The Kansas City Chiefs have an opportunity this Sunday to get some form of retribution against the Cincinnati Bengals after last year’s AFC Championship Game loss. As the teams prepare for battle, a Chiefs player will make his first trip back to Cincinnati as an opponent.
Carlos Dunlap played eleven seasons for the Bengals after being selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft by the franchise. He earned two consecutive Pro Bowl selections in 2015 and 2016, ranking among the greatest players in the team’s history. He was traded midseason in 2020 to the Seattle Seahawks and signed as a free agent with Kansas City before the start of this season.
With the addition of Dunlap, the Chiefs’ defensive line has grown more potent this season, freeing up Chris Jones to put together another career season. The All-Pro defensive tackle spoke with Dunlap ahead of this Sunday’s game, and he revealed what the former Bengal thinks about his return to Cincinnati during Wednesday’s press conference.
“Surprisingly, I actually mentioned it today,” said Jones. “Me and him talking, I asked him, ‘Carlos, this is your homecoming?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, it’s my first time going back since leaving.’ And I was telling him how much they hate him over there. Because they felt like he left when they were doing bad, and he jumped ship.
“But respectfully, you know, he has done a lot for the organization. He’s probably one of the best D-Ends to play in the organization. We’re very fortunate to have him in this room, the type of player the caliber of player he is, and we’re glad he’s on our side this time.”
Dunlap recently recorded the 100th sack of his career this season and has established himself as a veteran leader in the locker room. The Bengals fanbase won’t enjoy seeing him in a Chiefs uniform, but they won’t ignore the impact he had on the franchise for over a decade. His homecoming should see the Cincinnati fanbase welcome him with open arms, at least until the clock starts.
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