The move by the Chiefs came just one day after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cut Pyburn, an undrafted rookie who had previously led the NFL in preseason sacks with four, as reported by Louisiana Sports.
Pyburn’s transition to the NFL roster arrived amid a broader legal battle regarding college athletic eligibility. According to The Athletic, Pyburn drew significant attention for the possibility of returning to his former school, LSU, which has been central to debates over eligibility rules for players with professional experience. Pyburn’s agents initially advised him of a potential return months prior when the NCAA simplified its eligibility rules to give athletes five years to play five seasons, though that adjustment did not automatically apply to fourth-year seniors who had just finished their eligibility.
Legal Challenges and NCAA Eligibility Status
To challenge the NCAA’s application of the rules, Pyburn joined a lawsuit filed alongside more than 30 other athletes in Louisiana, according to The Athletic. That legal action secured a temporary restraining order that permitted the plaintiffs to play college football during the current season. Louisiana Sports reported that a scheduled hearing in Baton Rouge was set to address a preliminary injunction for Pyburn and the other athletes seeking clearance to play.
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Regaining college eligibility requires players who spent time in NFL camps or on preseason rosters to formally terminate their professional contracts and repay any earnings accrued from them, as noted by The Athletic. Pyburn’s prior deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had guaranteed him $115,000, which included a $15,000 signing bonus. By claiming Pyburn off waivers, the Kansas City Chiefs effectively secured his professional rights, complicating any potential path back to the collegiate level with LSU before the university’s final roster submission deadline.
Waiver Claims Across the League
According to The Athletic’s league-wide tracking, the Miami Dolphins led all teams by claiming seven players, including quarterback Brady Cook from the New York Jets and tight end Justin Joly from the Denver Broncos. Joly entered the waiver wire as the highest-drafted rookie, taken at No. 152, to be cut on Sunday.
Other notable transactions included the Philadelphia Eagles having four players claimed, while the Kansas City Chiefs added three total players to their organization. Alongside Jack Pyburn, the Chiefs also claimed undrafted defensive tackle Bryson Eason from the San Francisco 49ers.