Mike Pennel Bio
Michael Maurice Pennel Jr., known professionally as Mike Pennel, is an American professional football nose tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 9, 1991, in Topeka, Kansas, he has built a long career as an interior defensive lineman after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Across more than a decade in the NFL, Pennel has suited up for multiple franchises and has been part of two Super Bowl championship teams.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed at 330 pounds, Pennel uses his size and length to clog running lanes and pressure opposing quarterbacks from the middle of the defensive line. He is recognized for his durability, having appeared in full 16- and 17-game seasons several times, and for his ability to bounce back between practice squads and active rosters throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Michael Maurice Pennel Jr. was born in Topeka, Kansas, and later relocated to Colorado, where he attended Grandview High School in Aurora. Growing up in the Denver metropolitan area, he developed into a physical, run-stopping defensive lineman who drew attention from junior college recruiters for his combination of size and athleticism.
After finishing his high school career, Pennel initially attended Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, where he played for the Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes from 2010 to 2011. He then transferred to Arizona State University, joining the Sun Devils program for the 2012 season, before ultimately finishing his college career at Colorado State University Pueblo, playing for the ThunderWolves in 2013.
Path to American Football
Pennel’s path to the NFL was not a straight line. After two seasons at Scottsdale Community College, he moved up to the Pac-12 level at Arizona State, where he played in 2012. His time with the Sun Devils was cut short, however, when he was suspended indefinitely by the program. Seeking a fresh start, Pennel transferred to Colorado State University Pueblo, a program competing at the Division II level, where he completed his college eligibility in 2013.
That final college season helped Pennel earn an opportunity at the next level. Although he went unselected in the 2014 NFL draft, his combination of size, strength, and positional experience was enough to convince the Green Bay Packers to sign him as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2014. He joined fellow undrafted rookie Jayrone Elliott in making Green Bay’s initial roster, marking the beginning of his professional career.
Mike Pennel Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Pennel spent his first three NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, working primarily as a rotational nose tackle. As a rookie in 2014, he appeared in 13 games and recorded 8 tackles, providing depth along the interior of the defensive line. In 2015, he played in all 16 games and made 5 starts, finishing the year with 24 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble.
His 2016 season in Green Bay was more difficult. Pennel was suspended for the first four games of the year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and he was later suspended for the final four games of the season for a similar violation. He finished 2016 with 7 tackles and a pass defended before being released by the Packers on January 9, 2017.
New York Jets Era (2017–2018)
On February 6, 2017, Pennel was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets, and he re-signed with the team on March 16. He quickly became a regular contributor on the defensive line, playing in all 16 games in 2017 and posting a career-high 35 tackles. On March 16, 2018, the Jets signed Pennel to a three-year contract extension, signaling their confidence in his role as a starting nose tackle.
However, his long-term future in New York was short-lived. On February 19, 2019, the Jets declined the option on his contract, making Pennel a free agent at the start of the new league year and opening the door for the next chapter of his career.
Kansas City Chiefs First Stint (2019–2020)
After a brief stop with the New England Patriots, who signed him on March 14, 2019, and released him on August 26, 2019, Pennel joined the Kansas City Chiefs on October 19, 2019. He quickly integrated into the defensive rotation and was part of a Chiefs team that reached Super Bowl LIV. In the AFC Championship Game, he helped Kansas City defeat the Tennessee Titans, and in the Super Bowl he recorded 1 tackle in the Chiefs’ 31–20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, earning his first championship ring.
On April 6, 2020, Pennel re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. He was suspended for the first two games of the 2020 season and was reinstated on September 23, 2020, before being activated to the roster.
Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons (2021–2022)
Pennel signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on June 18, 2021, but was placed on injured reserve on August 24 and released on August 31. Shortly afterward, on September 15, 2021, he was signed to the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad and promoted to the active roster on October 5 after a Week 4 injury to cornerback Isaiah Oliver.
He returned to the Bears in 2022, signing on June 13. After a brief release and promotion sequence in early September, he appeared in all 17 games for Chicago that season, recording 26 total tackles and 1 forced fumble. In a Week 6 game against the New England Patriots, Pennel was ejected for delivering a blind-sided block that concussed center David Andrews.
