Kansas City Chiefs Embracing ‘New Season’ Mentality Despite Being Champions

The Kansas City Chiefs are slated to receive their championship rings on Thursday, which comes over four months after the franchise's Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles. While some players are undoubtedly excited to enjoy the moment and officially get crowned as the kings of the 2022-23 NFL season, a common theme has been established during Phase Three of the club's offseason program: moving forward.

Coming off their second Super Bowl win of the Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes era, Kansas City is attempting to become just the eighth franchise (and the ninth year-specific team, when including the Pittsburgh Steelers' two separate runs) to win back-to-back Super Bowls. The franchise's "Run it Back" campaign in the 2020-21 season ultimately fell short in embarrassing fashion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and there's far too much time between now and next February to count the Chiefs' effort here as successful. During mandatory minicamp, though, players are hard at work attempting to form a solid foundation.

Taking the podium on Wednesday afternoon, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was asked about how the Chiefs' coaching staff pushes players to elevate after reaching the highest of highs just one season ago. Valdes-Scantling, a veteran who made a significant impact in his first season with Kansas City, credited Reid as the person responsible for the club's mindset. Focused on working towards something new instead of looking back at what's already been done, the wideout says Reid is as steady as they come.

“I think it starts with our head man," Valdes-Scantling said. "I mean he’s the same guy every single day no matter win, lose, draw, Super Bowl, no playoffs, whatever. He’s going to be the same person and his level of standard that he expects us to play at every day is going to stay the same. I think that’s what makes him the best coach to ever do this thing. And so having a guy like that lead the show every single day and never get too high, never get too low. He’s always the same guy standing at practice making sure everything goes right, making sure we finish and making sure everything is good on our end. You know, I think that’s the standard that he holds for us, and it just trickles down to everybody below.”

2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore, who worked with Valdes-Scantling on a near-daily basis as a rookie, had a first year filled with ups and downs. Citing fluctuating confidence and the difficulty of learning the ins and outs of Reid's offense and what Mahomes wanted him to do on the field, Moore said he feels much better prepared coming into his second year as a pro. He knew very early on that he was working in a championship-level culture but now that he's had the experience of what it's like to make plays in the Super Bowl and emerge victorious, he said he's fully immersed in keeping that mentality fresh.

“Absolutely," Moore said. "Yeah, I noticed that as soon as I got here though. I knew I was working with champions as a rookie but now it’s like, I am a champion. So, I feel like I’ve molded myself into the culture that was set here. So, I feel like I’ve done a good job in, you know, adapting to the culture we’ve got going on here.”

Left guard Joe Thuney, who is entering his eighth season in the league and will turn 31 in November, has a rare advantage. Thuney is a three-time champion, and two of those wins were with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. He's witnessed firsthand with two separate organizations what it's like to win at the highest level, and he said there isn't a big difference between the two franchises when it comes to how they run their offseason programs and what level of performance they expect. Reid and Bill Belichick are two of the greatest coaches ever, and Thuney has worked closely with both of them. He's also been teammates with historically talented competitors — Brady and Mahomes — who have equally impressive mental strengths.

The Chiefs know that nothing will be handed to them this coming season and that everything will be earned. The entire NFL is going to give Kansas City its best shot possible every week, which requires the reigning champions to be on top of things consistently. Thuney says the entire team has been excited throughout the early and middle stages of the offseason, and that's largely because it's a new season and a long-term goal is at the forefront of their minds.

“Yeah, it is a special group and what a special season it was," Thuney said. "But I think, credit to Coach Reid and Patrick, everyone is coming out focused, ready to go each day. Realizing that it’s a new season — it’s 2023, we haven’t really done anything yet. So, we’ve got to prepare. Everyone is 0-0 at this point. Just a credit to the guys, everyone’s coming out to work hard.”

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