The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Keondre Coburn drafted by Kansas City Chiefs
04.29.2023 | Football
Texas DL Keondre Coburn was selected in the sixth round with the 194th overall pick.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Texas defensive lineman Keondre Coburn was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 194th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Coburn's selection makes him the 23rd Texas defensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft since 2000. He is the ninth Longhorn drafted all-time by the Chiefs and the first since Jamaal Charles was picked in the third round of the 2008 draft. Coburn is the third defensive lineman to be chosen by the Chiefs, joining Ken Hackemack (1990; 5th round) and Eric Holle (1984; 5th round). He will join former Longhorn DE Charles Omenihu on the Kansas City roster.
"Keondre is a very talented interior lineman that gave so much to our program. As a player, he brings to a team a really good first and second down run stopper who has shown over his career to continually become more versatile and effective at rushing the passer. And he's a tremendous leader, has great work ethic, and will provide a lot to the Kansas City Chiefs. We wish him the best of luck and look forward to watching him at the next level."
Coburn, a five-year defensive tackle who played in 51 games with 45 starts, finished his career with 96 tackles (52 solo), 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He forced two fumbles, tallied two passes defended and had one blocked point after attempt.
The Houston native was named a second-team All-Big 12 selection by conference coaches and the Associated Press in 2022, as well as an honorable mention Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honoree. He totaled 28 tackles (10 solo), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. Against Kansas State, Coburn forced a fumble with 24 seconds remaining that was recovered by the Longhorns to seal a Texas victory.
Coburn earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades in 2020 and 2021, was a 2021 first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On being drafted by the Chiefs:
"My feelings are still everywhere. I feel like a kid in a candy store right now I'm so excited. I'm just blessed. When I got the call, there was a lot of my back, I was pretty stressed out, but my girlfriend kept getting in my ear telling me to keep praying to God and keep believing in myself, and I did. I tried to stay calm, and as soon as I did, I got blessed with a call. Even more blessed, I think God did this for a reason, to send me to Kansas City and play for the defending Super Bowl champs and all the amazing players they have. You wouldn't want it any other way. It was a blessing to get that call and I can't wait."
On playing for the Super Bowl champions:
"The fact that I get to go to an organization that's known for consistently being on top, consistently working, I just want to bring whatever I can to them to help them continue to do what they've been doing."
On the phone call from the Chiefs:
"I'm going to have to watch the video again to tell you what they said. I was helping with some baby duties, and my iPad and my phone started going crazy, and she said it's from Kansas. And as soon as I answered the phone I was like, 'There ain't no way.' When I got on, they asked if this was Keondre, and I said, 'Yes, it is. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. Yes, it is.' They said, 'This is the Kansas City Chiefs,' and I just started crying. It was just so much off my back, and I said, 'Thank you so much,' and I talked to Andy Reid, the GM, the d-line coach, the assistant d-line coach, and it was just a blessing."
On his journey at Texas leading to this:
"I'm very prepared. UT has some great coaches, from Bo Davis to Steve Sarkisian to PK (Pete Kwiatkowski), they taught me well. Being in the system the past few years taught me NFL format. All I can do is just get to the Chiefs and see how they run it, because that's how we were taught and prepared at UT. For Coach Davis, with him being a d-line coach in the league before he came back to Texas, he was able to showcase how it is in the league, how they work, how they operate, so I believe I'm prepared for what I'm looking forward to."
On his feelings for Texas:
"I want to thank everybody in Longhorn Nation from the time I got here when I was 18 years old until the time I left at 22 – all the teachers, all the people who worked with me to help me get to this point. I'm forever a Longhorn. I graduated from there, I bled there for five years, I can't ask for anything better than Longhorn Nation. I want to thank Coach Herman for giving me an opportunity when I was a kid in high school, I want to thank Oscar Giles, I want to thank Todd Orlando, that whole staff. I want to thank coach (Chris) Ash and coach (Mark) Hagan. I want to thank coach Sarkisian for believing me and giving me another opportunity to play. I want to thank coach Davis for really believing in me and taking my craft to the next level like I really needed and giving me the coaching that you really believed in me, because you didn't have to. But you sat there and worked with me like you did, and I'm so thankful for you. I want to thank all my teammates – everyone who I ever played with – you're all an honor and a blessing to me. You'll always be my family. You'll always be my brothers. I just want to thank everybody, and it's all love from here."
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Our new pick has the best nickname so far 🍟🥨🍿 pic.twitter.com/Vm8tSNOwtc
— Kingdom Crew (@KingdomCrew) April 29, 2023
sup @Chiefs @KeondreCoburn99 pic.twitter.com/R01ci2tu07
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
Headed to the Super Bowl champs. Congrats @KeondreCoburn99 🤘
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
2023 #NFLDraft – April 27-29 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/VLtWjyTtsK
Keep that Texas talent coming 🤠
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 29, 2023
With the 194th pick in the #NFLDraft, we have selected DL @KeondreCoburn99! pic.twitter.com/vyBPutiNHZ
ATX ➡️ KC@KeondreCoburn99 x @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/1gLCfXn586
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
Big Snacks is going to Kansas City!@KeondreCoburn99 x @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/RACI40mewL
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