Kansas City Chiefs Second Stint (2023–2024)
On October 24, 2023, Pennel returned to the Kansas City Chiefs, signing with the practice squad. He was elevated during the postseason and was part of the team that reached Super Bowl LVIII, where the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 25–22 to give Pennel his second Super Bowl ring. He recorded 6 tackles in that game and helped limit San Francisco’s running attack in the second half.
On March 13, 2024, Pennel re-signed with the Chiefs, and on March 24, 2025, he signed another one-year contract. He was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
On September 1, 2025, Pennel was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for Week 1 and signed to the active roster on September 9, 2025. On October 28, 2025, he requested and was granted his release by the Bengals.
Kansas City Chiefs Third Stint (2025–Present)
Just one day later, on October 29, 2025, Pennel was signed back to the Kansas City Chiefs’ active roster, returning to the franchise where he had previously won two Super Bowls. He re-joined the Chiefs’ defensive line rotation and continues to provide veteran depth at nose tackle.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a nose tackle, Pennel’s game is built on leverage, power, and gap control rather than pass-rushing flash. He is at his best against the run, where his 6-foot-4 frame and 330-pound frame allow him to anchor against double-teams and reset the line of scrimmage. He pairs that physical foundation with the conditioning needed to remain on the field for full games, as evidenced by his multiple 16- and 17-game seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pennel’s two Super Bowl championships with the Kansas City Chiefs, in Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVIII, both against the San Francisco 49ers, stand as the defining milestones of his career. His career-high 35-tackle season with the New York Jets in 2017 and his bounce-back journeys through practice squads in Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Kansas City further illustrate the durability and persistence that have defined his professional path.
Mike Pennel Career Wins
Mike Pennel’s most prominent career wins are his two Super Bowl championships with the Kansas City Chiefs. He earned his first ring in Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season and added a second in Super Bowl LVIII following the 2023 season, with both victories coming against the San Francisco 49ers. He has also collected regular-season and postseason wins across stints with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Kansas City Chiefs, building a long resume as a reliable interior defensive lineman.
Super Bowl Highlights
In Super Bowl LIV, Pennel contributed 1 tackle in the Chiefs’ 31–20 win over the 49ers. Four years later, in Super Bowl LVIII, he turned in a much larger performance, recording 6 tackles and helping limit the 49ers’ running game in the second half of Kansas City’s 25–22 victory. Those performances cemented his place in two of the most important games in modern Chiefs history.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Super Bowl appearances, Pennel was a steady contributor on winning defenses throughout his career, including a full 16-game season with the 2017 New York Jets and a full 17-game season with the 2022 Chicago Bears. He has also been part of multiple AFC Championship Game runs with the Kansas City Chiefs, including the conference title win over the Tennessee Titans in January 2020.
Mike Pennel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Mike Pennel’s immediate family is limited, and details about his parents, siblings, and extended relatives have not been widely reported. His formal name, Michael Maurice Pennel Jr., suggests a family naming tradition, but specific information about his parents’ names or backgrounds is not part of the verified record.
Personal Life
Mike Pennel has kept much of his personal life private, and verified public details about a spouse, partner, or children are not currently part of the public record. He has been based in the United States throughout his NFL career, with stops in Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, and Ohio corresponding to his various team affiliations.
2025 Season Performance
Mike Pennel’s 2025 season has been a study in movement between rosters. He signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 24, 2025, but was released as part of final roster cuts on August 26. He quickly caught on with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad on September 1, was elevated for Week 1, and signed to the active roster on September 9. On October 28, 2025, Pennel requested and was granted his release, and just one day later he returned to the Kansas City Chiefs’ active roster.
That late-October return placed Pennel back in a familiar defensive line room in Kansas City, where he has spent the bulk of his recent championship-caliber seasons. The Chiefs entered the back half of 2025 defending their Super Bowl LVIII title and leaning on veteran interior presence, and Pennel’s familiarity with the scheme made him a natural midseason addition.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Pennel is positioned as a rotational nose tackle whose primary value comes in run defense and short-yardage situations. With his contract running through 2026, he is expected to remain a part of the Chiefs’ defensive plans, contributing depth and experience as the team pursues another deep postseason run.
