Former Chiefs linebacker finds another unlikely NFL lifeline

The New York Jets made a number of moves on Tuesday as they enter preparations for perhaps the NFL's worst matchup in Week 4: a showdown with the 0-3 Miami Dolphins. As a winless team as well, the Jets are hoping some of the new additions can make a difference.

Not only did the Jets acquire cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, but they also signed a former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker to the practice squad with the addition of Ben Niemann, who takes Mark Robinson's spot after getting a promotion to the active roster.

Niemann will be familiar to Chiefs fans as a former undrafted free agent who found his way into an unexpected contributor role for Kansas City over the course of multiple seasons. The former rookie free agent signed with the Chiefs after going unselected in 2018 following the completion of his collegiate career at Iowa. From there, his effort, intelligence, and talent earned him plenty of praise from Chiefs' coaches.

Former Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann is now with his fifth NFL team in eight seasons.

The Chiefs not only gave Niemann playing time, mostly on special teams, for 14 games his rookie season, but he grew into an occasional starter in the second level while playing nearly 50 percent of all snaps in his final two years in K.C.

By the time he finished his rookie deal in 2021, Niemann had racked up 167 tackles and 5 fumble recoveries in 62 career games before leaving in free agency for Arizona in 2022.

Last year, Niemann played for Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions, and has 103 appearances in seven seasons. He had his detractors in Kansas City for being tasked with too much responsibility given his athletic limitations, but as an undrafted find, Niemann's story is pretty remarkable with a career lasting much longer than the NFL average.