Latest news with #Gillotte
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs DE Ashton Gillotte appreciates growth in his special teams role
During his press conference on Tuesday, Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte shared his appreciation for any opportunities on special teams. "I think (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) (Dave) Toub has put me in a lot of positions to work and compete," said Gillotte, "and that is kind of the bridge of trust there, him putting me in a position just to be able to work or put my talents on display. Then just doing it from there." Gillotte spent four seasons at Louisville. Last season, he earned Second-team All-ACC honors and led the Cardinals with 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, starting 12 games and recording 43 total tackles. He embraces the chances to play on special teams because it gets him in the game aside from the defensive game plan. "Yeah, obviously. Anything that gets you on the field is a good thing, and special teams is a big part of our game. Obviously, we want to get our special teams to be number one or number two type, because it is a phase of the game," said Gillotte, "The hidden phase or lost phase. Us being good on that will help set up our offense better (and) our defense better. So, really, any way we can contribute." The Chiefs have solid depth on the defensive line, but with recent injuries, it could put Gillotte in more packages for Steve Spagnuolo and less time on special teams during the season.
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Travis Kelce helps break up fight at Chiefs training camp
The post Travis Kelce helps break up fight at Chiefs training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. Travis Kelce had to jump in to stop a fight between his two teammates during Chiefs training camp on Tuesday (July 29). The fight broke out between offensive lineman Josh Simmons and defensive end Ashton Gillotte, according to footage of KCTV5 reporter Mark Poulose. In the footage, Gillotte looks to be holding Simmons with force during the play while Simmons tries to shake his other teammate off of him. In that moment, Gillotte moves forward towards Simmons, where he throws a punch at Gillotte. Simmons and Gillotte threw a few more punches at one another until Kelce, along with other teammates, came to break the two players up. While head coach Andy Reid was on the sidelines, he had his hands on his hips as he seemingly looked annoyed at his team for the fight. Kelce's actions during practice shadow what Chiefs tight end coach Tom Melvin has said about him previously on being a leader on the team. 'He's just the ultimate competitor,' Melvin told Sports Illustrated back in February. 'You hear a lot about his outgoing personality. He relishes more in being the leader by example, as opposed to some of the outward stuff is just him being him—I'm not going to be a leader because I'm dancing before the play. I'm going to be a leader because I'm running full speed and I'm setting up my teammate to be successful.' Kelce was drafted by the Chiefs in 2013 and earlier this year, he reflected on the Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles where he was upset with his performance as a leader on the team. 'Last year, I think I failed, especially in that last game, in being a leader and being the one who could step up and make plays,' Kelce said last week at training camp to reporters. 'I felt like I failed my guys.' 'You've got to be able to walk the walk; to be able to talk and preach it to guys,' he continued. 'I think just putting myself in the best situation I can athletically that's going to pay off down the road.' This wasn't the first time that Kelce spoke about the Super Bowl loss where he caught only four passes for 39 yards. 'It just wasn't our day,' Travis told his brother Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast. 'I couldn't find a lick of momentum. I'm kicking myself for some of the tiny, tiny decisions I made on the field.' He continued, 'I wasn't the best leader that I could be in motivating my guys and keeping my guys calm, cool, collected. Now, Travis is preparing to go into his 13th year with the Chiefs and shut down retirement rumors for now. 'I got one year on this contract, I know that, and we'll try and figure out something for next year,' Kelce said . 'The Chiefs organization knows how much I love them. I can't see myself ever playing anywhere else. We'll deal with that down the road when the time is right, but right now I'm focused on winning a championship this year.' Related: Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes drops gems for young fan from Make-A-Wish Related: Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce team up with exciting food message
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs rookie preview: Ashton Gillotte 2025 stat projections
Chiefs rookie preview: Ashton Gillotte 2025 stat projections The Kansas City Chiefs selected Louisville Cardinals defensive end Ashton Gillotte with the 66th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Gillotte lacks ideal arm length and bend but fits the mold of a modern power rusher with a high floor in run defense. This type of player is becoming more coveted around the league. If given enough snaps, Gillotte could make a nice impact as a rookie. Excluding former first round pick George Karlaftis, rookie defensive ends don't have a great track record on Steve Spagnuolo's Chiefs defenses. Since Spagnuolo arrived in Kansas City in 2019, the five defensive ends drafted by the Chiefs have produced a total of nine sacks during their rookie campaigns. Six of those belong to Karlaftis. Even before Spagnuolo became the team's defensive coordinator, Kansas City struggled to draft reliable defensive ends. Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks were second round picks in 2017 and 2018, respectively. They combined for 3.5 sacks in their rookie seasons and 8.5 total sacks during their time with the Chiefs. Gillotte could snap the streak of struggling Chiefs defensive ends. He joins a room with limited depth featuring Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Mike Danna, Malik Herring, Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu. Danna and Omenihu pose the biggest threats to Gillotte's snap count, but both veterans are battling back from injury-shortened campaigns that saw them post some of the worst numbers of their careers. Gillotte could absorb most of the snaps given to Anudike-Uzomah and Herring in 2024, which would put him around 500 regular season snaps. However, that number seems unreasonably high considering both Danna and Omenihu missed significant time. It's more likely that Gillotte plays somewhere between 300 and 400 snaps. In 2024, Pro Football Focus charted Karlaftis playing 65.8% of his snaps on passing downs. If Gillotte hits the same mark, he would total between 197 and 263 pass rush attempts. Gillotte applied pressure on 15.7% of his pass rushes at Louisville in 2024, but that's a lofty mark for a rookie. If he comes closer to Karlaftis' 2024 mark of 11.2%, Gillotte would finish 2025 with between 22 and 29 pressures. Sack totals are far more difficult to predict than pressures because they're a less consistent measurement. Three to five sacks seem like a reasonable projection for Gillotte. He should create more splash plays in run defense and might even approach ten total tackles for loss when combining his sacks with his work in run defense. Similar to fourth round pick Jalen Royals, Gillotte is a piece of Kansas City's plan to future-proof its roster. The Chiefs would save roughly nine million by cutting Danna next offseason, and Omenihu is on a cheap, one-year deal. Gillotte is the future of Kansas City's defensive line, but don't expect a flashy rookie season.
