End of an era.

The Kansas City Chiefs have begun drastic roster changes, starting with the release of veteran defensive end Mike Danna.

On Monday, the Chiefs announced they had released 28-year-old Mike Danna after six seasons, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Chiefs thanked the two-time Super Bowl champion with a message on X/Twitter.

Cutting Danna will save the Chiefs about $9 million against the cap. The veteran defensive end had one season remaining on a $24 million contract extension he signed in the 2024 offseason.

Last week, the Chiefs restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract to free up $43.56 million in cap space. According to OvertheCap.com, the Chiefs currently have just over $3.29 million in cap space.

In six seasons with the Chiefs, Mike Danna tallied 21.5 sacks, six pass defenses and as many forced fumbles. He was on the Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship-winning teams in 2022 and 2023.

Mike Danna Won’t Be The First Notable Chiefs Player To Leave This Offseason

Mike Danna (Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
As much as losing Danna has to hurt Chiefs fans sentimentally, he won’t be the first domino to fall.

With limited cap space, the Chiefs are sure to release several other highly-paid veterans. Veteran offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor will most certainly be let go, as cutting him would save a whopping $20 million. Travis Kelce has yet to decide on his future. If he retires, the Chiefs will have the daunting task of replacing a future Hall of Famer.

Other notable free agents who could price themselves out of Kansas City include running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, safety Bryan Cook and backup quarterback Gardner Minshew II.

The salary cap prevents NFL teams from keeping all of their core players together in the long term. Tough decisions will have to be made in Kansas City, especially considering how disastrous their 2025 season was.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.