George Karlaftis

DE

#56

Experience: 5 years

Height: 6-4

Age: 25

Weight: 263 lbs

College: Purdue

2026 SEASON

Solo
6
SCK
0
FF
0
INT
1

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Biography

Karlaftis enters his fifth season with the Chiefs in 2026.
Originally entered the NFL as the second of two first-round picks (30th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Career Highlights:

Led Kansas City in sacks (8.0) in 2024.
Recorded double-digit sacks (10.5) in 2023, tying with DT Chris Jones for the most amongst the defense.
Totaled 16.5 sacks in his first two seasons, the third-most in a Chiefs player's first two seasons.
In 2022, George Karlaftis became the 19th player in franchise history to start all regular season games in their rookie season. Karlaftis joined C Creed Humphrey and G Trey Smith to be the first three to start 17 games in their rookie season since the NFL added a 17th regular season game in the 2021 season.
As a rookie, finished the 2022 season with the second-most sacks on the team (6.0) behind DT Chris Jones (15.5).
2022 PFW/PFWA All-Rookie team.

Transactions:

Re-signed with Kansas City (7/21/25) ... Originally entered the NFL as the second of two first-round picks (30th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Player Articles

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Five Things to Know About Chiefs' First-Round Pick Purdue DE George Karlaftis | 2022 NFL Draft

The Chiefs selected Karlaftis with the No. 30 overall pick on Thursday night

Player Videos

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George Karlaftis Surges Into Backfield for a Tackle for Loss

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis takes down Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. for a 5-yard loss.

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Can't-Miss Play: Chris Jones Tips Malik Willis's Pass and George Karlaftis intercepts It

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones tips the pass from Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis and Chiefs linebacker George Karlaftis intercepts it during Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season.

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George Karlaftis Tackles Greg Dulcich for a Loss of 5 Yards

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker George Karlaftis tackles Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich for a loss of 5 yards during Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season.

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George Karlaftis: 'Whatever's Needed of Me ... in Order for Us To Have the Best Chance at Winning, I'm Willing To Do' | Press Conference 9/23

George Karlaftis speaks to the media on Wednesday, September 23.

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George Karlaftis: 'This Year's All About Mindset and Mentality' | Press Conference 8/3

George Karlaftis speaks to the media on Monday, August 3.

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George Karlaftis on R Mason Thomas: 'He's Very Explosive' | Press Conference 5/28

George Karlaftis speaks to the media on Thursday, May 28.

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George Karlaftis: 'It's About Finishing and Finishing Out Strong' | Press Conference 12/17

George Karlaftis speaks to the media on Wednesday, December 17.

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Under the Helmet with George Karlaftis

Get to know Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis in this edition of Under the Helmet.

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George Karlaftis Brings C.J. Stroud Down for an 11-yard Sack

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis brings Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud down for an 11-yard sack.

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George Karlaftis: 'We Know What This Team is Capable Of' | Press Conference 11/21

George Karlaftis speaks to the media on Friday, November 21.

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George Karlaftis Boosts His 2025 Sack Total to 5.0 via Takedown of Josh Allen

Kansas City Chiefs defenders George Karlaftis and Ashton Gillotte combine to sack Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

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George Karlaftis Boosts His 2025 Sack Total to 4.5 on a Marcus Mariota Takedown

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis' shoestring tackle takes Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota down for a 3-yard sack.

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SACK: George Karlaftis Tracks Down Lamar Jackson for a Third Down Stop

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, forcing the Ravens into a field goal attempt.

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George Karlaftis: 'We're Just Going to Keep Getting Better' | Press Conference 9/24

George Karlaftis speaks to the media on Wednesday, September 24.

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George Karlaftis' Gets Second Sack of 2025 | Chiefs vs. Giants

Defensive end George Karlaftis sacks quarterback Russell Wilson for a loss of 4 yards as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Giants in Week 3.

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George Karlaftis gets Tackle for Loss on Russell Wilson on Third Down in the Red Zone | Chiefs vs. Giants

Defensive end George Karlaftis lunges for quarterback Russell Wilson for a loss of 1-yard as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the New York Giants in Week 3.

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George Karlaftis: 'We Have a Lot of Motivation Going Into This Season' | Press Conference 9/2

George Karlaftis spoke to the media on Tuesday, September 2.

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George Karlaftis: 'I've Been Vocal About How Much I Love It Here' | Press Conference 7/22

George Karlaftis speaks to the media after the first day of training camp practice.

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George Karlaftis On His Relationship With Ashton Gillotte: 'Really Happy to Have Him, I Think He'll Be a Great Addition' | Press Conference 5/29

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, George Karlaftis addressed the media on Thursday, May 29th.

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Chiefs Defensive End George Karlaftis Sacks Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts | Super Bowl LIX

Kansas City Chiefs' defensive end George Karlaftis notches the Chiefs' first sack of Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Jalen Hurts in Super Bowl LIX.

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George Karlaftis on Travis Kelce: 'He's the Best to Ever Do It. Plain and Simple' | Chiefs Press Conference - Super Bowl LIX

Defensive end, George Karlaftis addressed the media ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LIX matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

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George Karlaftis on the Philadelphia Eagles: 'We're Going to Have Our Hands Full, We've Got a lot of Respect For Those Guys' | Chiefs Press Conference - Super Bowl LIX

Defensive end, George Karlaftis addressed the media ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LIX matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

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George Karlaftis on Josh Allen: 'You Have to Rush Him Under an Umbrella of Discipline' | Chiefs Press Conference 1/24

Defensive end, George Karlaftis addressed the media ahead of Kansas City's AFC Championship matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

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Chiefs George Karlaftis Was Mic'd Up & Making Franchise History in AFC Divisional Round Win

Go behind the scenes with Kansas City's George Karlaftis in the latest episode of 'Mic'd Up', as the defensive end became the second player in franchise history to record three or more sacks in a single postseason game, as the Chiefs claimed victory in Saturday's Divisional Round matchup with the Houston Texans on Saturday.

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George Karlaftis: 'When You Get a Sack, it's a Big Thing' | NFL Playoffs - Divisional Round

Defensive end, George Karlaftis speaks with the media at the official postgame press conference following the Kansas City Chiefs Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Player Galleries

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Photos: Trent McDuffie & George Karlaftis Arrive in Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs first round draft picks arrive in Kansas City to check out their new office.

Recent Games

WK	OPP	RESULT	TKL	AST	COMBINED	SOLO	PDEF	INT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TDS
1	Broncos	W 31 - 10	1	2	3	1	0
2	Colts	W 33 - 30	2	3	5	2	0
3	@Dolphins	W 24 - 10	1	1	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0
4	@Raiders	W 30 - 27	2	3	5	2	1

Career Stats

Defense Career

SEASON	TEAM	G	GS	TKL	AST	COMBINED	SOLO	SCK	PDEF	INT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TDS	FF	OPP FR
2022	Kansas City Chiefs	17	17	18	15	33	17	6	7						0	2
2023	Kansas City Chiefs	16	16	29	17	46	28	10.5	3						1
2024	Kansas City Chiefs	16	11	21	14	35	18	8	5						0
2025	Kansas City Chiefs	16	15	25	23	48	23	6	2						0	1
2026	Kansas City Chiefs	4	4	6	9	15	6	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL		69	63	99	78	177	92	30.5	19	1	0	0	0	0	1	3

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