Chiefs Fans, This Is Our Year

Chiefs Fans, This Is Our Year – I’ve chosen to take a brief respite from the “Greatest Chiefs Series” to discuss our upcoming season, rather than reflect on our past glories along with the coaches and players that made those possible. Lifelong Chiefs fans and amateur Chiefs historians fret not, I will return to those soon. Remaining topics in that series include the greatest Chiefs offensive players and special teams players ever.

Chiefs fans, this is our year.

I know.  I know. I say that every year. I first said it when I first became a Chiefs fan in 1993 with quarterback Joe Montana. I said it again in 1997 when, in our infinite wisdom, we started a QB named Elvis over fan-favorite Rich Gannon. I even said it 2008 when we fielded three different QBs and slept in the basement of the AFC West with a 2-14 record.

In fact, I’ve said “this is our year,” every summer since 1993. So, for the 26th time…

Chiefs fans, this is our year.

I will not go over the obvious reasons I think this is our year. Such as players like Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Tyrann Mathieu, Eric Fisher, or Anthony Sherman. Nor will I delve into our amazing front office headed by the unflappable Brett Veach, nor even the amazing coaching staff or winning philosophy that Coach Reid has built during his tenure here.

Rather, let’s discuss intangibles, those things that are not visible to the naked eye but are as plain as day. There are many intangibles which factor in, such as leadership, work ethic, attitude, and the one I’d like to discuss today, esprit de corps.

Merriam-Webster defines esprit de corps as

• • the common spirit existing in the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group.

Wikipedia uses esprit de corps and morale interchangeably and defines it as

• • the capacity of a group’s members to maintain the belief in an institution or goal, particularly in the face of opposition or hardship.

The Chiefs are no strangers to hardship or opposition.

In just the past year, the Chiefs have dealt with:

• • being forced to let go of a Pro-Bowl quality running back because of his dishonesty.
  • dealing with, (apparently false) allegations against a star wide receiver and all the negative publicity surrounding it.
  • a 31st ranked defense.
  • reluctantly parting ways with a beloved safety for business financial reasons.
  • dealing with insensitive and hurtful remarks by an idiot radio personality about their leader.

Yet, they have handled all of those hardships and indignities with class and silence. Despite it all, they’ve kept their nose to the grindstone, handled the day-to-day business of an NFL (soon-to-be) dynasty, all the while keeping any in-house disagreements, scandals, or the like, amongst themselves.

They wisely barred Tyreek from team activities after his (hopefully ex-) fiancee surreptitiously recorded statements taken out of context and released it to a salacious-loving media.

As the news continues to unfold regarding the so-called Hill Scandal, it becomes more clear that the Chiefs did this less as a move to distance themselves from their speedy receiver but to allow him to take care of his personal issues and focus on his son. I venture to say that the Chief’s front office was in contact with him constantly offering encouragement, counseling services, and resources to help him get his house in order. I’m willing to bet that hours upon hours of phone time were logged between Hill and teammates Mahomes, Kelce, and a host of other Chiefs supporting their teammate in his time of need.

The Chiefs want Hill at camp focused on football and Super Bowls. It’s hard enough to haul in touchdown passes, let alone to do so when your personal life is crumbling around you and you’re worried about your child.

Any man or woman who has ever served in the Armed Forces knows the value of esprit de corps. They know how important it is to spend time with your fellow soldiers, sailors, marines, and airman outside of working hours. This, along with building comradery, strengthening friendships and weaving common bonds define the difference between success and failure.

From the Stanley Cup to a FIFA Women’s World Cup Round, to the NBA Finals, one can usually spot Kelce and Mahomes together in the crowd somewhere. I would venture to say that Hill would have been at a few of these events, had it not been for him remaining low key this offseason and focusing on that which is important.

I love being able to come in every single day and work out and watch film and practice with guys who are all striving for the same goal.

– Patrick Mahomes

Esprit de corps means doing everything possible not to let your teammates down, be it in the military, or in sports. This means staying in shape, reviewing the playbook, mending injuries, stepping up and being a leader where necessary, working on those parts of your game that you feel you can better, giving back to the community.

I want to get out there and mesh with everyone and teach, have fun and get better. But right now, just getting healthy is the main thing, and I think we’re there. I think by the time training camp comes around, I’ll be 100 percent.

– Travis Kelce

We don’t take no days off. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to work to be the best, baby.  You’ve got to prove you’re the best every Sunday, too. Every day, for real, you’ve got to prove you’re the best every day for real because there’s no telling who’s working right now.

– Tyreek Hill

Esprit de corps also means that individuals don’t blame other for losses and failures, rather they fully take the brunt of the blame.

A team can gather, collect, and sign the greatest players in the game and on paper and fall flat. Just ask the 1985 New York Yankees. Or ask the 1992 San Francisco 49ers. Perhaps even call the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. Heck, remember our 2018 and 1993 Chiefs. But, I digress.

For a team to win a Super Bowl, great players are, no doubt, a must.  So is coaching, but the glue that binds it all together and brings trophies home are the intangibles — work ethic, attitude, esprit de corps, morale, and leadership.  This year, the Chiefs have all of those things. They’ve got it in spades.

This is our year.  This time, I mean it!

Bonus Fun Fact: Coach Reid, while an offensive tackle at Brigham Young University from 1978 to 1980 helped protect quarterback Jim McMahon for two seasons.

Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

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