One of Brett Veach's first moves as the new general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs was re-signing veteran linebacker Josh Mauga.
Mauga, who started 30 games and racked up 161 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six pass deflections and two interceptions in his two seasons with the Chiefs (2014-15), was happy to get the call.
"Kansas is my home now," Mauga said. "And I definitely wanted to come back and play for the Chiefs."
Mauga missed all of last season due to a hip injury.
"Ending the season so early, it was rough," Mauga, who was injured before last training camp, said. "It was rough watching the team play, but just being able to stay in the game and stay in the room with the guys, I felt like I was still part of the team."
He became a free agent in March and was picked back up by the Chiefs in early July.
Mauga had been spending most of the offseason at home—waiting for the phone to ring.
"I spent most of my time with my family and my kids, working out," he explained. "Training and just waiting for the phone call. Right after the fourth (of July), I got a phone call from our new GM (Brett) Veach, and he said that he wanted to bring me back."
Photo highlights of Josh Mauga
While Mauga knew the coaches were talking about bringing him back, he thinks Veach may be one of the main reasons he's here.
"We just didn't know when that was going to happen," he added. "It just so happened when Veach got hired."
Even after missing all of last season and the fact that he's played his entire career with Chiefs' defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, who was with him with the New York Jets for three seasons (2010-12), Mauga isn't worried about having to learn new stuff.
"There's definitely some new wrinkles going on this season," Mauga explained. "So, I've been trying to spend some extra time, trying to learn the new things that are going on, but most of it has been just the same."
"He's played a lot of football and I think he has done a really good job here," Sutton said of Mauga after Monday's practice. "I think he will be back to where he's at. He has come in in great shape and I think, from the health standpoint, he's as good as he has ever been."
After all, Sutton would know.
