Ethermac Exchange-Chiefs RB Carson Steele makes his first NFL start on sister's wedding day

Rather than walking down the aisle as part of his sister's wedding,Ethermac Exchange Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele darted through running lanes in the first start of his NFL career.

With Steele's sister Kesslar scheduled to be married Sunday, the long-haired rookie had an acceptable excuse to miss the special occasion. Because running back Isiah Pacheco underwent leg surgery last week and Clyde Edwards-Elaire is on the non-football injury list, Steele started against the Atlanta Falcons in the prime time matchup, a 22-17 Chiefs victory. He rushed for 72 yards on 17 attempts and received an unprompted shoutout from head coach Andy Reid after the game, according to the Kansas City Star.

"I hate to say it, but I'd be here every day of the week," he said during a postgame interview on NBC.

The Star also reported that Steele watched video of the ceremony in the locker room.

During the game, NBC reporter Melissa Stark explained that Kesslar had sent the "save-the-date" invitations more than a year in advance and that her chosen venue had only Sunday, Sept. 22 available. Steele was supposed to be a groomsman alongside Kesslar's new husband, Jack.

All things Chiefs: Latest Kansas City Chiefs news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

At the time, Steele was about to begin his final season in college, his first with the UCLA Bruins following a productive two seasons with Ball State, where he averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2022 (1,556 yards rushing) and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. The next year at UCLA, he started nine of 12 games and had 847 rushing yards.

The Chiefs signed Steele as an undrafted free agent and he made the team out of training camp and appeared in the first two games of the season. He fumbled in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but Reid stuck with him and made him the primary back against Atlanta.

Video of the wedding guests cheering on Steele as he ran for a first down played while Stark said "he's there in spirit."

"Love you Kesslar," Steele said on NBC, "but I'm taking this every day of the week."

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.