Arrowhead Report

EGE: What It Means for Chiefs and Why It’s Important

The Kansas City Chiefs acronym has shaped the locker-room culture this season.
Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) reacts with the fans after a touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) reacts with the fans after a touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UTEP’s college of business conducted a study that concluded NFL officials have favored the Chiefs over the past 10 years.

The university’s school of sociology and anthropology might want to handle the next study on the Chiefs. That’s because Kansas City has some of the most selfless wide receivers in the league. They even have their own acronym: EGE, Everybody Gotta Eat.

xavier worth
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) makes a catch for a touchdown against Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the first half at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“We know there’s one football,” Hollywood Brown said after Sunday’s 30-17 win over Detroit. “I mean, we got a lot of alphas in the room, and we understand, your week is different each week, but it don't change how you come to work. That don't change how you play. Play hard for each other and, EGE, everybody gotta eat.”

Everybody plus one

There’s another mouth to feed this week, with Rashee Rice fresh off his six-game suspension. But no one seems worried.

For the first and only time since the initial snap of the 2024 preseason, Patrick Mahomes will call a play with Brown, Rice and Xavier Worthy in the same huddle. Let’s just say he sees it as a good problem to have.

“I'm very excited,” Mahomes said, smiling. “I mean, I'll just leave it there.”

rashee ric
Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) runs the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Andy Reid isn’t worried, either. That’s because NFL rules allowed Rice to return to team activities, minus the practice field, three weeks ago. That’s also when Reid saw the offense turn up a notch, coinciding with Worthy’s return from a dislocated shoulder.

“Getting 1 back was a big thing,” Reid said Sunday, referring to Worthy’s number. “Xavier brings a lot of energy, and he can do a lot of things for you. And then he has an attitude there that he brings.

“And getting Rashee back in the building, I also think was a big part. I think they felt that they were whole again, at least as a body there. So, that was a positive.”

andy reid, matt nagy, patrick mahome
Oct 7, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) looks at plays with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, center, and head coach Andy Reid against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Contagious across the offense

Another positive is that no matter who’s eating a certain week, the others know they’ll get their turn. And it’s not simply limited to Brown, Rice and Worthy. While Brown leads the team with 30 catches, Travis Kelce is actually the team leader in receiving yards (321).

And Tyquan Thornton, who emerged while Worthy was allowing his shoulder to heal, leads the NFL with a 20.9 yards-per-catch average. Thornton didn’t even catch a pass on Sunday night. JuJu Smith-Schuster is a respected clutch target on third downs and in the red zone.

tyquan thornto
Sep 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) makes a catch against New York Giants cornerback Andru Phillips (22) in the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

“And they’ve got a good friendship,” Reid added Monday, “which will be needed now because we have more guys and we only have one football. You want them to help support each other and I think that ends up being important.

“JuJu has a big part in that. 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. I think he keeps it all together there.”

Meanwhile, Jason Brownlee cleared waivers on Tuesday. The Chiefs let him go to make room for Rice on the active roster. Brownlee is free to sign with any club and could return to the Chiefs as a practice-squad player as early as Wednesday.

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Zak Gilbert
ZAK GILBERT

Since his freshman year at the University of Colorado, Zak Gilbert has worked 30 years in sports, including 18 NFL seasons. He's spent time with four NFL teams, serving as head of communications for both the Raiders and Browns. A veteran of nine Super Bowls, he most recently worked six seasons in the NFL's New York league office. He now serves as the Kansas City Chiefs Beat Writer On SI

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