Chiefs Rookie Cut Before Season Retires to Join Military Service
The NFL is often framed as the summit of athletic dreams, but for one Kansas City rookie, the road to greatness veered off the gridiron toward a higher calling.
After signing as an undrafted free agent in May, the young running back battled through training camp and preseason, hoping to earn a spot on a Chiefs roster searching for backfield depth and special-teams juice.
That player is Elijah Young, a Western Kentucky product known in college for his burst, versatility, and fearlessness on special teams.
Waived in late August, Young surprised teammates and fans by announcing his retirement from professional football and his decision to join the United States military, trading Chiefs red for a service uniform.
“I lived my NFL dream in Kansas City, but getting cut before the season opened a different path,” Young said in a statement. “This isn’t an ending — it’s a higher calling. Now I choose to serve my country with the same heart I brought to the Chiefs.”
At 5-foot-9 and 187 pounds, Young was often labeled undersized for an NFL running back, yet he stood out for his resilience, vision, and willingness to contribute on special teams. His preseason PFF grade of 63 reflected steadiness amid stiff competition.
For the Chiefs, the move closes the book on a developmental project. For Young, it opens a new, meaningful chapter — fitting for a player long described as a “hidden gem” who kept finding ways to rise.
Fans in Kansas City and across the college football community lauded the decision on social media, calling it “the highest form of sacrifice” and “proof that some hearts are bigger than the game.” Elijah Young leaves the NFL, but the mission ahead may prove even greater.
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