I’ve spent much of my life cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m old school and wear my heart on my sleeve with every game. Without my late father, I wouldn’t be here witnessing the franchise’s revival because, at its purest core, generations of fans have come together through a strong family bond for the Chiefs.
While watching a preview of the upcoming ESPN series ‘Chiefs Kingdom’ that premiered Thursday night, a clip showed Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach talking about a note his daughter gave him on the day the franchise was forever changed.
Veach mentioned that he and his family watched the movie Draft Day before the Chiefs’ draft that season. In a decisive moment of the film, Kevin Costner’s character received a note from his late father, which said, ‘Draft Vontae Mack No Matter What.’ It was a pivotal moment that became the highlight of the story and left an impact on his daughter.
As he was leaving the house on the morning of April 27th, 2017, she handed him a note that read, ‘Pat No Matter What.’ He has it framed in his house, and it reminds him that being a Chiefs fan is about sharing moments with family.
Although my father was a complex man, he loved the Chiefs. We lived on the same street as Hall of Fame Head Coach Hank Stram and Hall of Fame Linebacker Bobby Bell. My dad worked with Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt on the Truman Sports Complex project, and we often had Chiefs players in our house.
To me, it was just a regular part of growing up as a kid and being a fan of the team my dad loved so much. We went to the old Municipal Stadium, then to Arrowhead for decades. When my father died just before Super Bowl LIV, I shed a tear, wishing he could have seen this moment.
The Chiefs organization has reminded us that family is at the core of their mission. The Hunt family has devoted their lives to ensuring that every generation, young and old, can come together as a family while watching the team play football.
Yes, like all families, the franchise went through many ups, downs, and disappointments, but for the next generation that wasn’t around for Super Bowl IV, the Mahomes era has built a new wave of fans, many of whom have siblings tied to the early years of the franchise.
On Wednesday night, the internet buzzed as Jason and Travis Kelce hosted Taylor Swift on their New Heights Podcast for two hours. For those who watched the entire episode, it was clear that two brothers who love and respect each other would do anything to support one another.
When Taylor Swift arrived in Chiefs Kingdom in 2023, she was welcomed as part of the Kelce family and the organization. What we learned on the New Heights Podcast Wednesday night was that two alpha males showed sensitivity and appreciation for what Taylor Swift means to both of them. They engaged with her stories, and it was clear that the love Swift and Travis share is as genuine as it gets.
The revealing interview uncovered the roots of Swift’s fandom for the Chiefs, and her excitement about the team drafting Xavier Worthy in 2023 was something we all experienced at the time.
Yet, at the core of Jason’s heart was a desire to see how happy the two of them are together and the love that forms the foundation of their relationship. I must admit it was nice to witness the display of affection and openness. Swift was willing to share about her own family, and I wish we could see more of this in all sports.
Emotion lies at the heart of our fandom and is why we are fans. The Chiefs, however, since Lamar Hunt moved the team to Kansas City from Dallas, have focused on creating that family atmosphere. It started with Stram and continues today with Andy Reid.
Chairman Clark Hunt has led this franchise since his father passed away in December 2006. The notable event in that last month of his father’s life was the NFL awarding a Thursday Night Thanksgiving game to the Chiefs.
The entire family was with him watching the game, and it reminded Lamar of the times in the 1960s when the Chiefs would play on Thanksgiving.
I admit, becoming a father again so late in life, my eight-year-old shares similar feelings about the Chiefs. His bedroom is filled with Chiefs memorabilia on the walls, including a framed Len Dawson jersey and a few items featuring Patrick Mahomes and Kelce.
He loves going to Arrowhead, and for his ninth birthday this year, we’re taking him to a Raiders game in Kansas City.
I understand that many fan bases share the same feelings, and I respect all 31 of them for their passion and dedication to their teams. Furthermore, they are no different from us in Kansas City because, at their core, someone in their family inspired their shared passion for their favorite NFL team.
In summary, I hope the past seven years in Kansas City remind us all that, at the core of our love for the Chiefs, family is the central part of our fandom. Let’s take a moment to thank that one person who brought us together as passionate members of the Chiefs Kingdom!
