Tag: Best Defense Foundation

Previewing Chiefs’ Week 10 game vs. Broncos on Chiefs Wire Podcast

On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr’s chats w/ Donnie Edwards #DENvsKC

We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re celebrating Veteran’s Day Weekend ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs matchup with the Denver Broncos.

Senior Writer Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards about establishing the Best Defense Foundation and his reaction to being honored by the NFL with the Salute to Service award in 2019. Edwards earned All-Pro honors twice as a San Diego Charger and discussed how much he loved his time in Kansas City.

We check in with this past week’s press conferences, featuring comments from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on his plans to bring professional basketball to Kansas City. The reigning Super Bowl MVP explains his desire to own a potential WNBA team and inspire more emphasis on women’s professional sports.

In the latest exclusive conversation on the Chiefs Wire Podcast, Edwards opened up about his friendship with Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas and their relationship as teammates in the 1990s. He started his career in Kansas City and came up short in pursuit of a Super Bowl title.

This week’s opponents are the Denver Broncos, a team rising in the AFC West under rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Check out the link below to get your fill of Chiefs talk ahead of Sunday’s kickoff:

 

Former Chiefs LB Donnie Edwards reflects on beloved friend, teammate Derrick Thomas 

Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Donnie Edwards about his beloved friend and teammate, Kansas City #Chiefs legend Derrick Thomas. | @EdEastonJr

The legacy of Kansas City Chiefs defensive star Derrick Thomas is among the most legendary in NFL history. The effect that Thomas made on the game with his leadership is equally as impressive as the athletic ability that made him one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers of all time.

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards built strong bonds with his teammates throughout his thirteen seasons in the NFL, especially during two stints in Kansas City. Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Edwards about his friendship with Thomas and their relationship in the 1990s.

“He was special. He called me ‘surfer boy’. They call me surfer boy, everybody knows Derrick (Thomas) always had a nickname,” Edwards explained. “If you were friends with Derrick, he had a nickname for you, I’m telling you. He took me under his wing when I was a rookie. You know, California, call me California boy; it’s because I’m from California, UCLA, born and raised on the beach, and just different. Still, he and I connected for the years that we were together.

“The way that he was able to perform, and to see how he would switch his mentality on game day, like, go from a happy-go-lucky guy to a serious professional, like, it’s on now. I just like, wow, this is cool. So, from a young player, you’re watching all this, you’re watching Dan Saleaumua, you’re watching Neil Smith, you’re watching James Hasty, Like, I was watching all of these guys and learning from them, just [to] see how they operate, see what they do. It was really helpful, seeing how serious Derrick was about games and how he just turned it on.”

Thomas’ influence on a young Edwards didn’t end with their work on the field for the Chiefs. In the late 1990s, the linebackers built a friendship as teammates.

“The way that he worked and, we were friends off the field as well. He’d always come out to California. He always called me at the last minute, like, ‘Surfer boy, I’m coming to you right now, I’m at the airport’. I’m like, ‘It’s nine o’clock in the morning, I’m picking you up. Let’s go.’ So I [have got to] get dressed, and off we go. I miss him, and I miss his laugh. I miss his spunk and everything. He’s truly missed.”

To learn more about Donnie Edwards’ work with military veterans, visit the Best Defense Foundation’s website.

Donnie Edwards recalls the start of his career, Chiefs teams of the 1990s

#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Donnie Edwards about the start of his career in Kansas City and his pursuit of a Super Bowl title. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs of the 1990s went through many changes to remain competitive. The team had projections for the postseason and beyond each year but could not capture the elusive Super Bowl appearance.

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards was in many big games early in his first stint with the Chiefs throughout the late 1990s. Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Edwards about the start of his career in Kansas City and coming up short in his pursuit of a Super Bowl title.

“I remember my rookie year, it was mini camp,” Edwards began. “I’m standing next to a guy named Martin Bayless. Bayless was a safety. He played probably 13 years in the league. A big safety, but more importantly, Bayless had free football camps in San Diego. He used to play for the Chargers, and I was obviously part of his free football camp because we couldn’t afford to go to a football camp.

“It was pretty ironic to be standing next to him in the NFL, with the person responsible for helping me get to this point, and we’re looking at each other. He [looked] at me, he’s like, ‘I know you’, and he’s like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m getting old. You’re the first graduate who made it to the NFL as part of my free football camps’. That was amazing. You talk about someone paying it forward and giving other kids an opportunity.”

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The late 1990s Chiefs teams were loaded with talent, and Edwards admired his teammates, who made Kansas City a powerhouse in the AFC.

“Now it’s time to earn a starting spot and contribute to the team,” Edwards continued. “We had a great team in ’96 and ’97—the first tenure. I know ’96. I think we missed the playoffs by about one game at the end. It was disheartening, too, because the year before, ’95, the Chiefs went to the playoffs, and I believe they lost to Denver.

“Fast forward to ’97, that year we went 13-3. Elvis Grbac goes down. He breaks his collarbone. And then remember Rich Gannon comes in. And I think we win 12 games straight. We were rolling, and we had Spider-Man (Andre Rison). We had Greg Hill. We had Marcus Allen that year. I mean, we had a great team.”

