Kansas City Chiefs News

Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams opted out of playing in the upcoming 2020 season, the team announced Wednesday.Williams, 28, joins offensive guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif as Chiefs players who will sit out due to the coronavirus pandemic."As an organization, we certainly understand and respect Damien's choice, knowing it was made in the best interest of his family," Kansas City general manager Brett Veach said in a statement. "He means a lot to our football team as a player and a person, and we're going to miss having him around this season."Williams scored the final two touchdowns in the Chiefs' 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2. He put Kansas City ahead in the fourth quarter with a 5-yard touchdown reception before padding the lead with a 38-yard score.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has become a part owner of the Kansas City Royals, the MLB team announced on Tuesday."We are very proud and excited to have Patrick as our partner in the ownership group of this franchise," principal owner, chairman and CEO John Sherman said in a statement. "Along with the rest of Kansas City, I have watched Patrick compete and become an extraordinary leader, both on and off the football field."... Consistent with the entirety of our ownership group, he has a deep commitment to Kansas City and a real passion for the game of baseball -- dating back to his childhood."Mahomes was a top baseball player in high school and pitched while at Texas Tech, but football was his primary focus. His father, Pat Mahomes, spent 11 years pitching in the majors for six teams, including five years with the Minnesota Twins (1992-96).

The Kansas City Chiefs signed their entire draft class on Saturday and also reportedly made a big addition to the offensive line.Per multiple reports, the team signed former All-Pro guard Kelechi Osemele to a one-year deal. NFL Network reports the contract is worth a maximum of $2 million.Osemele, 31, was named first-team All-Pro in 2016 and made his second straight Pro Bowl appearance in 2017, both with the then-Oakland Raiders, but his play has slipped since while he's battled injuries. Limited to 11 games in 2018, he played just three last season after being traded to the New York Jets.Osemele ultimately had shoulder surgery after a dispute with the Jets over whether or not he could play through the injury. He was released by New York in October.The Chiefs have an opening after right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who is working as an orderly in Canada, became the first NFL player to opt out of the 2020 season. Osemele has played exclusively left guard over the last several seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif became the NFL's first player to opt out of the season Friday night.Duvernay-Tardif, 29, earned a medical school degree from McGill University in 2018. The Canada native has worked during the offseason as an orderly at a long-term care facility near Montreal, and he said he would continue to work there during the NFL season.The decision means Duvernay-Tardif will make $150,000 from the NFL's opt-out deal instead of the $2.75 million that he had been slated to earn, according to ESPN.The six-year veteran, who started 14 games at right guard for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs last season, chose to put others above himself."This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally," Duvernay-Tardif wrote on his Twitter page.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady lobbed a shot at Tyreek Hill over social media after the Kansas City Chiefs speedster was quick to say that his team is a dynasty in the making and could win seven championships.Hill boasted that total on ESPN's "First Take" on Thursday, saying that it was one better than the six NBA titles that Michael Jordan won with the Chicago Bulls.You know who also has six championships on his resume? Well, Brady. And he gave Hill a not-so-subtle reminder that he can earn his seventh championship ring -- this season."Totally agree @cheetah. Why not go [for] 7 rings..." Brady, who turns 43 next month, wrote on Twitter.

Kansas City Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill called teammate Chris Jones' bet of "five-plus" Super Bowl titles and raised him two Lombardi Trophies in a bold prediction on Thursday.Three days after Jones said the Chiefs would create a dynasty and claim at least a quintet of trophies, Hill went a step further in an appearance on ESPN's First Take."Well, I'm not gonna say he's telling a fib," Hill said of Jones' prediction. "But Chris Jones, he's definitely -- he's definitely a man of his word, and we're definitely creating something special here in K.C., so I don't see why not. Why say five? Why not go seven rings? Right now we're just chasing (Michael) Jordan, so that's what we do."So I'm going over five, and I'm saying seven."Jones said on KCSP 610 Sports Radio on Monday, "We plan to have another parade and another parade and another parade. We're going to make sure we bring not one, not two, not three, not four, but five-plus rings to Kansas City. It's been 50 years of waiting, but the wait is over now. It's time to create a dynasty."The Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV to claim their first title in 50 years, since Super Bowl IV.

