Kansas City Chiefs News

Take it from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a playoff regular since entering the NFL, every additional game takes a physical toll.While commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL owners have discussed expanding the regular season to 18 games, the issue requires collective bargaining with players. Count Mahomes as a "no" if and when the time comes for players to weigh in on an official measure to again expand the regular season."I always say the more games, it's a little bit more taxing on the guys that play the game," Mahomes said Friday in an interview with CNBC.Mahomes said the framework of potential proposals subtracting one or more weeks of preseason games and shortening player workout dates in the offseason might not be enough to sway his opinion. The league played a 16-game schedule when Mahomes was drafted and moved to 17 games in 2021. Goodell remarked at the NFL owners meetings that there is a logical next step to 18 games."I think that you'd have to find a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out. I mean, you've seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons and you want to have the best players playing in the biggest games," Mahomes said. "So, if there were a way to get to 18 games, I'm not a big fan of it. But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys' bodies."NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said negotiations toward an 18-game schedule are not happening anytime soon.

Owners of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs have joined the list of professional sports organizations making donations to support the recovery from flooding that has devastated the Texas Hill Country, they announced on Wednesday.As of 7 p.m. ET, state officials confirmed at least 120 people have died from the floods in central Texas, including 96 confirmed fatalities (60 adults and 36 children) in Kerr County. Five campers and one counselor were still missing from Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.A wall of water swept over the area after heavy rainfall forced the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in less than an hour early Friday morning.The Vikings and the Wilf family committed $500,000 in support of relief and recovery efforts."We are deeply saddened by the continued devastation and loss of life in the Texas Hill Country and can't imagine the pain so many are experiencing," Vikings owners Mark, Zygi and Leonard Wilf said in a statement Wednesday. "We are praying for peace for the families who have lost a loved one and strength for those who continue to risk their lives leading the rescue and recovery effort."Major League Soccer's Texas-based clubs -- Austin FC, FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo FC -- have joined the league in committing $500,000 toward disaster-relief efforts.Clark Hunt, who owns FC Dallas as well as the NFL's Chiefs, lost a 9-year-old cousin in the floods."Our family is devastated by the tragedy in Central Texas," Hunt said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to those grieving -- in particular, to the parents who lost children, those who lost family members, and the far-too-many who have lost friends, neighbors, and loved ones."This has shaken our community to its core. Today, along with our MLS partners, my brother, (Dan), and I are humbled to support those directly assisting the victims of this unimaginable tragedy. In the wake of such sadness, we are awed by the hearts of our fellow Texans, and we are grateful for the true community leaders -- in boats, helicopters or trucks filled with food -- who are showing up for their neighbors in need."

Kansas remains in the running to provide the future home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.A committee in the Kansas state legislature extended a deadline Monday for the NFL and Major League Baseball franchises to accept state financing for new stadiums.The original deadline came and went on June 30, but it was retroactively extended on Monday. Now the Chiefs and Royals have till June 30, 2026, but the committee is pressing for a decision from the teams by New Year's Eve.The Chiefs and Royals have long made their homes at Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, respectively, in the same complex in Kansas City, Mo. They are among the oldest venues in their leagues and their leases with Jackson County are up in January 2031.In June, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed off on legislation that would authorize bonds to pay for up to 50 percent of the cost for the Chiefs and Royals to build or renovate a stadium.Not to be outdone, Kansas has had an offer on the table of using bonds to cover 70 percent of the cost of a new stadium if either of the teams chooses to relocate.

Ramzee Robinson, a former NFL defensive back who then served as director of player engagement for the Kansas City Chiefs, filed a lawsuit against the franchise for wrongful termination. The suit accuses the Chiefs of discriminating against Robinson because he is Black.A nine-year employee with Kansas City, Robinson filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri earlier this week. He claims that, in a meeting in February, he was accused of attacking a female co-worker, though the Chiefs refused to show him security footage of the incident.Kansas City ultimately fired Robinson, who added that the team paid him a salary of $125,000 while other franchises paid comparable positions an average salary of $171,932, not including other benefits. The suit claims that "the Chiefs paid African-American business employees less than their white counterparts."

