New Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher reveals little-known connection to DL coach Joe Cullen

New Kansas City Chiefs DE Cameron Thomas had some inkling of an idea he could be traded from the Arizona Cardinals.

Trade discussion began in the spring, but he thought he'd be staying in Arizona after some positive developments in training camp and the preseason. Little did he know that he'd be traded to the reigning world champions right at the buzzer , and join a coach who has been in his corner since his NFL career began.

“Joe Cullen, I knew him back from when I was going through the combine training,” Thomas told Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick. “He was pretty close to me while I was going through that. He ran those (drills) at my pro day. I ended up tearing my hamstring at my pro day, with him there.”

A hamstring injury severely limited Thomas during the pre-draft process, keeping him out of the Senior Bowl, while limiting him at the NFL Scouting Combine and it lingered into SDSU's Pro Day.

Cullen, who first joined the Chiefs' coaching staff as a D-Line coach in February of 2022, is known for traveling the pro day circuit and running drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. We've seen him at big schools like Georgia and LSU running D-Line drills for their pro days, but his appearance at some smaller pro days tends to go unnoticed.

While Thomas is still getting the lay of the land in Kansas City, he already knows about Cullen's coaching style from those experiences with him leading up to the 2022 NFL draft.

“His style of coaching is very similar to what I had back in college with Brady Hoke,” Thomas said. “It kind of feels like, he’s a very similar vibe, like honestly neck-to-neck vibe from that. I’m definitely used to that style of coaching and I prefer it. So, I’m really looking forward to the future here.”

Cameron Thomas thinks he's the perfect fit for Steve Spagnuolo's 4-3 scheme

While Cullen's coaching style is something Thomas feels comfortable with, it's also apparent that he feels comfortable with Steve Spagnuolo's 4-3 scheme. He felt he was a 4-3 edge rusher coming out of San Diego State, but he landed with the Arizona Cardinals who tried him as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

“I feel like it’s a match made in heaven, honestly,” Thomas said of the scheme fit. “Having that hand back in the dirt, that 4-3 scheme, is something that I felt like what I was (made for) coming out (of college). Obviously, I ended up in Arizona as a 3-4 outside linebacker. I was very happy with my time there. I like everything they’re doing out in Arizona, but to have my hand back in the dirt, it means a lot.”

It's reasonable to say we haven't seen the best version of Thomas as a player because he's been playing a role that he doesn't necessarily view as his natural position. The return to a three-point stance, along with Cullen and Spagnuolo's coaching style could help him unlock his true potential in the NFL.

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