Patrick Mahomes' new 10-year, $503 million contract didn't hamstring the Kansas City Chiefs' budget. In fact, the quarterback made sure to leave the team enough financial room to give teammate Chris Jones his own mega-extension.Jones signed a four-year deal on Wednesday that reportedly is worth up to $85 million."When Pat's deal got done (on July 6), Pat texted me and said, 'Let's get this thing done. I left some on the table; let's get this thing done,'" Jones told reporters on Monday. "And that's when I had the security that me and the Chiefs were going to work something out."Chiefs general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that the new contracts for Mahomes and Jones were vital parts of the offseason plans for the defending Super Bowl champions."We certainly had some obstacles to overcome," Veach said Monday. "We were driven and determined this whole time. ... Our plan was to do a lot of the things that we've done this offseason, but right at the top of that list were Pat Mahomes and Chris Jones."That's why this took some time. We were just trying to go through all of the scenarios. We don't know where the cap is going to be, but we have to have plans ready and in place whether it grows (or) stays the same (or) dips. ... We have enough game-planning in place to protect ourselves and we felt good."

Amidst a sea of uncertainty regarding the 2020 NFL season and doubts about preseason games, rookies for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans began reporting to training camp on Monday.Chiefs rookies were informed Sunday that training camp would be "a go."But to gain access to the team's facility, all players must produce two negative COVID-19 test results before they can enter."That could take you into four days here," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday in a Zoom call with reporters. "There's a point where we'll be able to have the guys lift and meet with them and do a potential walk-through with them."Houston visits the Chiefs in the NFL regular-season opener on Sept. 10 in Kansas City. But getting to Week 1 of the regular season will involve clearing hurdles.The NFL and union have been discussing protocol and safety issues for several days. The latest proposal exchanged includes reducing the number of preseason games to one per team, 16 total games.In a typical year, teams play four preseason games apiece.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans are scheduled to start reporting to training camp on time Monday, according to multiple reports Thursday, despite questions lingering about a variety of protocols.According to NFL Network, the league and the NFL Players Association are still trying to reach an agreement on COVID-19 testing and other health and safety protocols ahead of Monday, when Chiefs and Texans rookies and quarterbacks are scheduled to report. All other players on both rosters are scheduled to report next Saturday.Per NFL Network, the collective bargaining agreement allows teams to tell players to report or face discipline. If an agreement is not reached by Monday, the players union could choose to file a grievance.According to the Houston Chronicle, players would undergo coronavirus testing on Monday, and then begin conditioning programs once cleared.The Chiefs and Texans are reporting before the rest of the NFL because they're scheduled to open the regular season on Sept. 10, a Thursday.Beyond concerns about testing and health, the sides are still discussing how to handle the expected economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, with a revenue shortfall likely to impact future salary caps.NFL Network reported the league's latest proposal removed a previous provision requesting 35 percent of player salaries in escrow, but it proposes cutting player costs in 2020 by $40 million per team in salary cap or benefits. Under the proposal, any remaining revenue shortfall would be made up in 2021.However, per the report, player leadership "strongly" opposes that sort of short-term impact, preferring to spread it out over multiple years. One player told NFL Network, "No thanks. Not taking the COVID risk and (the) financial burden."Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt tweeted earlier Thursday to say the players "want to play" while also outlining a number of unanswered questions, including what the training camp and preseason structure will be, how often players will be tested and how a potential positive test would affect contracts and rosters.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones signed a four-year deal and shed the franchise tag on Wednesday.Jones' deal can be worth up to $85 million and gives the Chiefs two defensive linemen earning over $20 million per season. Defensive end Frank Clark has an annual average salary of $20.8 million.The Chiefs had placed the non-exclusive franchise tag in March on Jones, who had until Wednesday's deadline to agree to a long-term contract.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones agreed to terms on a four-year contract that could be worth up to $85 million with incentives, ESPN reported on Tuesday.ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the $80 million contract includes $60 million in guarantees and an additional $5 million in incentives.The Chiefs had placed the non-exclusive franchise tag in March on Jones, who had until Wednesday's deadline to agree to a long-term contract.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones reportedly have begun contract discussions.ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Saturday that the two sides have "begun talking" ahead of Wednesday's contract deadline. If Jones and the Chiefs can't come to terms, he could play in 2020 under the franchise tag, which would pay him $16.1 million."I'm told the Chiefs and Jones have begun talking, which is a big victory because it's been quiet for months on that front," Fowler said on ESPN's SportsCenter. "They've really had no communication. They've at least started negotiating."Jones, 26, has yet to sign the franchise tag and indicated earlier this month he could sit out the season.On July 1, NFL Network reported it's unlikely Jones will receive the $20 million-per-year deal he seeks this offseason. He replied to a video the network posted, hinting that holding out into the regular season might be an option."Or I won't play. @LeVeonBell told me about this," Jones wrote.

