In one sense, Mike Caliendo has already beaten the odds.
Signed last spring by the Kansas City Chiefs in the hours following the 2022 NFL Draft, Caliendo was a longshot to even make it through the team’s rookie minicamp or the first few weeks of offseason training activities with the Chiefs. The Chiefs had a loaded roster ready to compete for another Super Bowl with an offensive interior that would rival any other line in the NFL.
Not only did Caliendo make it through the summer with the Chiefs, but he also held on for a spot on the team’s practice squad for the entirety of his rookie season—even as others at his position came and went.