You can never have too much talent in the NFL. The Chiefs don’t think so, adding a handful of new faces to their roster in hopes of rounding out a roster they hope can win a third consecutive Lombardi Trophy in 2025.

Marquise Brown, Samaje Perine and Xavier Worthy are among the most notable new additions to Kansas City’s roster. So is Carson Steele, an unknown rookie running back who has worked his way to the big leagues one broken tackle at a time.

The 6-1, 227-pound halfback enters the league with little fanfare, at least compared to some of his drafted peers. But don’t fret. Legions of Chiefs fans believe Steele could make an impact on Andy Reid’s roster from the start. Given Kansas City’s history with player development, that might not be a far-fetched prospect.

Here’s what you need to know about Steele, one of football’s true renaissance men.

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Who is Carson Steele?

Steele is a 21-year-old running back who earned a spot on the Chiefs’ roster after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Greenwood, Indiana native has built quite the reputation during his short football career.

Steele broke out of Center Grove High School in Greenwood, where he threw for 1,659 yards and 31 touchdowns his senior year.

For his efforts, Steele was rewarded with a two-star billing and committed to play at Ball State in Muncie, Ind., an hour’s drive from his hometown.

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Steele worked wonders during his two seasons with the Cardinals. As a freshman, he recorded 891 yards and six touchdowns on 192 attempts, establishing himself as one of the MAC’s best runners.

If Steele’s freshman year was the spark, this sophomore season was the spark. The then-Ball State prospect amassed 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning All-Conference honors for the 5-7 Cards.

After his stunning 2022 campaign, Steele entered the transfer portal. His stock has risen significantly since his college admission, as 247 Sports rated him as a four-star recruit.

Eventually settling at UCLA, Steele was just as effective in the Bruins’ blue-and-gold, totaling 847 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He didn’t shoulder all the rushing responsibilities as a junior — TJ Harden also played a significant role in Chip Kelly’s offense.

Still, his penchant for dishing out blows in the open field seems to have made quite an impression on Kansas City’s staff, so much so that they decided to offer the energetic running back an undrafted free agent.

Steele has made the most of his opportunity so far. After an impressive preseason run-in that saw Steele reach the end zone, he was named to KC’s 53-man roster. Following Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s appointment to the non-football sick list, he could see more playing time in the coming weeks.

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Carson Steele pet alligator

In addition to Steele’s talent for punishing opposing defenders, he has another unique piece in his collection: he has a pet alligator.

The lizard, nicknamed “Crocky-J”—a nonsensical nickname of Steele’s own making—has been a fixture in the golden tailback’s life since he was a boy. They’ve had their share of wars; the number of objects Crocky-J has reduced to ruins keeps growing.

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Still, the noisy reptile is part of Steele’s identity.

“He represents me, especially a kid from the Midwest coming to L.A. with blond hair, doesn’t look like he should be from Indiana, you know?” Steele said, according to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. “Might as well throw an alligator in there.”

Carson Steele nicknames

Steele has had a number of nicknames during his gridiron career, being called “Thor,” “Fabio,” and “Man of Steele” during his time at Ball State. One publication called him the “most interesting man in college football.” We’ll see if that moniker sticks during his time in the big leagues.