Latest news with #Smith-Schuster
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster talks offseason workouts: ‘You get a feel for everyone'
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster talks offseason workouts: 'You get a feel for everyone' Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster spoke to reporters virtually on Tuesday about the importance of off-season workouts with teammates ahead of a new season. "When you start off in OTAs, you build that relationship with your new teammates, the coaches," said Smith-Schuster. "You get a feel for everyone on this journey. I feel like that (at) OTAs, into camp, everything that builds up, the scars, the bruises you're going through throughout training camp, know what it takes. Last year, I didn't get to experience that." Smith-Schuster was a member of the 2022 Super Bowl-winning roster before leaving in 2023 for the New England Patriots and eventually returning to Kansas City last season. He missed OTAs and training camp with the Chiefs because he was signed shortly before the start of the 2024 season. The former 2018 Pro Bowler ended the 2024 season with 18 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns in fourteen games (eight starts). Smith-Schuster also revealed that he is one of the many Chiefs players participating in Patrick Mahomes' Texas throwing sessions this spring.
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster sports new purple hair during offseason press conference
Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster sports new purple hair during offseason press conference The Kansas City Chiefs host some big personalities in their receiving corps, and may soon add another pass-catcher to the mix in the 2025 NFL draft later this week. On Tuesday, veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster addressed the media after re-signing with Kansas City last month. During his comments to reporters on Zoom, Smith-Schuster was seen sporting a new purple hairstyle that may prove to be a hit with Chiefs fans. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes also changed his signature hairdo after Super Bowl LIX, so Smith-Schuster's new look is just the latest in what seems to be a developing trend among Kansas City's players in the offseason. Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports posted a picture of Smith-Schuster's bold fashion statement in a post to Twitter: Smith-Schuster has grown a massive following on social media over the years and is no stranger to pushing the envelope with his signature fashion sense. Stay tuned to see if any other Chiefs players will decide to mix up their look after Kansas City's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
JuJu Smith-Schuster aims for another Super Bowl appearance with Chiefs
JuJu Smith-Schuster aims for another Super Bowl appearance with Chiefs JuJu Smith-Schuster makes a wise decision for his NFL career JuJu Smith-Schuster is a young athlete who has played several NFL seasons. Bouncing around the league from one team to another, JuJu has seen pro football from several different vantage points. He has been in good organizations, bad ones, and transitional outfits. After enough years of experience in a cutthroat environment, it seems Smith-Schuster finally realizes where he should be. Crucially, he seems to grasp that a little less money on a much better fit is a good tradeoff for him. Smith-Schuster signed a deal earlier this week with the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs. He has played in multiple Super Bowls in Kansas City. He fits well with the team. His career has been enhanced by his time as a Chief. He put two and two together and accurately concluded he should stay with a winning team and the best quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes. Chiefs Wire has more: "The veteran receiver returns for another season in Kansas City after proving his reliability on the field when healthy and essential qualities in the locker room. Smith-Schuster was a 2022 Super Bowl-winning roster member before leaving in 2023 for the New England Patriots and eventually returning to Kansas City in 2024. Smith-Schuster's best performance during the 2024 season was in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, recording seven catches for 130 yards. The 28-year-old contributed well in the postseason with clutch catches in the AFC Championship game victory over the Buffalo Bills, averaging 30 yards on two receptions."
New York Times
17-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Kansas City Chiefs 2025 free agency tracker: Gardner Minshew in, Derrick Nnadi out
Follow every signing and trade with The Athletic's live coverage of 2025 NFL free agency A month ago, the Kansas City Chiefs' second era with quarterback Patrick Mahomes ended. When the Chiefs finished their 2024 season with an embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, their pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive championship was denied and a sizable number of players performed their final snap in a Chiefs uniform. The first era with Mahomes ended in March 2022 when general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid traded receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft picks. This offseason has the potential to be seismic, with March bringing the first moves of the Chiefs' next era. Advertisement The leaders of the franchise — club owner Clark Hunt, Reid and Veach — will once again have to make difficult decisions to sustain the team's success. Observing and analyzing the newcomers the Chiefs target and acquire in free agency should be rather intriguing, both regarding the upcoming season and how those veterans can better shape the team's plan for the upcoming draft. This tracker will be updated as roster moves are made, so check back often. P Matt Araiza (re-signed): One-year deal LB Nick Bolton (re-signed): Three-year, $45 million deal ($30 million guaranteed) WR Marquise Brown (re-signed): One-year deal G Mike Caliendo (re-signed): One-year deal CB Kristian Fulton (free agent): Two-year, $20 million deal ($15 million guaranteed) RB Kareem Hunt (re-signed): One-year deal worth up to $2.5 million QB Gardner Minshew (free agent): One-year deal RB Elijah Mitchell (free agent): One-year deal worth up to $3.5 million OT Jaylon Moore (free agent): Two-year deal worth $30 million ($21.2 million guaranteed) WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (re-signed): One-year