being released by the . He was elevated to the active roster on October 4, 2021, to bolster the defensive line amid injuries. In 10 games during the , Pennel did not start but contributed as a rotational , recording 21 total tackles—including 9 solo tackles and 12 assists—with no sacks, forced fumbles, or interceptions. His role provided depth to a Falcons defense ranked 28th in total yards allowed that year, though the team finished with a 7–10 record and missed the . Pennel was not retained by Atlanta beyond the season.

Chicago Bears (second stint)

On June 13, 2022, Pennel signed with the , returning to the team after a brief stint with the . He competed for a depth role on the defensive line during and preseason but was waived from the initial 53-man roster on September 9, 2022. The Bears re-signed him to their the next day, September 10. Pennel was elevated from the practice squad for multiple games during the 2022 regular season, appearing in all 17 contests while starting two. In 284 defensive snaps, he recorded 22 total tackles (12 solo, 10 assisted), two tackles for loss, and one pass deflection, primarily contributing as a rotational tackle focused on run defense. His performance provided interior depth amid injuries to starters like and , though he did not record any sacks or forced fumbles. Pennel became an unrestricted following the season.

Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)

Pennel rejoined the on October 24, 2023, by signing to their ahead of the team's push for a playoff berth. He appeared in three regular-season games that year without starting, logging four total tackles (two solo). Promoted for the postseason, Pennel started three of four playoff contests, where he recorded 12 tackles, including six in against the on February 11, 2024—a performance that aided Kansas City's 25–22 overtime victory and second consecutive championship. The Chiefs re-signed Pennel to a one-year on March 13, 2024, retaining him as rotational depth on the defensive line. During the 2024 regular season, he played in all 17 games with seven starts, amassing 25 total tackles (10 solo), three sacks—a career high—and one fumble recovery. Pennel agreed to another one-year deal with Kansas City on March 24, 2025, marking his fifth overall season with the franchise across stints. However, he was released on August 26, 2025, as the team trimmed to the 53-man roster, prioritizing other defensive line options like the acquired .

Cincinnati Bengals

Pennel signed with the ' practice squad on September 1, 2025, as an 11th-year veteran seeking to provide interior line depth following his departure from the . He was elevated to the active roster for the Bengals' Week 1 matchup against the on September 7, 2025, marking his debut with the team in a divisional rivalry game. On September 9, 2025, the Bengals signed Pennel directly from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster, replacing guard who was placed on injured reserve. Through the first seven games of the 2025 season, Pennel appeared in all contests, logging rotational snaps primarily on run defense and contributing 14 total tackles (3 solo, 11 assisted), with no sacks, forced fumbles, or interceptions recorded. His role emphasized veteran presence along the defensive front, leveraging his experience from two Super Bowl-winning seasons with Kansas City to support younger linemen amid injuries and rotations.

Career statistics and accomplishments

Regular season statistics

Mike Pennel has appeared in 146 regular season games over 12 seasons, accumulating 231 combined tackles, 5.0 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.
YearTeamGPGSCombSoloAstSk
2014GNB1308710.0
2015GNB165251691.0
2016GNB807520.0
2017NYJ1633520150.0
2018NYJ1672716110.0
2019KAN802413111.0
2020KAN1412913160.0
2021ATL100219120.0
2022CHI1722616100.0
2023KAN304220.0
2024KAN1772510153.0
2025CIN80154110.0
Career totals: 146 GP, 25 GS, 231 Comb, 131 Solo, 100 Ast, 5.0 Sk.

Postseason statistics

Pennel has appeared in 17 postseason games across six seasons, starting six of them, and recorded 33 total tackles (15 solo, 18 assisted), one pass deflection, and one tackle for loss, with no sacks, interceptions, or forced fumbles. His postseason contributions include stints with the in 2014 and 2015, and the in 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2024.
YearTeamGames PlayedStartsTackles (Solo/Ast/Total)SacksIntFFPDTFL
2014GB201 (1/0/1)0.00000
2015GB202 (2/0/2)0.00000
2019KC327 (2/5/7)0.00010
2020KC301 (0/1/1)0.00000
2023KC4312 (5/7/12)0.00001
2024KC3110 (5/5/10)0.00000
Career-17633 (15/18/33)0.00011
Pennel's most productive postseason came in 2023 with the Chiefs, where he started three games en route to a victory, contributing 12 tackles including a tackle for loss. In 2020, during the Chiefs' LIV-winning run, his role was limited to one assisted tackle across three games. Earlier appearances with the Packers were similarly modest, with three total tackles in four games during NFC Championship-contending seasons.

Notable achievements

Pennel is a two-time champion, having contributed to the ' victories in on February 2, 2020, against the (31–20), and on February 11, 2024, against the same opponent (25–22). In the latter game, he recorded six combined tackles, tying for the fourth-highest total on the Chiefs' defense, while helping limit the 49ers' rushing attack. For a specific tackle on during that contest, Pennel received the NFL Way to Play Award, which recognizes exemplary technique and execution. Over six playoff starts with the Chiefs from 2019 to 2024, Pennel accumulated 30 combined tackles, two quarterback hits, and one pass defensed, often serving as a rotational defensive tackle focused on run defense. Pro Football Focus graded him as the Chiefs' highest-rated defensive tackle against the run during the 2023 regular season, highlighting his role in bolstering the interior line.

References

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