The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the team has signed free agent RB Peyton Hillis. Entering his fifth NFL season, Hillis joins the Chiefs after spending two seasons each with the Cleveland Browns (2010-11) and the Denver Broncos (2008-09).

“We are happy that Peyton decided to join us,” said Chiefs Head Coach Romeo Crennel. “Peyton is a big, strong, physical back with a lot of talent and he should fit into our system well. We are looking forward to working with him and adding him into our offense.”

“Peyton was a player we planned to target when free agency began,” said Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli. “One of our goals going into free agency this year was to build depth at the running back position and we are pleased to add a talented player like Peyton to the mix.”

Hillis (6-2, 250) has played in 52 career games (31 starts), recording 512 carries for 2,161 yards (4.2 avg.) with 20 TDs. He also has 101 career receptions for 805 yards (8.0 avg.) with three TDs.

Hillis led Cleveland in carries and rushing yards in each of the past two seasons after being acquired in a trade from Denver following the 2009 season. In 2011, he carried the ball 161 times for 587 yards (3.6 avg.) with three TDs and caught 22 passes for 130 yards (5.9 avg.) in 10 games.

In 2010, Hillis had his most productive season to date when he rushed 270 times for 1,177 yards (4.4 avg.) with 11 TDs and caught 61 passes for 477 yards (7.8 avg.) with two TDs. He became the only player in Browns history to rush for 1,000-plus yards, record 50-plus receptions and score 10-plus touchdowns in the same season and was named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team.

The Conway, Ark., native originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick (227th overall) with Denver in 2008. He totaled 2,624 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns in 49 collegiate games at the University of Arkansas.

— Chiefs Media Relations —