The Legacy of Alex Smith: The Key to the Chiefs’ Success
April 27, 2017 marked a before and after for the Kansas City Chiefs. That day, after a trade with the Buffalo Bills, they moved up 17 spots in the draft to select Patrick Mahomes with the tenth pick. But the real story began days before.
Coach Andy Reid informed then-starting quarterback Alex Smith that the team had dedicated a lot of time to identifying and recruiting a specific quarterback. The surprise for Smith was the magnitude of the move to get Mahomes, indicating that his time in Kansas City might be coming to an end.
“I didn’t go to Alex and say, ‘Hey, are you going to teach this guy who’s going to take your job?’” Reid commented. “It didn’t work that way. I told him, ‘Don’t worry about that guy. Just have your best year.’”
Andy Reid
Smith’s decision to mentor Mahomes, even though his growth would mean the end of his time with the Chiefs, was key. Since Mahomes became the starter in 2018, the Chiefs have dominated the league, reaching five of the last six Super Bowls and winning three. Mahomes became a two-time MVP and a three-time Super Bowl MVP.
Smith’s selfless approach to Mahomes, according to teammates and staff, established a culture of support between veterans and rookies, which has been maintained over the years. Players like Anthony Hitchens, Joe Thuney, L’Jarius Sneed, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, among others, replicated this model, facilitating the adaptation and development of young talents.
When the Chiefs face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, they will be looking for another Super Bowl, a realistic goal that, according to many in the organization, might not have been achieved without Smith’s example.
“I promised Mahomes I would never undermine him,” Smith said.Alex Smith dispuesto a guiar a Patrick Mahomes en su camino como quarterback de la NFL.Smith, at the beginning of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, learned to analyze his performances and study opposing defenses, creating a routine that helped him improve. Twelve years later, with the Chiefs, he shared his knowledge with Mahomes, inviting him to the video room to study together.
Mahomes learned from Smith how to process defense information before and after the snap, and why he made certain decisions within Reid’s scheme. Smith had specific video sessions for each day of the week, focusing on red zones, third-down plays, long passes, and opponent blitzes.
Mahomes acknowledges that Smith taught him a fundamental lesson: before the defense tests him, he must have answers. “Sometimes you see rookie quarterbacks in situations where they don’t have answers. You have to have a plan of ‘if it’s not there, where am I going to go and how will I avoid a negative play?’ That’s what I learned from Alex,” Mahomes said.Patrick Mahomes aprendió mucho bajo la tutela de Alex Smith.Jaden Hicks is a recent example of how a young player prepares for an important role thanks to the guidance of a veteran. The second-year safety learned from Justin Reid, who prepared him to take on his role in the Chiefs’ secondary.
Reid, knowing that Hicks would replace him, shared his knowledge. The two players maintain a close relationship and support each other, even after Reid joined the New Orleans Saints.
The Chiefs’ defense has been an example of how knowledge is passed down from one generation to another. When Steve Spagnuolo arrived as defensive coordinator in 2019, he relied on veterans. However, in 2021, with the arrival of linebacker Nick Bolton, veteran Anthony Hitchens shared all his knowledge with the rookie.
The following year, Bolton took on a more important role and replicated this practice with linebacker Leo Chenal. This culture, fostered by coach Andy Reid and Spagnuolo, has been key to the team’s success.
In the 2022 draft, the Chiefs selected seven defensive players, who were supported by veterans like Bolton and Justin Reid. They all contributed to winning the Super Bowl that same year.
George Karlaftis, who is in his fourth year, is already mentoring rookies, following the example of veterans like Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap.George Karlaftis, mentor de los novatos.The Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy, has seen three versions of Mahomes over the years. In 2017, during Mahomes’ rookie season, Nagy witnessed Smith sharing advice with his protégé. In 2022, upon returning to Kansas City, Nagy was impressed by Mahomes’ evolution.
This year, Nagy observes Mahomes as a leader, a communicator who provides instant feedback to his teammates. Mahomes is a link between the players and the coaches, and he has lieutenants in the locker room, meeting rooms, and training camp, such as Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster, a veteran, has helped in the development of young receivers like Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Hollywood Brown. Kelce, for his part, has been key in the development of players like Tyquan Thornton and Robert Tonyan. Rice, Mahomes’ star receiver, learned from Kelce the importance of thinking like a quarterback.
Rice, who is about to return after a suspension, will continue his learning with Kelce, who could be in his last season.
