The Kansas City Chiefs receiving room has been through as many changes as that of any team in the NFL after just six games, and given that order has been restored and things are going in a positive direction, it’s understandable that the Chiefs are downright celebratory about the latest developments.
The code for this change is “EGE,” and receiver Xavier Worthy explained what it means in an article written by Jesse Newell of The Athletic.
“It’s just an ‘Everybody eats’ offense,” Worthy said with a smile. “Everybody’s gonna get their turn.”
Worthy is the primary author of the “Everybody’s gotta eat” mantra, as he’s changed the chemistry of the group by returning to the lineup after being out with a shoulder injury. Next up in the receiving line is Rashee Rice, who’s due to make his comeback on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“We’re just like brothers, for real,” Chiefs receiver Hollywood Brown said Thursday. “It’s fun being a part of a group with such great open communication.”
The “band of brothers” gathers at their “spot” near the entrance to the locker room, and they work on touchdown celebrations and “shadow boxing” with their hands in what Newell described as Gen-Z’s version of Rock Paper Scissors.
“Little childhood games. Keep the locker room fresh, keep the fun, keep it exciting,” Brown said. “We have fun doing that.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is the beneficiary of all this camaraderie. He gets to implement strategies and work on plays knowing that he won’t have to deal with the kind of friction that permeates a lot of teams’ receiving rooms.
“It’s something that’s special,” Nagy said.
“We’re truly friends outside of this,” Brown added. “A lot of times, you might never see your teammates outside of work. I think that’s a lot different.”
Others have noticed as well. The most noteworthy observant is quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who also enjoys the freedom that comes with the group’s unselfishness.
“That receiving room, they love each other and they want each other to do good,” Mahomes said. “So when you have that mindset as a whole room, you can have a lot of success.”
Coach Andy Reid has a slightly different take on all this. He looks at the old head in the room, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, and sees a glue guy, to use the basketball term.
“He’s a uniter, and he’s still a tough guy and all that bit that goes with it and a good receiver, and he’s been around,” Reid said. “I think he keeps it all together there.”