deal DL Jerry Tillery (free agent): One-year deal LS James Winchester (re-signed): One-year, $1.65 million guaranteed deal Edge Charles Omenihu (No. 124) OT D.J. Humphries (No. 145) March 16: Nnadi, a seven-year veteran, agreed to join the Jets on a one-year deal. Nnadi is expected to earn close to the veteran minimum ($1.255 million). Before his departure, Nnadi was the last remaining member of the Chiefs' 2018 draft class, the first class under Veach. Nnadi played in every game last season, but his role was significantly reduced. Other veterans, Tershawn Wharton and Mike Pennel, surpassed Nnadi on the depth chart. He finished last season with just 11 tackles. Advertisement March 15: Smith-Schuster and the Chiefs agreed to another one-year contract with him expected to earn at or just above the veteran minimum ($1.255 million). After being released by the Patriots in early August, Smith-Schuster rejoined the Chiefs a couple of weeks later, providing stability at receiver. In a win over the New Orleans Saints, Smith-Schuster had seven receptions for 130 yards. Smith-Schuster was impactful in the postseason, too, as he generated 60 yards in the Chiefs' victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. In essence, the Chiefs selected to re-sign Smith-Schuster, 28, over fellow veteran receivers DeAndre Hopkins (32) and Justin Watson (who will be 29 in April). March 14: Tillery, 28, agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Tillery is expected to earn about $2.5 million. A former first-round pick in 2019, Tillery is expected to have an opportunity to play plenty of snaps next to pass rusher Chris Jones on the interior of the Chiefs' defensive line. Last season, Tillery was a strong run defender for the Vikings, recording 28 tackles, three quarterback hits, two pass deflections and one forced fumble. Before this move, the Chiefs had only one player who could line up at defensive tackle: Jones. In certain situations, Tillery does offer the flexibility to play at the defensive end position, a versatility trait the Chiefs covet. March 14: The Chiefs and running back Kareem Hunt agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million in base salary and up to $2.5 million through incentives, according to a team source. Hunt started eight games for the Chiefs in 2024, leading the team in carries (200), rushing yards (728) and rushing touchdowns (seven). Hunt, who turns 30 in August, is still an effective power back. On top of posting a career-high 55.5 percent success rate in 2024, six of Hunt's seven rushing touchdowns came within 5 yards of the end zone. The Chiefs now have a better projected backfield than they had this time last year, with Pacheco as the starter, Hunt as the primary backup and Elijah Mitchell as the third-down back. March 13: Once again, Patrick Mahomes has a new backup. The Chiefs added veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew, who played for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Minshew, 28, agreed to a one-year deal, according to a source. He could make close to the veteran's minimum since the Raiders still owe him $3.2 million. The Raiders released Minshew on March 12 with a failed physical designation. Advertisement The Chiefs believe Minshew is an upgrade over Carson Wentz. Minshew, who began last season as the Raiders' starter, recorded 2,013 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in late November. March 11: Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins agreed to join the Baltimore Ravens, one of the Chiefs' top AFC rivals, on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to a league source. Hopkins joined the Chiefs midway through last season via trade from the Tennessee Titans and made an immediate impact that helped the team secure the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed, which included home-field advantage. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Hopkins didn't contribute much in the postseason, as he recorded just three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown. March 11: Safety Justin Reid agreed to terms on a three-year, $31.5 million deal, including $22.25 million guaranteed, to join the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately for Reid, he wasn't part of the Chiefs' plans for the 2025 season. The good news for Reid is that he's returning to his home state, where he'll play alongside safety Tyrann Mathieu, the player he replaced on the Chiefs' roster in 2022. Reid is one of the best free-agent signings that Veach has made since becoming the Chiefs' general manager in 2017. In three years with the Chiefs, Reid started 59 of 61 possible games, including the postseason, and he recorded a combined 23 pass breakups, four sacks and three interceptions. Without Reid, the Chiefs will move forward with three young safeties in Byran Cook, Jaden Hicks and Chamarri Conner. March 11: The Chiefs added a veteran cornerback, agreeing to sign Kristian Fulton to a two-year contract, according to a league source. Fulton, 27, was the No. 8 cornerback in The Athletic's NFL free-agency rankings and No. 69 overall. The Chiefs and Fulton agreed to a two-year contract worth $20 million, including $15 million guaranteed, according to a league source. Entering the offseason, general manager Brett Veach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo felt the team needed to acquire another quality cornerback to play alongside second-team All-Pro Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Fulton gives Spagnuolo another cornerback who offers versatility and had the best season of his five-year career last year. With Fulton and Watson projected to be on the perimeter, McDuffie can return to his natural position as the nickel defender, a role he excelled in during the 2023 season. March 10: Winchester, the Chiefs' oldest player at 35 years old, reportedly will return to the roster on a one-year, $1.65 million fully guaranteed contract. Similar to tight end Travis Kelce, the 2025 season could be the last of Winchester's 10-year career. The Chiefs have never had issues with Winchester's production, so re-signing him keeps the special teams' trio, including kicker Harrison Butker and punter Matt Araiza, intact. Including postseason games, Winchester has played in all 189 games since he joined the Chiefs in 2015. Advertisement March 10: Wharton is heading to Carolina on a three-year, $45 million