Chiefs Release Wide Receiver Jimmy Holiday: Roster Moves

When the Kansas City Chiefs cut a wide receiver on November 24, 2025, it wasn’t just a routine roster move. The termination of Jimmy Holiday’s practice-squad contract came at a moment when the team is juggling the legal case of Rashee Rice, the recovery of Travis Kelce, and a flurry of late-season transactions.

Player released: Jimmy Holiday (WR) ·
Date: November 24, 2025 ·
Move type: Practice squad contract termination ·
Team: Kansas City Chiefs ·
Total players released (recent): 7 (per Chiefs.com) ·
Historical comparable: Jeremy Maclin (2017)

Here are the key details of the move:

What wide receiver did the Chiefs get rid of?

Details of the release

The Kansas City Chiefs terminated the practice-squad contract of wide receiver Jimmy Holiday on November 24, 2025, according to the Chiefs’ official transactions page (team roster management system). The move was recorded as “Practice Squad contract terminated” and occurred alongside the signing of running back Dameon Pierce to the practice squad, per ESPN’s transaction log (NFL beat reporting).

Player background: Jimmy Holiday

We have terminated the Practice Squad contract of WR Jimmy Holiday.

Kansas City Chiefs, official statement via Yahoo Sports

Holiday, an undrafted rookie out of the 2025 class, originally signed with the Chiefs on May 6, 2025, after the draft, per Wikipedia (player biography). He was released during preseason roster cuts on August 27, 2025, then re-signed to the practice squad on November 12, 2025. The November 24 termination came about 24 hours after the Chiefs defeated the Colts, according to KC Kingdom. He was later claimed by the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on November 26, 2025, and eventually signed a reserve/future contract back with Kansas City on January 5, 2026, per Wikipedia.

Historical context: Jeremy Maclin

The Chiefs have a history of cutting notable wide receivers. In June 2017, the team released veteran Jeremy Maclin, a move that saved salary cap space but left the receiving corps thin, as NFL.com archives (league editorial) reported. Maclin’s release was more high-profile than Holiday’s, but both moves reflect roster pressure. The pattern: Kansas City often uses practice squad moves to juggle depth during the season, especially when injuries or legal issues affect starters.

The implication: Both moves underscore the team’s constant roster recalibration.

Who are the 7 players released from the Chiefs?

Six moves beyond Holiday, one pattern: the Chiefs are churning the bottom of their roster late in the season.

Official transactions list

According to the Chiefs.com transactions page (official team data), the following players were released or had contracts terminated in the same window: Cyrus Allen (WR), Garrett Nussmeier (QB), Anthony Vincent (DE), Wesley Bissainthe (LB), Cole Brevard (DT), Jeff Caldwell (WR), and Jawaan Taylor (T). These transactions, along with Holiday’s, bring the total recent roster moves to at least 8.

Breakdown by position

• Wide receiver: Cyrus Allen, Jeff Caldwell
• Quarterback: Garrett Nussmeier
• Defensive end: Anthony Vincent
• Linebacker: Wesley Bissainthe
• Defensive tackle: Cole Brevard
• Offensive tackle: Jawaan Taylor

The list shows a focus on defensive depth (DE, LB, DT) and two wide receivers. The Chiefs have been active on the waiver wire to fill practice squad gaps.

Impact on roster

The Chiefs currently have 11 wide receivers on the active roster and practice squad combined; the release of Holiday and Caldwell trims that number. The team also signed running back Dameon Pierce to the practice squad on November 24, per ESPN, suggesting they prioritized backfield depth over receiver depth.

What exactly did Rashee Rice do?

One charge, one crash, and a career on hold. Rashee Rice, the Chiefs’ second-year wide receiver, was involved in a high-speed multi-vehicle crash in Dallas, Texas, in March 2024. Police charged him with aggravated assault and collision involving injury, as ESPN (NFL investigative reporting) documented.

The incident, which left several people injured, triggered a legal process that remains ongoing.

Timeline of events

• March 30, 2024: Crash occurs on a Dallas highway
• April 2024: Warrants issued; Rice turns himself in
• 2025 season: Rice plays while legal case proceeds
• As of November 2025: Case still unresolved, per NFL.com updates

Current status

Rice remains active on the Chiefs’ roster and has played in games during the 2025 season. No conviction or settlement has been publicly announced. The legal uncertainty puts his long-term availability in question, adding urgency to the Chiefs’ receiver depth moves.

What this means: Rice’s unresolved case forces the Chiefs to keep contingency plans in place.

Who could replace Travis Kelce?

One tight end, no clear successor, and a ticking clock.

Current tight end roster

No official replacement has been announced. The Chiefs currently list Noah Gray as the primary backup tight end behind Kelce. He has 24 catches for 234 yards in the 2025 season, per NFL.com stats.

• Noah Gray: 24 catches, 234 yards in 2025 season (NFL.com stats)

Gray is a capable backup but not a proven starter.

Draft possibilities

The Chiefs could address the position in the 2026 NFL draft (ESPN draft analysis) if Kelce’s recovery falters. The 2026 tight end class is considered deep, with prospects like Colston Loveland (Michigan) and Mason Taylor (LSU) projected as mid-round targets.

Free agent options

No specific free-agent candidates have been confirmed by the team. Names like Mike Gesicki and Dalton Schultz could become available, but the Chiefs’ cap situation limits big spending. The likeliest path is internal development: Gray steps up, or a cheaper veteran is added.

The catch: Without a clear succession plan, the Chiefs are one Kelce setback away from a gap.

What was Travis Kelce diagnosed with?

One bone bruise, no career threat, but a lingering question mark.

Recent injury history

Travis Kelce has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his knee, a condition that kept him limited in practice during the 2024 season, as NFL.com (league medical reports) documented. He also dealt with ankle injuries in previous seasons.

Recovery outlook

Bone bruises typically heal with rest, but they can linger for weeks. Kelce has not been diagnosed with any career-threatening condition. However, at age 35, each injury carries more recovery risk. The Chiefs have managed his workload by rotating Noah Gray more in late-season games. Moving forward, his health remains a watchpoint.

Impact on playing time

Kelce has missed one game in 2025 due to injury management. When active, he plays about 80% of offensive snaps, down from 90% in prior seasons. The Chiefs are clearly preserving him for the playoffs.

The pattern: Every roster move reflects a team bracing for potential setbacks.

Quotes from the team

We have terminated the Practice Squad contract of WR Jimmy Holiday.

Kansas City Chiefs, official statement via Yahoo Sports (NFL news desk)

The Chiefs have released wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.

NFL.com (league wire)

List of released players: Cyrus Allen, Garrett Nussmeier, Anthony Vincent, Wesley Bissainthe, Cole Brevard, Jeff Caldwell, Jawaan Taylor.

Chiefs.com transactions page (official team transactions)

The Chiefs’ release of Jimmy Holiday is a minor move with major context. It’s a symptom of a team managing roster churn while waiting on the legal fate of Rashee Rice and the health of Travis Kelce. For Kansas City, the immediate implication is clear: shore up depth through the practice squad, or risk being thin in the playoff push. For Holiday, it’s another stop on a rapid tour — Seattle’s practice squad this time, but the Chiefs might bring him back again, as they did in January 2026. For the Chiefs’ front office, the choice is between stability and flexibility, and they’re betting on the latter.