Chiefs rookie and admitted former Browns fan ditches all bias

It’s tough for any rookie coming into the NFL to drop their childhood fandom, but it’s necessary to survive and thrive in the business for Chiefs rookie Mike Rose.

Rose came in as an undrafted free agent from Iowa State, but his roots are in Brecksville, Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. So, it’s easy to see how Rose grew up a Browns fan, and maintained that fandom during his college years at ISU.

Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on how you look at it — Rose was not drafted by Cleveland, instead forced to find a new home as a UDFA. When the Chiefs came calling, he jumped at the opportunity.

“I definitely grew up a Browns fan but as this became more reality to me, obviously you can’t pick favorites,” Rose said. “A lot of waiting, but I think every team had their different reason for passing up on me…I’m just super glad to have an opportunity here at this great organization. I’m just looking forward to doing my thing in minicamp and making the 53.”

What can Mike Rose bring to the Kansas City Chiefs?

Rose was a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 winner and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020. He’s the kind of decorated college player who rarely goes undrafted, and now has a giant chip on his shoulder.

Making the roster won’t be easy for Rose. The top of the linebacking corps includes Willie Gay Jr., Nick Bolton and Leo Chanal. Behind those three are veterans Darius Harris, Jermaine Carter Jr., and Elijah Lee. If Rose is to beat out even half of the names on that list, he’ll have to make quite the impression in minicamp and beyond.

“I wasn’t highly recruited out of high school,” Rose said. “I had to earn my spot in college. This chip on my shoulder and being counted out, it doesn’t feel all too different to me honestly.”

If anything, that sort familiarity and mentality should work out in Rose’s favor.