Southbury’s Bannon Gets First Taste of NFL Action

Southbury native Shane Bannon got his first taste of NFL action Friday night when the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a preseason tilt from Arrowhead Stadium.

Bannon was inserted into the Chiefs offense late in the fourth quarter and rushed for two yards on two carries.

According to Aaron Wilson of FOX Sports, the Pomperuag High School and Yale University standout signed a four-year deal with a $51,000 signing bonus with the Chiefs last month.

Bannon was selected in the seventh round of this year’s NFL draft, pick number 223 overall.

At PHS, Bannon earned eight varsity letters between football, track and hockey. He was an all-league selection in football.

Bannon worked out with the Patriots, Seahawks, Packers and Bears, but it was the Chiefs who presented the best situation because they, “…don’t really have a true fullback like me,” he told Patch after the draft. “I think it’s a great fit, I look forward to playing for coach [Todd] Haley. I think that it’s a great fit for me and hopefully a great fit for them.”

The Chiefs fell to the Buccaneers 25-0. Bannon will have three additional preseason games to prove himself before the Chiefs kick off their regular season on Sunday September 11 against the Bills.