deal. Incentives could push the deal past $54 million. Last year, Wharton returned to the Chiefs on a one-year deal to be a part of the team's pursuit for a three-peat and to improve his reputation in the league. Although the Chiefs fell short of their goal, Wharton had the best season of his five-year career. He generated 8 1/2 sacks, including the postseason. Wharton is projected to be a starter in Carolina, which he wasn't in Kansas City. His new contract with the Panthers is another example of how he has overachieved since he entered the league in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. March 10: Watson was about as reliable a No. 4 receiver as you could have in the league. Watson joined the Chiefs in 2022, and his speed helped the team field one of the most potent offenses in the league. But since then, Watson's contributions began to diminish as the Chiefs acquired younger players at the position with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs could select another receiver in this year's draft, so re-signing Watson wasn't one of Veach's priorities. Similar to other veterans, Watson's contributions helped the Chiefs reach three consecutive Super Bowls. March 10: The Chiefs agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million with former 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell. Mitchell missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, so the Chiefs must feel confident that he is fully healthy and can be a nice role player in 2025. Mitchell could be a quality change-of-pace back for the Chiefs to complement starter Isiah Pacheco, who will also look to return to form after further recovering from the broken fibula in his right leg that he suffered early last season. Mitchell has nice speed and good hands, so his natural fit might be as a third-down back. It's also possible that Veach creates competition at the position by re-signing Kareem Hunt and selecting a prospect early in the upcoming draft. March 10: The Chiefs acquired their new left tackle, agreeing to a two-year contract worth more than $30 million with $21.2 million guaranteed with former 49ers offensive lineman Jaylon Moore, according to a league source. Moore, 27, was the No. 8 offensive tackle in The Athletic's NFL free-agency rankings and No. 105 overall. The Chiefs need to find a long-term solution at left tackle. This deal gives Moore, who played the past four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, the opportunity to prove he can be a reliable pass protector for Mahomes, who will be 30 years old in September. The last step for the Chiefs on the offensive line is to sign right guard Trey Smith to a long-term deal. March 9: The Chiefs agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with linebacker Nick Bolton that includes $30 million guaranteed, per a league source. Bolton, 24, was the No. 29 overall free agent and the No. 3 linebacker in The Athletic's free-agency rankings. Bolton, a key player in the middle of the Kansas City defense, has recorded more than 100 tackles in all but one of his four NFL seasons. He is the second major free agent the Chiefs kept off the market this month, along with guard Trey Smith, whom they placed the franchise tag on. Advertisement March 8: This was always the plan for both parties. Before his shoulder injury, Brown had an excellent training camp, as he was quickly able to build a strong connection with Mahomes. The Chiefs and Brown agreed to another one-year deal similar to the one they signed last spring. With Brown back on the roster, Mahomes will have the same top four passing options he had a year ago: Brown, tight end Travis Kelce and younger receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs hope Brown can be a reliable, productive player who can generate 800 yards or more. March 7: Even before free agency began, the Chiefs made an easy decision to place the exclusive-rights tender on Caliendo, who will enter his third season. Caliendo made major improvements last season and demonstrated he can be a reliable backup player, as he started three games in late December and was part of the Chiefs' final offensive line group in the postseason once Joe Thuney, the All-Pro left guard, moved to left tackle. With Thuney traded to Chicago, Kingsley Suamataia, the 2024 second-round pick, is the projected starting left guard. Caliendo is expected to be the primary backup to Suamataia and Smith at right guard. March 7: Another no-brainer decision for the Chiefs was to place the exclusive-rights tender on Araiza. A rookie last year, Araiza showed off his powerful leg, averaging 48.8 yards per punt. He was also pretty good as the holder for kicker Harrison Butker, a role he didn't play often in college. The objective for Araiza as a sophomore is pretty simple: He must develop the necessary touch to become a Pro Bowl-caliber player. The Chiefs will be pleased in 2025 if Araiza exceeds the 25 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line in 2024. March 5: The Chiefs knew they had to get younger — and more affordable — at one of their interior positions on the offensive line. Thuney was the oldest member of the Chiefs' line, which for the past three years was known to have the best interior trio in the league alongside center Creed Humphrey and Smith. By trading Thuney to the Bears, the Chiefs cleared $16 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. That should help them re-sign Smith to a multiyear extension, likely a four- or five-year deal. The Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Smith, a Pro Bowler who is 25 years old, to prevent him from reaching free agency.
NBC Sports
15-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
JuJu Smith-Schuster to re-sign with Chiefs on one-year deal
JuJu Smith-Schuster is sticking with Kansas City. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, Smith-Schuster is re-signing with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. Smith-Schuster, 28, rejoined Kansas City in late August after he was released by New England. He ended up appearing in 14 games with eight starts, catching 18 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns in 2024. He then caught four passes for 76 yards in three postseason games. Smith-Schuster previously won Super Bowl LVII with Kansas City to cap the 2022 season. In eight seasons for the Steelers, Chiefs, and Patriots, Smith-Schuster has caught 448 passes for 5,279 yards with 32 TDs.