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs rookie Ashton Gillotte explains the significance of his jersey number
Kansas City Chiefs rookie Ashton Gillotte explains the significance of his jersey number The Kansas City Chiefs selected defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte in the third round with the 66th pick in last weekend's draft, solidifying another high-potential player for coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. On Saturday, he met with the media at rookie camp and shared the story behind his jersey number. "Obviously, I started my college career in it, and it wasn't my first choice because obviously in high school I played in (number) nine," said Gillotte, "but I think going back to that is kind of symbolic in a lot of ways and meaningful to me just to have the option to go back into that number. Started my college career like that, so I'm going to start my NFL career like that too, so it's a good omen." The No. 97 jersey was last assigned to Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who has since switched to No. 91 to start the 2025 season. During his last season at Louisville, Gillotte earned Second-team All-ACC honors. He led the Cardinals with 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks and started 12 games with 43 total tackles.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Everything Chiefs fans need to know about KC's third-round pick EDGE Ashton Gillotte
Everything Chiefs fans need to know about KC's third-round pick EDGE Ashton Gillotte The Kansas City Chiefs selected one of college football's most exciting sack-masters, Louisville Cardinals edge rusher Ashton Gillotte, in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft. In 51 games as a collegian, Gillotte racked up 26.5 sacks and 41 tackles for loss, leading Louisville's defense as one of the top pass rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. With Gillotte in the mix, the Chiefs' front four should be able to feast on opposing passers next season as Kansas City endeavors to earn a spot in its fourth consecutive Super Bowl. Take a look at everything the Chiefs had to say about Gillotte in their official draft packet: Ashton Gillotte college bio "Spent four seasons at Louisville (2021-24) … Appeared in 51 games and recorded 131 tackles (73 solo), 40.5 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, 26.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one pass defensed … Played in 12 games in 2024 and tallied 43 tackles (23 solo) and 4.5 sacks … Led the country in hurries … Started all 14 games in 2023 recording 45 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks … Started 12 games in 2022 posting 7.0 sacks and eight tackles for loss … Appeared in 13 games (four starts) in 2021 and finished with 19 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks … Three-time All-ACC Academic selection (2022-24) … Finalist for the Campbell Trophy (2024) … CSC Academic All-American (2024) … First-team All-ACC (2023)." Ashton Gillotte personal notes Three-star prospect by 247Sports. Ranked as the No. 72 weakside defensive end and the No. 165 in Florida. Credited with 128 tackles during his career at Boca Raton (Fla.). Went to the state championship in weightlifting and was ranked 21st in the Southeast region for CrossFit. Ashton Gillotte draft notes Gillotte becomes the first defensive end to be selected by the Chiefs in the third round since DEAlex Magee was taken 67th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. This marks the fifth time the Chiefs have selected a defensive end in the NFL Draft in the last sixyears (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025). Gillotte was the first defensive end taken in the third round and the 10th defensive end takenoverall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Gillotte is the only former Louisville Cardinal on the current Chiefs roster. What did Gillotte have to say after the Chiefs drafted him? Q: What was your draft experience like? GILLOTTE: 'I was celebrating with my family. I have family outside – currently they're following me a littlebit. I was inside with (my) mom, dad, brother, sister, some close friends, aunts and uncles. A really tightgroup, people that I care a lot about – it's nice.' Q: Can you tell us more about your relationship with George Karlaftis? GILLOTTE: '(DE) George (Karlaftis) and I are coached by the same Coach – (Louisville Co-DefensiveCoordinator/Defensive Line) Mark Hagen. He had him at Purdue, and then Coach Hagen came to us(Louisville). The relationship with George is (that) he was training with us, just because (a) free facility inthe offseason, and so, my coach was like, 'I think this would be a good person for you to get in with. He'sa smart guy. I think you would be able to relate to him a little bit.' I was doing film study with him, watchingplays – he was watching (our) practice, saying, 'that's bad, you have to fix that.' He's very critical, but, ina lot of ways, he helped refine how our pass rushing needed to get to this level to be considered. It's kindof a mentor-type role, trying not to blow his phone up too much and try to respect it. Now he has nochoice, he's stuck with me.' Q: What were your conversations like with Steve Spagnuolo and the defensive staff?
