Chiefs DE explains mindset for two 2024 'revenge' games

"The Texans drafted me, but when the business shows itself early in your career, you keep that backlogged in your memory, and I just feel like I have a little bit more to show them, too," Omenihu said. "I keep everything logged in my head, so I feel like everybody [has] different things that kind of push them, and mine is definitely like — and I've said this before — I want to be in that conversation of those defensive linemen where you're like 'Yo, you have to account for them.' And the [Texans and San Francisco 49ers] I feel like have kind of just passed on by me and really didn't see me like that."

The Texans selected the former Longhorn in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Omenihu played two-plus seasons with the team, recording 24 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss and 7.0 sacks across 35 games before being traded to the Niners on Nov. 2, 2021.

The 26-year-old played in 12 contests with San Francisco that season after the trade, including all three playoff contests. Omenihu played every game for the Niners during the 2022 campaign, tying his career high of 16 quarterback hits and adding 4.5 sacks.

He was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge on Jan. 24, 2023, but still played in San Francisco's NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles five days later.

Omenihu signed a two-year deal with the Chiefs in March 2023 and was suspended for the first six games of last season for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

He ended the 2023 campaign with a career-high 7.0 sacks, despite playing in just 11 games, and added one in the playoffs. Omenihu suffered a torn ACL in Kansas City's AFC title game win against the Baltimore Ravens and could not suit up for the team's Super Bowl LVIII victory vs. San Francisco.