Tamba Hali agrees to 3-year deal with Chiefs

Sept. 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali (91)] delivers a blow to Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – One of the Chiefs’ most-prolific edge rushers won’t be hitting the open market as an unrestricted free agent, after all.

The Chiefs and outside linebacker Tamba Hali agreed to a three-year contract, a source familiar with the transaction confirmed Tuesday with ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed and the source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Chiefs have not announced the transaction.

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news.

Hali’s contract voided on March 4 after the Chiefs couldn’t reach an agreement on an extension. The voiding of the contract left the Chiefs with a $4 million cap hit and real possibility of losing Hali to free agency when the league’s calendar year opens Wednesday.

But the new deal virtually ensures Hali, who enters his 11th professional season, will finish his career with the same team that drafted him in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

The 32-year-old Hali, who has 86 career sacks, comes off a season where he totaled 48 tackles (39 solo) and 6 ½ sacks, production that helped earn a fifth-straight Pro Bowl selection.

With Hali now under contract, the Chiefs can focus on the remaining 13 unrestricted free agents, which includes cornerback Sean Smith, inside linebacker Derrick Johnson, guard Jeff Allen, defensive end Jaye Howard, among others.

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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.

Follow @HerbieTeope

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