The Kansas City Chiefs have signed rookie linebacker Aiden Fisher to their practice squad, adding a former national champion who brings proven production and leadership from one of college football’s most surprising recent runs.
Fisher, a seventh-round selection by the Houston Texans in the 2026 NFL Draft (No. 243 overall), was released by Houston on Saturday and cleared waivers before landing in Kansas City. The 6-foot-1, 231-pound linebacker appeared in three games for the Texans and recorded one tackle before the move.
The addition reunites Fisher with offensive tackle Kahlil Benson, his teammate on the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers squad that completed a perfect season and won the program’s first College Football Playoff national championship. Benson, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Chiefs after rookie minicamp, has emerged as a starter at left tackle in place of the injured Josh Simmons and was named AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month for September.
Fisher’s path to the NFL featured steady improvement and a willingness to follow a trusted coach. After beginning his career at James Madison under Curt Cignetti, he transferred to Indiana when Cignetti took the Hoosiers job. In two seasons in Bloomington, Fisher totaled 215 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, and seven passes defended across 28 games. He earned first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2024 and 2025 while serving as a captain and key communicator on a defense that helped Indiana reach the title game.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans had praised Fisher’s football intelligence and on-field communication after the draft, noting the traits that stood out on Indiana film. Limited early-season opportunities in Houston left the rookie available, and the Chiefs moved quickly once he cleared waivers to add another young piece to their linebacker depth.
For Fisher, the practice squad opportunity offers a fresh start in a familiar setting alongside Benson, another product of the same championship roster. Both players arrived in the NFL via non-traditional paths—Fisher as a late-round pick and Benson as an undrafted free agent—and both contributed to Indiana’s historic 2025 campaign before reaching Kansas City.
The Chiefs’ linebacker room gains a player with extensive college starting experience and a track record of production in a winning program. Whether Fisher elevates to the active roster or remains a developmental option will depend on his performance in practice and any openings created by injuries or roster moves in the weeks ahead.
