KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs did not invoice their latest recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Saints as Flip-Again-the-Clock Night time, but it surely had that look.
It appeared like 2018 when working again Kareem Hunt scored a landing and ran for greater than 100 yards for the Chiefs for the primary time in six years. It appeared like 2022 when JuJu Smith-Schuster led the group’s large receivers with seven catches and 130 yards. It appeared like 2019 when Mecole Hardman caught 4 passes.
Nevertheless it’s 2024 and the 7-0 Chiefs, looking for an unprecedented third straight Tremendous Bowl championship, are the NFL’s final remaining unbeaten group heading into Monday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+) at Arrowhead Stadium. They’re getting vital contributions from former stars who left for different groups solely to return as if time stood nonetheless.
“Coach [Andy] Reid has a knack for placing in performs that go well with the participant,” Hardman stated. “He gave me some fast screens to get the ball in my arms to make one thing occur. He acquired the ball to JuJu throughout the center, which he is good at.
“We have been with him earlier than so he is aware of what we will do. Regardless of if it is one, two or three performs, he is fascinated by how he can get all people concerned.”
Hunt, regardless of not taking part in till Week 4, leads the Chiefs in speeding with 308 yards. Smith-Schuster, regardless of not signing till coaching camp was over, had extra receiving yards in opposition to the Saints than any Chiefs participant in anyone recreation this season. Hardman was the Chiefs’ greatest risk of their Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers, accumulating 55 yards speeding and receiving, scoring a landing and returning a punt for 55 yards.
One other Chief, defensive sort out Mike Pennel, who performed on their Tremendous Bowl LIV-winning group in 2019, left in 2021 for 2 seasons after which returned in time to assist the Chiefs win Tremendous Bowl LVIII final season.
“It is the ambiance,” Pennel stated of why he and others look to return to the Chiefs after leaving. “Coach Reid, he calls for success out of everybody. There is not any vet days [off from practice] right here, in order that’s why you see older gamers right here taking part in at a excessive degree as a result of there aren’t any shortcuts.
“All of that performs into coming again to Kansas Metropolis.”
FOR THE CHIEFS’ half, it is no coincidence they’ve introduced again so many former gamers. A fifth former Chief, tight finish Jody Fortson, helped Kansas Metropolis win Tremendous Bowl LVII in 2022 earlier than leaving for the Miami Dolphins and returning this season. He’s on injured reserve after hurting his proper knee in final week’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Hunt, Smith-Schuster and Fortson returned this yr. None went to coaching camp with the Chiefs. Hardman and Pennel got here again final season with neither taking part in camp and Hardman wound up catching the successful landing in additional time of final yr’s Tremendous Bowl win. In all circumstances, the Chiefs had been searching for gamers who they may plug in and play in a fast timeframe.
“We all know learn how to use Mecole and I feel Mecole is aware of that we all know learn how to use Mecole in his greatest manner,” Reid stated. “He is acquired an concept of how issues work, he is sensible, he is aware of the routes and the ins and outs of the routes and he is a superb communicator so he is capable of discuss to the fellows after which he is working his tail off. I give him credit score for a way he is approaching [everything].
“They [all] form of know the way we function. They know the offense. They’re snug with it. Kareem clearly had been away for some time, however he was capable of decide all the things up shortly and he and Pat [Mahomes] are superb buddies. They’ve stayed in contact all through the years right here, so he was welcome again in.”
Hardman stated when he was acquired final yr in a commerce from the New York Jets, it felt like he was coming residence. Reid by no means needed to clarify expectations, the tempo at which the Chiefs practiced, the situation of the cafeteria on the observe facility or anything.
The Chiefs on the identical time knew learn how to greatest make the most of Hardman with display screen passes, jet sweeps and different open-field performs designed to assist make use of his pace.
“I knew precisely what they wished from me, what was happening,” Hardman stated. “As quickly as I acquired right here I used to be plugged in. They simply stated, ‘Let’s go to observe.’ I acquired right here Thursday or Friday and I used to be taking part in Sunday. It was all second nature.”
Hardman was a free agent on the finish of final season however by no means gave severe consideration to taking part in elsewhere earlier than re-signing a one-year deal price about $1.1 million.
“I had a couple of choices however I suppose this one made extra sense,” Hardman stated. “Simply extra snug being right here my entire profession. I do know the system, I do know the coaches and I am very, very accustomed to the scheme of all the things happening. I feel Coach Reid has a great way of placing me on the sector and utilizing me in sure conditions.”