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice and first-round rookie tackle Josh Simmons will be ready for training camp, head coach Andy Reid confirmed Thursday.Rice, 25, missed most of last season with a torn right ACL sustained when he collided with quarterback Patrick Mahomes during a Week 4 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.Rice had been off to a hot start with 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games.A second-round pick in 2023, Rice has 103 receptions for 1,226 yards and nine TDs in 20 career games.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed off on legislation that could provide millions of dollars for stadium upgrades for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.Under the bill approved in a special session Wednesday by Missouri lawmakers, the state agreed to authorize bonds to pay for up to half of the cost to build or renovate a stadium, as well as offer tax credits. Local governments also would provide unspecifed assistance.The two teams play at the Truman Sports Complex, with their stadiums side by side. Arrowhead Stadium opened in 1972 as the home of the Chiefs, with the Royals moving into what now is called Kauffman Stadium the following season.Though still aesthetically pleasing, the two stadiums are among the oldest in their sports.In the NFL, only the Chicago Bears (Soldier Field, built in 1924) and Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field, 1957) play in older venues. In Major League Baseball, only the Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park, 1912), Chicago Cubs (Wrigley Field, 1914), Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodger Stadium, 1962) and Los Angeles Angels (Angel Stadium, 1966) have stadiums with a longer life span.The signed bill in Missouri applies to any assistance for any NFL or MLB team that wants to undergo a stadium renovation or build of at least $500 million. That means the St. Louis Cardinals also could get financial aid should they want to improve Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006 amid a wave of new stadiums.The Chiefs and Royals have a looming deadline, however.In an effort to lure the teams to Kansas, that state last year authorized the issuance of bonds for as much as 70 percent of the cost of new stadiums. That offer is scheduled to expire June 30.

Former Pro Bowl punter Dustin Colquitt signed a one-day contract with Kansas City so he could retire as a Chief, the team announced on Wednesday.Colquitt, 43, has not played since the 2021 season, when he appeared in five games with the Cleveland Browns. He played 15 of 17 seasons with the Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl in the 2019 campaign and voted to Pro Bowls in 2012 and 2016.He averaged 44.8 yards in punting 1,198 times for 53,660 yards in 255 regular-season games with 103 touchbacks and 483 boots inside the 20-yard line. He had six blocked.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will visit the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 27 for the latter's traditional Thanksgiving Day game, CBS announced on Wednesday morning.Mahomes is set to play in Arlington, Texas, for the first time in his professional career. The Tyler, Texas native watched as Alex Smith started for Kansas City in its last road game versus Dallas in 2017.Mahomes has faced the Cowboys just once in his career once, leading the Chiefs to a 19-9 victory in Kansas City on Nov. 21, 2021.The Chiefs will play on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 2006.Kansas City also has a holiday game this season on Christmas night when it hosts the Denver Broncos.

The Kansas City Chiefs will play on Christmas Day for the third year in a row, as Amazon Prime Video announced Monday it will carry the Chiefs' home game against the Denver Broncos on Christmas night.The Chiefs faced a different AFC West rival on Christmas in 2023 when they lost to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders 20-14. Last year, they went to Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers 29-10.That will be the final game of a Christmas tripleheader, which the NFL plans to stage going forward after holding three games in 2024, when Christmas fell on a Wednesday.

Three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes was among nine people enshrined in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame on Saturday -- and he left a piece of himself in his home state.Mahomes played at Whitehouse High School, near Tyler, Texas, and went on to Texas Tech before the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.Mahomes announced on Instagram after the ceremony that he and his sponsor, Adidas, will be partnering with 15 high schools, including his alma mater."Whitehouse, Texas is where it all began," Mahomes said. "It's an honor to be inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame."He continued:"As a part of this recognition, I'm proud to announce that @adidasfballus and I are signing 15 high schools to Team Mahomes that will represent my Gladiator logo on uniform, starting with Whitehouse High School. This is just the beginning."

Offensive tackle Josh Simmons signed his four-year, $14.7 million rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday.The team made the agreement with the 32nd overall pick official with a photo of Simmons signing the document.Spotrac reported the contract is fully guaranteed and comes with a $7.3 million signing bonus. As is standard for first-round picks, the contract includes a fifth-year team option.Simmons is working back to full health in hopes of becoming a major piece of the reconfigured puzzle that is Kansas City's offensive line in 2025. He was hand-selected by head coach Andy Reid -- himself a former offensive lineman and OL coach -- who endorsed Simmons as a "true left tackle" based on his game film at San Diego State and Ohio State.Chiefs left guard Joe Thuney was traded to the Chicago Bears in March, when Kansas City signed former San Francisco 49ers tackle Jaylon Moore. The Chiefs used the franchise tag to retain right guard Trey Smith, and 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia could work his way onto a role with the front five.

The Kansas City Chiefs are picking up the options for 2022 first-round picks Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis, ESPN reported Tuesday.McDuffie, 24, was drafted 21st overall and now is in line to earn $13.632 million in 2026. The All-Pro cornerback has started 43 games, recording two interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks and 183 tackles.Karlaftis, 24, was the No. 30 pick and is set to earn $15.196 million in 2026. The defensive end has recorded 24.5 sacks, 56 quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries and 115 tackles in 49 games (44 starts).

Grade: A-Best Pick: WR Jalen Royals, No. 133 OverallWhat We Liked: The Chiefs managed to solve their offensive tackle problem thanks to the fall of Josh Simmons, which feels reminiscent of the Trey Smith pick from 2021. As usual, the Chiefs are playing to consensus, picking up talented fallers such as Royals and Ashton Gillotte, who have the production and athleticism to become quick starters. The Chiefs are sticking to the strategy that turned them into perennial Super Bowl contenders. Good stuff.