Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele had a solid rookie season with Andy Reid's offense despite being a bit-part player.
An undrafted free agent, Steele had to do things the hard way to begin his NFL career, and he made good progress during the offseason, eventually making the 53-man roster.
Steele would total 183 rushing yards from 56 attempts in the regular season, but didn't feature in the playoffs with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco leading the way.
But for Carson, going from where he was to making the active roster, he learned a few things.
"It's one of those things where you're thinking you're okay and then you got to wait and kind of figure things out," Steele said in an interview with Nate Spangle. "I always try to tell people that if you make a mistake, doing it at 100%, they're going to be mad, but they aren't going to be upset. When you're making mistakes and half-assing it, that's when something is going to need to change."
That mindset of not 'half-assing" it got Steele on the field in 2024, and where he did show some flashes (72 yards from 17 carries vs. Atlanta).
Now, though, as he enters his second offseason, it will be tough sledding getting touches with Pacheco, Hunt, and now Elijah Mitchell and Brashard Smith all vying for reps.
But as we know, Steele is no stranger to adversity, having gone from an undrafted rookie to making the final roster, but Carson knows that he might have to replicate his efforts again this offseason to ensure he stays on the Chiefs roster in 2025.