Hunt’s historical past with the Chiefs is extra sophisticated. He led the NFL in speeding as a rookie in 2017 and was having one other huge season in 2018 however was launched in November of that yr after a video surfaced exhibiting Hunt shoving and kicking a lady exterior of his Cleveland residence. No costs had been filed in opposition to Hunt, however he was positioned on the commissioner exempt checklist and suspended by the NFL for the primary eight video games of the 2019 season.
He signed with the Cleveland Browns after his return, taking part in six seasons there. However he stated he by no means stopped wishing he might come again to the Chiefs, which occurred in September after they misplaced their beginning working again, Isiah Pacheco.
The Chiefs on the time additionally had a former beginning working again, Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the non-football harm checklist. Edwards-Helaire has since returned to the lively roster.
The Chiefs felt snug bringing Hunt again, saying he had matured and deserved a second likelihood.
“I used to be thrilled,” Hunt stated of the cellphone name he acquired from Reid telling him the Chiefs wished him again. “Phrases cannot even describe how pleased I used to be. They have the identical philosophy and all the things like that. I do know what to anticipate they usually know what to anticipate out of me.
“I really feel like I by no means actually left. It feels superb to be part of this once more.”
Earlier than signing Hunt, the Chiefs had been taking a look at having to make use of a number of gamers to attempt to change Pacheco. Considered one of their different backs, Samaje Perine, was signed primarily to play on third downs. The opposite, Carson Steele, is an undrafted rookie who misplaced a few fumbles and did not look prepared for a full function.
Hunt gave the Chiefs a direct raise, a lot as he did when he arrived as a third-round draft decide in 2017.
“I used to be right here with him in ’17 and he jogs my memory a variety of that very same participant,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy stated. “We love the place he is at. He is bodily and normally after we ask him to get 3 [yards], he will get us 4. Once we ask him to get 4, he will get 5.”
SMITH-SCHUSTER PLAYED one season for the Chiefs, in 2022, however was their main large receiver. He was a free agent after the season and the Chiefs wished him again, however he signed as an alternative with the New England Patriots.
He missed out on successful a second Tremendous Bowl championship final yr however stated he has no regrets over leaving. He did present how he felt concerning the Chiefs as a match for him by rejoining them after his coaching camp launch from the Patriots.
“Simply very accustomed to the offense,” Smith-Schuster stated. “Very accustomed to Andy Reid, Pat and the fellows. Simply being on this facility form of makes your job quite a bit simpler than going to someplace new the place you’ve got form of acquired to study all the things fairly shortly. I feel the toughest half for an offensive participant goes into a brand new system and having to review an entire new playbook.
“[Reid] simply is aware of learn how to put guys in place. He is aware of learn how to mainly use their energy on the sector and he [utilizes] that and I feel that is one thing that being right here I used to be in a position to try this.”
Smith-Schuster rejoined the Chiefs earlier than they misplaced Rashee Rice for the season with a proper knee harm. However even then, the Chiefs had been searching for a receiver who might complement tight finish Travis Kelce in the midst of the sector.
Common supervisor Brett Veach did not must surprise how Smith-Schuster would match. He had already seen it.
“A number of the intermediate stuff that he does effectively with Travis, we thought JuJu did higher than different gamers,” Veach stated. “He is a much bigger participant than some smaller guys. Then with a number of the intermediate route working, I feel he had possibly a little bit bit higher really feel.
“JuJu’s expertise in that offense and that really feel for that place offers us the flexibility to form of sub these guys out, give them blows and hopefully nonetheless match that form of manufacturing.”
Hunt, Hardman and Smith-Schuster had been prime gamers for the Chiefs at totally different occasions. Hunt was initially with the Chiefs earlier than Hardman or Smith-Schuster arrived.
Hardman joined in 2019, when he had profession highs for touchdowns (seven) and yards per catch (20.7). He was injured throughout a lot of the 2022 season, when Smith-Schuster performed.
Although they by no means starred on the identical time, it does not essentially really feel that solution to them. When it was talked about to Smith-Schuster after the Saints recreation that former stars like himself, Hunt and Hardman had performed an enormous function, he nodded and smiled.
“It is fairly cool getting the fellows again,” he stated. “It is just like the band is again collectively.”
