Chiefs release starting OTs Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz


The Kansas City Chiefs famously played Super Bowl LV without both of their starting offensive tackles. Now they're officially moving on from the veterans.

The Chiefs are releasing left tackle Eric Fisher and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz , NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The team later confirmed both moves.

"I'd wish to thank Eric and Mitch for all of their contributions over the years," coach Andy Reid said during a statement. "Every day both of those men came to figure with the proper attitude, able to grind, both on the sector and within the classroom. These guys are both dirty tough, but beyond that, they're good people and that i enjoyed coaching them. I wish them the simplest as they continue their careers."

Both players are coming off injury.

Schwartz, considered the highest right tackle within the NFL when healthy, missed 10 games last season thanks to a back injury. He recently underwent back surgery and suggested he planned to return this season. A back injury for an offensive lineman are often a career-ender, so retirement cannot be ruled out.

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After four years in Cleveland, Schwartz moved to K.C., where he spent the past five seasons establishing himself as a rock on the proper side. While left tackles get most of the eye , Schwartz proved that a dominant right side is additionally an enormous asset given what proportion pass rushers move around. He earned All-Pro honors in 2018. Cutting him clears $6.255 million in cap space.


Fisher, the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, starting 113 games and earning two Pro Bowl bids, including in 2020. Fisher suffered an Achilles injury within the AFC Championship game.

The 30-year-old left tackle took to Instagram to mention his goodbye to K.C.

Cutting Fisher saves the Chiefs $11.968 million on the salary cap with $3.18 million in dead money.

Clearing cap space was a necessity, with K.C. currently projected to be above the $182.5 million salary cap.

The Chiefs missing both Schwartz and Fisher was a highly publicized narrative before Super Bowl LV that proved to be a big storyline when the sport started. The Buccaneers' defensive position overwhelmed their replacements, discombobulating Patrick Mahomes , who clearly did not have an equivalent trust as he showed within the veterans.

Moving on from both tackles adds to the main questions along K.C.'s offensive line. along side replacing Schwartz and Fisher, four other top O-linemen are slated to be free agents, including center Austin Reiter and guard Kelechi Osemele .

The Chiefs drafted tackle Lucas Niang out of TCU within the third round last year, but he opted out thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, missing his rookie season. Niang is probably going a top candidate to slip into one among the tackle spots.