If you were around for the 2020 NFL Draft, you probably remember the shockwaves. Patrick Mahomes reportedly texted the Chiefs' front office a simple request: "Clyde." Just like that, LSU standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire became the only running back taken in the first round of that draft. Everyone thought he was the missing piece to a dynasty. But looking back at the Clyde Edwards-Helaire stats today, it’s a much more complicated story of "what if" and "what happened?"
Football is a brutal business. Honestly, the career arc we've seen from CEH is a textbook example of how quickly the league moves on. You've got a guy who was a consensus All-SEC monster at LSU, a national champion, and then... well, the NFL numbers just didn't stay high for long.
The Rookie Peak: When Everything Looked Easy
Most people forget just how hot Clyde started. In his NFL debut against the Houston Texans, he went off for 138 rushing yards and a touchdown. It was the eighth-best debut by a running back in the Super Bowl era. At that moment, it looked like the Chiefs had a Hall of Famer in the making.
During that 2020 rookie campaign, he finished with 1,100 yards from scrimmage. He joined the ranks of Joe Delaney and Kareem Hunt as the only Chiefs rookies to hit that 1,000-yard mark. He played 13 games that year, starting all of them, and averaged a respectable 4.4 yards per carry. But if you look closer at the Clyde Edwards-Helaire stats, that was actually the most productive he would ever be in a Kansas City uniform.
It’s weird to think his career peaked in month one. After that 161-yard game against Buffalo in Week 6 of 2020, the explosive plays started to dry up. Injuries began to creep in. The "bell cow" back that Andy Reid envisioned started to look more like a rotational piece.
Breaking Down the Career Decline
Why did the production dip? It wasn't just one thing. It was a mix of ankle injuries, shoulder issues, and the rise of other players like Isiah Pacheco. If you track the Clyde Edwards-Helaire stats year over year, the trend line is pretty sobering.
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- 2020 (KC): 181 carries, 803 yards, 4 TDs (13 starts)
- 2021 (KC): 119 carries, 517 yards, 4 TDs (10 starts)
- 2022 (KC): 71 carries, 302 yards, 3 TDs (6 starts)
- 2023 (KC): 70 carries, 223 yards, 1 TD (3 starts)
Basically, his workload was cut in half, then halved again. By the time 2023 rolled around, he was barely averaging 3.2 yards per carry. That is a tough pill to swallow for a first-round pick. Fans in Kansas City grew frustrated, not because Clyde wasn't a good person—he's widely loved in the locker room—but because the " Mahomes-to-Clyde" magic just never became the staple of the offense we expected.
The Passing Game Paradox
The biggest selling point for Edwards-Helaire coming out of college was his hands. At LSU, he set a school record for catches by a running back with 55 in a single season. You’d think in an Andy Reid offense, he’d be catching 60+ balls a year.
He didn't.
His career high for receptions in the NFL is 36, set back in 2020. Since then, he hasn't cracked more than 20 in a season. While he has 7 career receiving touchdowns, he never became the "scatback" weapon that guys like Darren Sproles or Brian Westbrook were for Reid in the past.
The 2024 and 2025 Roller Coaster
Things got really messy over the last two seasons. After the Chiefs declined his fifth-year option, CEH hit the market. He actually spent time on the New Orleans Saints practice squad in late 2024. He even got a few touches for the Saints, recording 46 rushing yards across two games.
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But, as it often does with the Chiefs, injuries to other backs (like Isiah Pacheco’s knee issues) led to a reunion. Kansas City brought him back in 2025. It wasn't a "return to glory" by any means. He spent most of the year on the practice squad, getting elevated for a few weeks in November.
If you look at his 2025 game log, it’s sparse. He had 5 carries for 8 yards against the Colts. He had 2 carries for 5 yards against the Bills. In total, his Clyde Edwards-Helaire stats for the 2025 season show just 13 rushing yards on 7 attempts. It’s a far cry from the guy who was shredding SEC defenses.
What Most People Get Wrong About CEH
It’s easy to label him a "bust," but that’s sorta unfair. He has two Super Bowl rings. He played a significant role in the 2020 and 2021 playoff runs. In the postseason, his average actually jumps to 5.6 yards per carry over 8 games.
The reality is that the NFL changed. The Chiefs realized they didn't need a first-round talent at running back to win titles. They needed a violent, downhill runner like Pacheco or a reliable veteran like Kareem Hunt. Clyde’s style—shifty, lateral, patient—became a luxury the team couldn't afford to prioritize when the offensive line was built for power.
The Future: Free Agency 2026
As of January 2026, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a free agent again. His practice squad contract with the Chiefs expired on January 12, and he wasn't among the players immediately signed to a reserve/future deal.
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So, what’s next? He’s only 26 years old. That’s young for a human, but middle-aged for an NFL running back. He doesn't have the "tread" on his tires that a lot of other backs his age have because his workload has been so light over the last three years.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re a team looking for a veteran presence, here is what the Clyde Edwards-Helaire stats tell you:
- Low Volume, High Efficiency Potential: He still has a career average of 4.1 yards per carry. In the right system—one that uses a zone-blocking scheme—he could still be a productive 1B back.
- Red Zone Utility: He has 19 total touchdowns in 52 career games. He has a nose for the end zone, especially as a receiver out of the backfield.
- Locker Room Value: Every report out of KC suggests he is a "pro’s pro." For a young team with a rookie RB, bringing in Clyde as a mentor is a smart move.
The era of Clyde being a fantasy football superstar is likely over. However, his journey shows that while the "first-round" tag carries a heavy weight, longevity in the NFL is about more than just the box score. Whether he finds a new home in 2026 or hangs them up with his two rings, those rookie year highlights will always be a reminder of the talent he brought to the Kingdom.
Keep an eye on teams like the Dolphins or the Lions. Their systems favor the kind of lateral agility Clyde showed at his best. If he can stay healthy for a full training camp, there's no reason he can't provide another 400-500 yards of offense for a contender.
To track his official status as the 2026 league year begins in March, watch the NFL transaction wire for "Reserve/Future" signings or veteran minimum one-year deals.