McCalister spent the final three weeks of the 2025 regular season on the Chiefs’ practice squad before being released. He then joined the Denver Broncos’ practice squad for their playoff run but was not elevated to the active roster.
The 25-year-old defensive back has bounced around the NFL since entering as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He spent four college seasons at Oklahoma State as a slot cornerback before finishing as a starter for Ohio State in 2022, and he later signed with the Cleveland Browns.
Across his NFL career, McCalister has appeared in six games and recorded three total tackles.
With the reserve/futures contract, McCalister will join Kansas City’s 90-man offseason roster and participate in offseason practices and training camp as he competes for a spot on the 2026 roster.
The Chiefs’ latest signing adds depth to a defensive backfield in need of steady competition after a disappointing 2025 season, and McCalister brings minimal NFL playoff experience from his time with Denver to the early stages of Kansas City’s 2026 grind.
