The Kansas City Chiefs have secured their place in NFL history by clinching their second consecutive Super Bowl championship in 2023. However, despite the victorious end to the season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been vocal about the team’s offensive struggles throughout the year.
Reflecting on the past season, Mahomes pointed out the team's inconsistency, acknowledging, "The end result [last season] was awesome, but I think a lot of us still have a weird feeling in our mouth . . . It wasn't fun every single week having to try to just continue to get better and better and the results not paying off the way you wanted to. We have a lot of those same guys back and they know how that felt."
Preparation for a New Season
As the Chiefs head back to training camp at Missouri Western State University, there is a clear determination to elevate their performance. Training camp kicks off with quarterbacks and rookies arriving on Wednesday, while the full team will join by Sunday. The preparation period is critical, as Mahomes emphasizes the need for the squad to start strong and consistent this upcoming season.
"We're back at St. Joe. It's time to get better. Every season starts differently. You've got to come in with that same mentality you had the year before, even with a higher intensity," Mahomes explained. "Even though we won the Super Bowl last year, we felt like we didn't play our best football, especially offensively. So it's our goal to be better that way and coming in with that mentality every single day."
New Additions to the Roster
Aiming to address the offensive inconsistencies, the Chiefs have made significant additions to their roster. This includes acquiring two rapid wide receivers: free agent Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. Worthy, who showcased his impressive speed by setting a new scouting combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, adds a fresh dynamic to the Chiefs' offensive strategies. However, Worthy's journey has not been without hiccups, as a sore hamstring sidelined him for most of the offseason practices.
Despite this setback, Mahomes stresses the importance of readiness and competition within the team, especially for rookies. "There's no easing [him in]. He's going to have to be ready to go. We got a lot of competition on this offense. He got a lot of mental work in these last few weeks that he had during OTAs and minicamp, but it's time to go now. Y'all saw it with Rashee [Rice] last year and some of the throwing-up days he had. We're going to push you to the limit and prepare yourself to be ready to go for the season," Mahomes stated.
A Focus on Speed
The Chiefs' emphasis on speed is expected to blend well with their existing strategies. Adding Brown and Worthy is seen as a step towards enhancing their competitive edge, especially as they frequently test their mettle against what Mahomes describes as the best defense in the NFL. "We added a lot of speed. What's better than going against our defense? It's the best defense in the NFL and we get to go against them every single day and really show where we're at and how we can get better," Mahomes noted.
Balancing Family and Football
Off the field, Mahomes is preparing for another significant addition—his third child with wife Brittany. The couple, who already have two children, are eagerly anticipating the newest family member. Mahomes shared his enthusiasm, "It's awesome. I always wanted to have kids young. I got to grow up in the locker room. I think I've talked about it before and it made such an impact in my life and so I wanted to have kids young and we're having our third kid now to join our family." Despite his demanding schedule, Mahomes values his time with his family, stating, "I spend so much time in the building at football for these seven, eight months and whenever I'm with my family, I want to enjoy those moments."
On whether there might be more additions to his family in the future, Mahomes was definitive. "I'm done. I'll say that. I said three and I'm done," he confirmed with a smile.
As the Kansas City Chiefs embark on another season, the mix of new talent, a focus on consistency, and the unwavering determination to improve, set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying journey towards their next championship pursuit.