ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs

In the NFL, every game is a chance for players to showcase their talent—but for alumni of smaller college football programs like East Carolina University (ECU), a standout performance against a powerhouse like the Kansas City Chiefs carries extra weight. This season, that moment belonged to former ECU linebacker Bruce Bivens, who turned in a career game for the Las Vegas Raiders in their Week 13 matchup against Kansas City. ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs isn’t just a story about one player’s success; it’s a testament to the resilience of ECU’s football program, which has long prided itself on developing underrecruited talent into NFL contributors. For Bivens, the game was more than just a win for the Raiders—it was a chance to honor his roots and show the football world that ECU produces players who can compete with the best.

ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs began with Bivens’ journey through ECU’s football program, where he emerged as a leader and playmaker from 2018 to 2021. A three-year starter for the Pirates, Bivens finished his collegiate career with 225 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 3 interceptions—stats that caught the eye of NFL scouts but didn’t earn him a draft pick. Undeterred, Bivens signed with the Raiders as a rookie free agent in 2022, spending his first two seasons on the practice squad and special teams before earning a rotational role on defense this year. “ECU taught me how to fight,” Bivens said in a postgame interview. “We weren’t always the most talented team, but we played with heart, and we never quit. That’s the mindset I bring to every NFL game—especially against a team like the Chiefs.” His ECU coaches weren’t surprised by his success: “Bruce was a warrior for us,” said former ECU defensive coordinator David Blackwell. “He had a nose for the ball, and he always stepped up in big moments. I knew if he got a chance in the NFL, he’d make the most of it.” That chance came in Week 13, when Bivens was inserted into the Raiders’ starting lineup due to an injury to linebacker Denzel Perryman—and he didn’t disappoint.

ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs unfolded on the field at Arrowhead Stadium, where Bivens dominated from the first snap to the last. In the Raiders’ 31-24 upset win over the Chiefs, Bivens recorded a game-high 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and a critical fourth-quarter interception that sealed the victory. His sack came in the second quarter, when he beat Chiefs guard Joe Thuney and took down Patrick Mahomes for a 7-yard loss—halting a Chiefs drive that had reached the Raiders’ 20-yard line. The interception, which came with 2:17 left in the game and the Raiders leading by 7, saw Bivens read Mahomes’ eyes, jump a route intended for Travis Kelce, and return the ball 15 yards to the Chiefs’ 30-yard line—effectively ending Kansas City’s comeback hopes. “That interception was all about preparation,” Bivens said. “We studied Mahomes all week, and I knew he liked to target Kelce in that spot. I just waited for my moment, and it came.” The performance earned Bivens NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors—the first ECU alum to win the award since 2019—and made him a trending topic on social media, with ECU fans and alumni celebrating his success.

ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs also highlighted how Bivens’ ECU experience prepared him for the intensity of playing against a top team like the Chiefs. At ECU, Bivens played in high-pressure games against Power 5 opponents like North Carolina, NC State, and West Virginia—matchups that taught him how to stay calm and focused against elite talent. He also credits ECU’s strength and conditioning program for helping him build the endurance to play all 60 minutes of an NFL game, something that paid off in Week 13 when he was on the field for 92% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps. “ECU doesn’t let you take plays off,” Bivens said. “Our coaches pushed us to be our best every day, and that work ethic stuck with me. Playing against the Chiefs—with their fans yelling, Mahomes throwing, Kelce catching—was intense, but it felt familiar because of what I went through at ECU.” The Kansas City Chiefs, who are used to facing top-tier linebackers, took notice of Bivens’ performance: “He played a great game,” Mahomes said after the loss. “He was everywhere—making tackles, getting pressure, picking me off. You can tell he’s a guy who works hard, and he made it tough on us.”

ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs sparked a wave of pride across ECU’s campus and fanbase, with students, alumni, and staff celebrating Bivens’ success. The ECU athletic department posted a highlight reel of Bivens’ game on social media, with the caption “Pirate Pride on full display in Kansas City! Bruce Bivens, you make us proud!” The post gained over 50,000 likes and shares, with alumni from across the country commenting, “This is why we love ECU!” and “Bruce is representing us well!” ECU’s current football team even watched clips of Bivens’ performance in their team meeting the next day, with head coach Mike Houston using it as a lesson for his players. “Bruce’s story is what ECU football is all about,” Houston said. “He came here, worked his tail off, didn’t get drafted, but kept fighting—and now he’s making plays against the Chiefs in the NFL. That’s the example we want our current players to follow.” The Kansas City Chiefs’ own fanbase, while disappointed by the loss, also acknowledged Bivens’ talent: “He’s a great player,” said Chiefs fan Mark Johnson. “You hate to see him beat your team, but you have to respect the work he put in.”

ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs is ultimately a story of perseverance—of a player who refused to let the odds stack against him, who used his college experience as a foundation, and who seized his moment on the NFL’s biggest stage. For Bivens, the game was more than just a personal milestone; it was a chance to put ECU on the map and show young players from smaller programs that they too can make it to the NFL. “I hope my story inspires kids at ECU and other small schools,” Bivens said. “Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not good enough. Work hard, stay focused, and keep fighting—because you never know when your moment will come.” As for the future, Bivens is focused on helping the Raiders make a playoff push—and maybe even facing the Chiefs again in the postseason. “This win was big, but we’re not done,” he said. “We have more games to play, and I’m going to keep bringing that ECU energy every week.” In the end, ECU Alum Plays Big Role Against the Kansas City Chiefs is a celebration of college football’s power to shape players, honor roots, and create moments that make fans proud—both in Greenville, North Carolina, and across the NFL.