The Kansas City Chiefs will have at least one familiar face returning to rookie minicamp for the second consecutive season. The last time he was there, he defied the odds and earned a spot on the 90-man offseason roster.
The Chiefs have invited former Villanova WR Jaaron Hayek to their 2025 rookie minicamp. Hayek was one of the over three dozen undrafted players who attended the Chiefs' rookie minicamp in 2024, and the only one to earn a contract with the team after his tryout.
“I’m grateful to be joining one of the best franchises, fanbases, and a dynasty in the league,” Hayek told A to Z Sports last May. "(I'm) excited to be joining at such a historic time for the organization and I hope I can continue to be part of the culture moving into the season. All I needed was one chance and it just happened to come from a Hall of Fame coach in Andy Reid, and now I have the opportunity to play on the same offense with two of the best ever in Travis (Kelce) and (Patrick) Mahomes. I can’t wait to prove to them I belong in this league and on this team to help them win!”
He'd go on to participate in offseason workouts but suffered a shoulder injury during training camp. The team kept him around for a few weeks before they decided to waive him with an injury designation. He eventually reached an injury settlement and was released from IR, but he never caught on with another team because he didn't get to participate in the preseason.
Villanova sportscaster David Szczepanski spoke to Villanova HC Mark Ferrante about Haayek's second chance with Kansas City.
"This is awesome that they are bringing him back out," Ferrante said. "He was doing really well from the reports we were getting, and then he hurt his shoulder, so he didn’t get any preseason game film. He already kind of opened the Chiefs’ eyes a year ago when he was at their camp.”
Haayek posted 2,700 yards and 29 touchdowns in five seasons at Villanova.
It remains to be seen if he can defy the odds for a second time and earn a spot on the 90-man roster. The wide receiver room is much more competitive than it was a season ago. What Coach Ferrante said rings true, though. He's already opened some eyes in Kansas City once before, so why not again in 2025?