The Baltimore Ravens informed their fans Wednesday that they are limiting attendance to fewer than 14,000 people to enable social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.M&T Bank Stadium has a capacity of just over 71,000 fans."To offer a proper level of safety for fans who want to attend games, a reduction in capacity is necessary," Ravens president Dick Cass said in a statement. "We are disappointed that this will be a disruption for many ticket buyers, but we have an obligation to our fans and our community to keep M&T Bank Stadium as safe as possible."The Ravens also informed season ticket holders that their seats will not be available this year.The team said season ticket holders will be offered the same seats in 2021, and money already paid for this season can be used for next year or refunded upon request.Also Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced they will move forward with a "reduced-capacity plan" for at least the "first few games" of the upcoming season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has every reason to smile after signing the richest contract in North American sports history.While Mahomes now has security for his family -- and generations down the road -- after agreeing to a 12-year contract worth a possible $503 million, the 24-year-old also feels strongly that the Chiefs have enough flexibility to solidify a potential NFL dynasty."We can be a great team moving forward and I can have the security I want," Mahomes said Tuesday in a virtual news conference. "I can't wait to build this legacy not only on the field but off it."Mahomes will average a staggering $45 million per year, shattering the $35 million annual average of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson."We were able to get this contract done in the right way that not only gives me the security that I've always wanted but also allows opportunities for the team to be great around me the entire duration of my entire career," the former NFL MVP said."And I have trust that things will get handled the right way as we go throughout this career and we will be in position to win a lot of football games and hopefully win a lot more championships as my career goes on."Winning championships is the name of the game in the eyes of Chiefs general manager Brett Veach."He wanted to win and wanted to establish a dynasty," Veach said. "He's still growing and learning. He's hungry. He's special. At such a young age, he understands big-picture thinking."

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a 10-year contract extension through 2031, ESPN reported Monday.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Mahomes, 24, was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2018 and guided the Chiefs to a Super Bowl championship last season.He's entering the final year of his rookie deal with a fifth-year option -- at $24.87 million -- available for 2021. The Chiefs are adding 10 years to his contract for a total of 12 seasons remaining in Kansas City.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones could sit until the team addresses his contract status.Jones, 25, was assigned the franchise designation in March before he was eligible to reach free agency. If Jones plays on the one-year tag, the tender would pay him $16.1 million for the 2020 season.Jones replied to a video discussing his situation on NFL Network hinting that holding out into the regular season might be an option."Or I won't play. @LeVeonBell told me about this," Jones wrote.Bell sat out the 2018 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers because he was resistant to the team applying the franchise tag for a second straight season. In March 2019, Bell signed with the New York Jets upon reaching free agency for the first time in his career.

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney was memorialized this weekend at the Louisiana park where he gave his life trying to save three children from drowning in 1983.Monday marks the 37th anniversary of the death of Delaney, who wore No. 37 during his two seasons with the Chiefs in 1981 and 1982. He died on June 29, 1983.Although he didn't know how to swim, the 24-year-old Delaney jumped into a pond at Chennault Park in Monroe, La., in an attempt to rescue the children. Delaney and two of the kids drowned."He didn't worry about himself, he just worried about making the people around him happy. That's just the type of person Joe was," his wife, Carolyn Delaney, told KARD-TV on Saturday at a monument dedication ceremony in the park."Right now, I am just so overwhelmed," she said. "I mean it just makes me feel so proud of Joe and the person he was. I just can't explain how happy I am today."

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed graduates of his alma mater, Texas Tech, on Saturday, encouraging them to "go out and win your own Super Bowl.""I know this isn't the graduation ceremony that you and your families had envisioned, but that doesn't change the outcome or all the hard work, long hours and sacrifices that you made to achieve this milestone," the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said in his address that aired during the school's virtual commencement. "I know this is sure not how you imagined spending your last days as a student."The ceremony was held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.Mahomes continued in his statement, which lasted about 75 seconds, saying:"But the world is in a different place today than it was just a few weeks ago. And as Red Raiders, we're built to persevere in difficult times. We've all had to take a moment and learn to adjust to these new challenges. And when the odds are stacked against us, we make a play -- and I can tell you this is going to make us all more competitive and hungrier than ever.