Kansas City Chiefs fans who watched the undrafted rookie Carson Steele turn heads in 2024 have another update on the physical back they once embraced.

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles waived Steele from injured reserve with an injury settlement, clearing the way for him to become a free agent once healthy.

Steele, 24, suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6 during Philadelphia’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. He played limited snaps that day—three on offense and nine on special teams—catching one of two targets for four yards before exiting.

The Eagles had promoted him to the active roster earlier in the month amid injuries in their backfield, but the shoulder issue led to him being waived/injured, reverting to IR, and now released via settlement.

For Chiefs supporters, the news carries a note of nostalgia.

Steele signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA (via Ball State) after the 2024 draft and quickly became a training-camp and preseason favorite.

Fans chanted “CAR-SON!” after practices, and his hard-nosed running style earned nicknames and national attention. He made the initial 53-man roster listed primarily as a fullback, appearing in all 17 games (three starts) as a rookie.

He finished with 56 carries for 183 yards, seven receptions for 26 yards, and five kick returns for 138 yards, while also earning Pro Bowl alternate consideration among fullbacks.

The Chiefs waived him in final roster cuts ahead of the 2025 season and re-signed him to the practice squad.

After that stint, he signed a reserve/futures deal with the Eagles in January 2026—departing the organization that first gave him his NFL shot.

In Philadelphia he bounced between the practice squad and active roster, showing flashes in the preseason before limited regular-season usage this year.

Steele’s path has been that of a classic underdog: a college workhorse who transitioned to fullback, fought for snaps behind established backs, and connected with fans through effort and physicality.

From a Chiefs perspective, he remains a reminder of how an undrafted player can capture a fanbase’s imagination even in a short window.

With the injury settlement now complete, the former Kansas City favorite is free to pursue his next opportunity once his shoulder allows, closing another chapter in a career defined by perseverance more than volume stats.