Former first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire has seemingly been out of the limelight since his rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs. His rookie year was his most productive campaign before slowly fading out of the starting role while battling a mental condition. Despite all of this, he remains on an NFL roster this season.
Where is Clyde Edwards-Helaire now?
Edwards-Helaire was a first-round draft pick out of LSU in the 2020 NFL Draft, and currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2025 NFL season. He has not been a heavy contributor, however, as he has only appeared in two games, recording seven carries for 13 yards.
He was a much more productive player in college, serving as a major contributor for the Joe Burrow-led LSU Tigers during their 2019-20 season, which culminated in a National Championship. He ran for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns in his final year as a Tiger, earning the first round selection.
During his rookie season with the Chiefs, Edwards-Helaire ran for 803 rushing yards on 181 carries while rushing for four touchdowns. He also tacked on 36 receptions for 297 yards and one receiving touchdown. That earned him a 77.3 grade in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for the 2020 season.
He remained with the Chiefs from 2020 through a majority of the 2024 season and won two Super Bowls. However, he didn’t have the same success he did during his rookie season, as he only eclipsed 500 rushing yards in one other season. An ankle injury in 2022, combined with the emergence of Isiah Pacheco, limited Edwards-Helaire to the backup role for the team’s second straight Super Bowl win in 2023.
He was signed by the New Orleans Saints shortly after being released by the Chiefs in December 2024 and appeared in two games for the Saints, recording 46 rushing yards on 13 total carries.
Before the 2024 season, Edwards-Helaire revealed on X that he had been battling post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from an incident on December 22, 2018, in Baton Rouge, LA. He did not appear in a game for the Chiefs in 2024 due to his condition and started that season on the non-football illness list.
He also missed time in training camp due to his PTSD and credits his family and the Chiefs’ medical and support staff for encouraging him to get help. He has also said he wants to be a positive influence for those living with PTSD and recommends that they also seek help.
Edwards-Helaire was waived by the Saints on August 26 but signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad two days later, where he has remained this season.
