Clyde Edwards-Helaire Bio
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is an American professional football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Kansas City Chiefs roster that won Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Edwards-Helaire emerged as a dynamic playmaker at Catholic High School before becoming one of the most productive running backs in LSU history. Known for his balance, vision, and ability to contribute as a receiver out of the backfield, he has built a professional career that includes postseason success and a return to the team that originally drafted him.
Early Life and Background
Clyde Edwards-Helaire was born on April 11, 1999, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a local football star, attending Catholic High School in Baton Rouge. During his high school years, he became the first freshman in then head coach Dale Weiner’s 29-year tenure to play on the varsity football team, signaling his talent at a young age. In addition to football, Edwards-Helaire also competed in track and field, an experience that helped develop his speed and athleticism.
As a senior, Edwards-Helaire rushed 58 times for 496 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named the MVP of the 5A State Championship Game after catching eight passes for 161 yards and rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown in Catholic High’s 31–28 victory over Archbishop Rummel High School. Rated a four-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the LSU Tigers, choosing to stay close to home and continue his development in the Southeastern Conference.
His surname reflects his family history. Edwards comes from his biological father, while Helaire is taken from his stepfather. Edwards-Helaire legally had his name changed after meeting with an attorney at fourteen years old, keeping his biological father’s last name out of respect while honoring his stepfather for his presence during his upbringing. His sister Madee has a form of muscular dystrophy and once appeared on the MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon.
Path to Professional Football
Edwards-Helaire enrolled at LSU and quickly found his way onto the field. As a true freshman, he played in all 13 of the Tigers’ games, mostly on special teams, and rushed nine times for 31 yards. The following season, he finished second on the team with 658 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, added 11 receptions for 96 yards, and returned 17 kicks for 416 yards. He recorded his first 100-yard college game in a 38–21 win over Louisiana Tech, gaining 136 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, and later rushed for 145 yards in a 36–16 victory over second-ranked Georgia.
Going into his junior season, Edwards-Helaire was named LSU’s starting running back and placed on the watchlists for the Maxwell and Paul Hornung Awards. He played a major role in LSU’s win over third-ranked Alabama, rushing for 103 yards and three touchdowns and catching nine passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in the 46–41 victory, earning SEC co-Offensive Player of the Week honors alongside quarterback Joe Burrow. He finished the regular season with 1,414 rushing yards, the third-most in a single season in school history, along with 16 touchdowns on 215 carries, 453 receiving yards and a touchdown on 55 receptions, and 16 kick returns for 214 yards.
A consensus first-team All-SEC selection at running back, Edwards-Helaire was also a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award. After playing sparingly against Oklahoma in the 2019 Peach Bowl due to a hamstring injury, he rushed 16 times for 110 yards and caught five passes for 54 yards in LSU’s 42–25 win over third-ranked Clemson in the 2020 National Championship Game. Following the season, he announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2020 NFL draft.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Career
Kansas City Chiefs: Rookie Season (2020)
Edwards-Helaire was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made his debut in Week 1 as the starting running back after Damien Williams opted out of the 2020 season. In his first career start, he rushed 25 times for 138 yards and a touchdown in a 34–20 victory over the Houston Texans, becoming the youngest player in NFL history to rush for at least 130 yards and a touchdown in an NFL debut. He added a 161-yard rushing performance in a Week 6 win over the Buffalo Bills and scored two touchdowns in a Week 11 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
A hip and ankle injury in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints ended his regular season. He finished his rookie year with 181 carries for 803 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus 36 receptions for 297 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. In the postseason, he scored a touchdown in the AFC Championship win over the Buffalo Bills and rushed nine times for 64 yards in Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kansas City Chiefs: Setbacks and Championships (2021–2023)
In 2021, Edwards-Helaire opened the year with consecutive 100-yard rushing games in Weeks 3 and 4 before a knee injury in Week 5 against the Bills sent him to injured reserve. He was activated in November and finished the season with 119 carries for 517 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with 19 receptions for 129 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in ten games played. A lack of consistent production and continued injuries cost him his starting job to rookie seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco in 2022, and he was placed on injured reserve in November before being activated in early February 2023.
