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Kansas City Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu reflects with hopeful message on the anniversary of season-ending ACL injury

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Charles Goldman | Last updated Jan 28, 2025 2:55 PM ET

A full calendar year ago, despite advancing to Super Bowl LVIII, one Kansas City Chiefs defender was in a dark place.

Charles Omenihu had suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. He'd already overcome an early-season suspension to have a breakout campaign in Kansas City, finishing the regular season with seven sacks in 11 games played. He'd go on to miss the opportunity to play against his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, in the Super Bowl due to his knee injury.

Charles Omenihu's message on the anniversary of his injury

With the anniversary of his injury having arrived, Omenihu took to social media to deliver a hopeful message.

"A year ago today I tore my acl," Omenihu wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "I felt like my life was crumbling down. I was playing my best football of my NFL career & I was just wondering why God would do this to me. A year later, same position playing good football when it matters most & otw to the Super Bowl !!"

A year ago today I tore my acl, I felt like my life was crumbling down. I was playing my best football of my NFL career & I was just wondering why God would do this to me. A year later, same position playing good football when it matters most & otw to the Super Bowl !!
— Charles Omenihu (@charless_94) January 28, 2025

It's all just a reminder to keep faith and keep working, even when things get tough. This time around, Omenihu is healthy and highly motivated to contribute to a Super Bowl victory through playing in the game.

"It's a big thing for me, personally," Omenihus said ahead of the AFC title game. "And the energy would be channeled to making few plays out there on that field."

Since his return to the field in late November, Omenihu has appeared in eight games, recording 12 combined tackles, two sacks, five pressures, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a pass batted. He's making ground each and every week as he seeks to return to his pre-injury form to play his best football again.

Omenihu will have a big job ahead of him in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, slowing down a two-headed monster in QB Jalen Hurts and RB Saquon Barkley. His impact will go beyond the box score, though. It all starts with preparation, attention to detail, and all the extra steps necessary to achieve the team's goals.

"I know who I'm going to be going against; I know who I'm going to line up against," he said via Under The Helmet. "What is in the balance is the difference. So, you've just got to tighten up your game a little bit more."

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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