Hali, Johnson want to return to Chiefs in 2016

The Kansas City Chiefs will enter the offseason with several of their marquee veterans headed for free agency.

Linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson have spent their entire careers with the Chiefs, but a combination of injuries, financial constraints, and age have called their futures with the team into question.

Hali, 32, was limited by a knee injury all season, but is intent on returning for the 11th year of his NFL career and has no desire to play anywhere other than Kansas City.

"Oh no, no, no," said Hali, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. "My mind-set is I want to be here, I want to play. Yeah, I do ... I'm not contemplating not playing."

Hali will rehab and undergo surgery during the offseason in order to get his right knee healthy.

"I love the game, and I'll give it my all every time I have the opportunity to play," Hali said. "First I've got to get healthy, I've got to make sure my body's in shape to be able to play at the level these young guys are coming in playing at. A couple of months from now, we'll find out where my mind is. But my heart is always with Kansas City, and that's where it's going to end."

Hali took a pay cut last offseason to avoid being a cap casualty and could again work out a deal that best suits both parties.

Johnson, 33, has been the beating heart of the Chiefs team for over a decade, and he, too, emphasized that his preference is to stay in Kansas City.

"I haven't really thought about it much, but you know, I'm a Chief - I'm a Chief at heart," said Johnson. "The offseason is here now, but we'll figure all that out. But I'm a Chief."

The Chiefs were ravaged by injuries all season. They lost running back Jamaal Charles for the season in Week 5 but still rallied and made the postseason, where their injury woes finally caught up with them. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and linebacker Justin Houston were severely limited by ankle and knee issues, respectively, and the Chiefs were easily beaten by the New England Patriots.

"It's a heartbreaker," Johnson said about the divisional-round loss.

One other significant free agent is safety Eric Berry, who was the feel-good story of the season, winning his battle with cancer and earning All-Pro honors in his spectacular return to the field.

Berry indicated that talks with the Chiefs about a possible new deal will take place, but didn't commit himself to staying with Kansas City, with a strong free-agent market in store for the 27-year-old.

"Obviously, this is family," Berry said. "At the same time, we will sit down and talk about it when we talk about it, but right now I'm just thankful for my teammates, my coaches and everybody that has something to do with me being back on the field this year. This is something special. Like I said, we'll talk about it."