Although he was inactive for Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to claim the championship. After the Chiefs declined his 2024 fifth-year option in May 2023, he finished the 2023 season with 223 rushing yards on 70 carries. The Chiefs then won Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers, 25–22, giving Edwards-Helaire his second Super Bowl ring.
Departure and New Orleans Saints (2024–2025)
Edwards-Helaire re-signed with the Chiefs on April 8, 2024, but was placed on the Reserve/Non-football illness list prior to Week 1. After being activated on October 15, he was released by the team on December 16, 2024. On December 18, 2024, he signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad and was elevated for the team’s Week 17 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, recording five carries and two receptions for 30 total yards.
On February 13, 2025, Edwards-Helaire re-signed with the New Orleans Saints on a one-year contract, only to be released on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts.
Kansas City Chiefs: Return (2025–Present)
On August 28, 2025, Edwards-Helaire was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, marking his return to the franchise that drafted him. His familiarity with the Chiefs’ offensive system and his prior contributions to two Super Bowl-winning rosters make him a familiar presence in the Kansas City backfield.
Driving Style and Strengths
Edwards-Helaire is known for his balance, contact balance, and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He excels on inside and outside zone runs, showing patience at the line of scrimmage before hitting creases with sudden acceleration. His experience in pass protection and route running has allowed him to remain on the field in all three downs, while his track and field background contributes to his lower-body explosiveness.
Notable Events and Milestones
Edwards-Helaire’s most celebrated milestones include becoming the youngest player in NFL history to rush for at least 130 yards and a touchdown in his debut, winning a College Football Playoff National Championship with LSU in 2019, and earning two Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also received a heroism award from the Uvalde Foundation for Kids after shielding a teenager from gunfire during a shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII parade.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Career Wins
Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s career has been defined by championship success at both the collegiate and professional levels. He helped LSU win the College Football Playoff National Championship following the 2019 season and was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs roster that won back-to-back Super Bowls after the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Super Bowl Highlights
Edwards-Helaire appeared in Super Bowl LV as a rookie, rushing nine times for 64 yards and adding two receptions for 23 yards in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although he was inactive for Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to give him his first Super Bowl championship. He then won his second ring when the Chiefs edged the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Super Bowl, Edwards-Helaire contributed to an AFC Championship win over the Buffalo Bills in January 2021, scoring a rushing touchdown in the 38–24 victory. He was a key part of numerous regular-season wins during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, including a 161-yard rushing game against the Buffalo Bills in 2020 and a 138-yard debut performance against the Houston Texans.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Edwards-Helaire’s family background is rooted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His surname combines his biological father’s last name, Edwards, with his stepfather’s last name, Helaire, reflecting the blended family that raised him. His sister Madee has a form of muscular dystrophy and has used her platform to raise awareness, including appearing on the MDA Kevin Hart Kids Telethon.
Personal Life
Edwards-Helaire has been open about his personal challenges, including suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following a December 2018 self-defense shooting in Scotlandville, Louisiana. He has spoken publicly about how the incident has occasionally caused him to miss practice and other activities. In February 2025, he received a heroism award from the Uvalde Foundation for Kids after shielding a teenager from gunfire during a shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII parade.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Edwards-Helaire joining the New Orleans Saints on a one-year contract in February, providing an opportunity to revive his career in his home state. However, he was released by the Saints on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, ending his brief tenure in New Orleans.
Just two days later, on August 28, 2025, Edwards-Helaire was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, returning to the franchise where he had built his professional resume. The move reunited him with the organization that drafted him in 2020 and with whom he had previously won two Super Bowls.
With his familiarity in the Chiefs’ offensive system, Edwards-Helaire provides Kansas City with experienced depth at the running back position. His ability to contribute in both the running and passing game, combined with his championship pedigree, makes him a reliable option as the 2025 season unfolds.