Chiefs Release Veteran DE Mike Danna

Move frees up $9 million in cap space ahead of new NFL year

Feb. 24, 2026 at 10:14pm

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The Kansas City Chiefs have parted ways with two-time Super Bowl champion defensive end Mike Danna. The team released the 28-year-old veteran on Monday, a move that frees up $9 million in salary cap space ahead of the start of the new NFL year on March 11.

Why it matters

Danna had been a key part of the Chiefs' defensive line since being drafted in 2020, starting 14 games last season and recording 23.5 sacks including the playoffs. His release is a significant roster move as the team looks to reshape its roster and salary cap ahead of the new season.

The details

The Chiefs released Danna on Monday, five days after restructuring the contract of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes to create additional cap space. Danna had been with the team since being drafted in the fifth round in 2020 and was entering the final year of his rookie contract.

  • The Chiefs released Danna on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • The new NFL year begins on March 11, 2026.

The players

Mike Danna

A 28-year-old defensive end who was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs who recently had his contract restructured to create additional salary cap space.

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What’s next

The Chiefs will look to fill the void left by Danna's departure as they continue to reshape their roster ahead of the new NFL season.

The takeaway

The release of Mike Danna is a significant move by the Chiefs as they look to manage their salary cap and roster ahead of the new NFL year. It highlights the tough decisions teams must make to balance their long-term competitiveness with short-term financial constraints.