Chiefs: The Faces of the Franchise
· by Laddie Morse
Candidate: Patrick Mahomes
If I say the word “Chiefs”… the first player who comes to mind is _____________? These days, many fans might say Patrick Mahomes II but he hasn’t really accomplished anything yet, right? You could reason that he’s like a newly commissioned General who’s been handed over the launch codes for the missiles he’ll be guiding this year — and believe me, he’ll have some explosives at his disposal — but this new leader hasn’t actually done anything yet. So, why are we so ready to plaster his face all over the Wheaties box (actually… I did that… I’m not really blaming you because, when I said “we” I meant… oh, never mind) until he’s led the Chiefs offense to some important victories. In fact, Mahomes himself has turned down endorsements “until he deserves those endorsements.” His words, not mine.
The Chiefs have had an obvious face-lift over the past two years: no more Derrick Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali, Jeremy Maclin, Dontari Poe, Jaye Howard, Ron Parker, or Marcus Peters. Some of those players were the long time faces of the Kansas City Chiefs. Since it can no longer be any of those players who represent the face of the franchise… and if Patrick Mahomes is not yet the true face of he team… then who is?
Candidate: Travis Kelce
The most recognizable face, and someone who has already achieved star-class status is TE Travis Kelce. Kelce has recently been named by his fellow NFL players as the 24th best player in the NFL:
Travis Kelce could be seen as the best player on the Kansas City Chiefs roster. He’s also had his own TV show, “Catching Kelce”…
It’s hard to argue with a guy who already has this much national face-time and is also the Chiefs biggest offensive weapon.
Candidate: Kareem Hunt
Wait one second… did you say the Chiefs biggest offensive weapon? That could be RB Kareem Hunt. Hunt made a huge splash in the NFL by leading the league in rushing yards. You could also argue that Hunt paved the way for Kelce to have such a big season as well.
https://twitter.com/Stat_Route/status/1009443271901401093
Kareem Hunt should be the face of the franchise for a long time. He has that baby-face look and will only turn 23 years old this August.
Non-candidate: Alex Smith
One player who will not be the face of the franchise is… Alex Smith. Yes, Smith has gone to Washington but this is more a comment on how many Chiefs fans were not Alex Smith fans when he was here. I never really understood that, but now that he is gone, several Chiefs must step up and share the load in representing the franchise.
Candidate: Eric Berry
It’s isn’t usually customary for a defensive player to become the face of a franchise, but if there ever was a player like that in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s Eric Berry. Berry has not only become an incredible Safety for the Chiefs over the span of 8 seasons… two of which he has messed completely, he’s won the Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back in college), the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, but he’s also gone to the Pro-Bowl 5 times, 3 times as an All-Pro. Beyond his on-field exploits, it’s not enough to say “Berry overcame Hodgkin’s lymphoma” because it’s the suffering through the chemotherapy for a year that would take a toll on most people but Eric Berry worked out throughout his treatments. Even on days when the treatments made him vomit. Berry has become the face of courage. The face that any team would be proud to place on the cover of their game day bulletins. He’s become a transcendent character who is also just as likely to be the face of the NFL.
Candidate: Justin Houston
Eric Berry is not the only defensive player who should get some air time and face time. Justin Houston has suffered through his own challenge having overcome a knee-whip forcing his knee forward (the opposite way it’s intended to bend). The result? A sprained MCL requiring surgery. Prior to that, in 2014, Justin had 22 sacks in one season to lead the league in that category. Even after his rehabilitation, he is still one of the most feared outside rush linebackers in the league. He still someone that teams have to design a plan to stop in the week leading up to game day. While Houston had 22 sacks in 2014, he’s only had 21 sacks since that time leading some fans to wish him replaced. Or, at least released. Since Justin Houston is the biggest money maker on the Chiefs payroll in 2018, that is not only not feasible financially, but Houston appears further and further away from his knee injury and more and more recovered which leads many to believe he’ll have his best season this year since 2014. If that’s the case, he deserves to be the face of the franchise as much as any one else. Here, have a little reminder of what Justin looked like in 2014 and revisit the 22.
Candidates: HC, GM, & Owner
The people who should never be the face of a franchise are the head coach, the general manager or the owner. When I was living the in Dallas area that’s exactly the problem they had some years. In fact, in any given year, owner (and wishful GM, cuz he ain’t one) always wanted to be the face of the franchise. If it ever is the case that the players are not the face of a team… you’ve got a bad team (or something is really messed up like it is in big D).
“Fastest in the NFL” moniker-man, WR Tyreek Hill, is becoming “a” face of the franchise but if he ever has one more domestic violence problem, the team will likely dump him and his image to go with it. The Kansas City Chiefs are very fortunate to have so many talented players who could qualify as “The Face of the Franchise” for K.C. with Patrick Mahomes (someday), Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce, Eric Berry, Justin Houston and maybe Sammy Watkins by year’s end. I can also see DE Chris Jones making this list if he makes a few Pro Bowls and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Laurent Duvernay-Tardif who has made the NFL and he Kansas City Chiefs look nothing but good by finishing his doctorate degree this offseason. If only the league could give him recognition him in some way. Hmm, I wonder how?
What do you think? Is there anyone you’d like to see become the face of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise?
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