The Chiefs lost great players due to tragedy, free agency, and retirement as time passed. The breakout season of 1997 ended unexpectedly at the hands of the eventual Super Champions, the Broncos.

“We’re gelling and, unfortunately, we had a bye in the playoffs,” Edwards said. “I think about this; it just puts a pit in my stomach. We lost 14 to 10 to the Broncos. We played them three times that year… Now that I’m retired, looking back to those years, I think that was the year I truly had the opportunity, and then in ’98. That was a challenging year. That was the last year [of] Marty Schottenheimer.”

Gunther Cunningham and Dick Vermeil would follow as head coaches until Edwards’ last season in 2001 for his first tenure in Kansas City.

To learn more about Donnie Edwards’ work with military veterans, visit the Best Defense Foundation’s website.

Former Chief Donnie Edwards: ‘I never wanted to leave Kansas City’

#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Donnie Edwards, who said that he didn’t want to leave Kansas City during his time in the NFL. | @EdEastonJr

The business of football changes the dynamics of every team in the NFL, and the Kansas City Chiefs have had their share of movement determined by front-office decisions.

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards earned All-Pro honors twice as a San Diego Charger, but told Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. about how much he loved his time in Kansas City.

“Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium, that’s my home,” Edwards explained. “There’s one Kansas City, which is my town. They adopted me when I was 22, 23 years old. They took me in, right? So they’re the ones that’s my foundation, right? And I tell you, I never wanted to leave. I never wanted to leave Kansas City. I just signed a new contract. But as I told you, when you have a new coach come in, they have a different mentality.

“Dick Vermeil came in, and he’s all about offense. So we have to take the money away from the defense and put it on the offense. These are things that you can’t control. But I never wanted to leave Kansas City. I want to make sure that it is known. I think everybody knew that because the city didn’t want me to leave; I didn’t want to leave, but it’s out of my control.”

From 1996 to 2001, Edwards was an impact player for the Chiefs, and after being unable to agree on a new contract, he was released, moving on to an AFC West rival.

“I got released and picked up by Marty Schottenheimer and the Chargers, who brought me in [in] 2002,” Edwards continued. “Being in the AFC West, I gotta face my team twice, and it’s one of these deals where you didn’t break up with the person, and they broke up with you. So, I didn’t stay in the relationship, but it wasn’t up to me because I got broken up with. It’s not a good feeling right now when you give it to me. I think all of us have been in relationships, but it’s not a good feeling.

“I’ll never forget going back to Arrowhead back in 2002. And I was a Charger, and I’ll never forget the honor that the fans of Kansas City gave me when I went back there because I know it doesn’t happen. I know how fans are for sure, especially if you leave, but I think there was a different feeling about what I’ve done in the community and the rapport I have with the fans at Kansas City.”

Before returning to Kansas City for the final two years of his career, Edwards had his best statistical seasons with the Chargers but always kept Chiefs Kingdom in mind.

“When I was with the Chargers, we beat the Chiefs, and I believe I got an interception at the end to seal it,” Edwards said. “After the game, I was in the shower, and someone told me, Hey, get out of the shower, get ready to get dressed. Someone wants to say hello to you. So I got dressed, and I went out there.

“The owner, Lamar Hunt, came to me and said hello and thank you for the years at Kansas City—just that respect. I will never forget that because here’s the team’s owner, and even, after a loss, come into the opponent’s locker room to shake my hand and say thank you. I will never forget that because that shows the quality of the organization of the Kansas City Chiefs, and it was very special.”

To learn more about Donnie Edwards’ work with military veterans, visit the Best Defense Foundation’s website.

Donnie Edwards describes intensity of NFL, praises Chiefs’ defense

#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Donnie Edwards about his mindset as a player and his thoughts on Kansas City’s defense. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs defense earned praise around the league for its role in the team’s run to Super Bowl LVIII.

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards was a versatile threat from the linebacker position throughout his career, playing more physically than his slight stature might suggest. Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Edwards about his mindset as a player and his thoughts on the current Chiefs defense.

“I just call myself a playmaker,” Edwards explained. “I’m not just happy about making a tackle. I want to strip the ball out. I want to strip the ball out, pick it up, and run for a touchdown, and I’m not happy about just getting an interception, I’m scoring. Let’s not just be happy with the status quo; you [have] got to sack. You [have] got to strip it out get to the end zone. I pride myself on being a playmaker. I tried to understand my position, but everybody else’s position was as well, especially on defense.

“I know everybody’s responsibility, and I study like crazy. I know what the offense is going to do. I can anticipate plays, so I was always around the ball so much. I mean, my tackle numbers are up there with the top five in solo tackles in the history of the game. I just always want to be by the ball, and I just always tell the guys I’m seeing here, see me at the ball because I’m gonna be there. I pride myself on being a playmaker.”

Edwards ended his playing career in 2009 as one of only eight players in NFL history to tally more than 20 interceptions and 20 sacks.

“Don’t talk about it, be about it, and don’t talk about what you’re going to do, just do it and show it,” Edwards continued. “I play the game with a chip on my shoulder for being undersized; I know they try to try me, especially when I’m playing linebacker, playing my hand at three-technique. Some teams think they can run the ball; they want to run the lead open right at me. ‘Let’s try number 59’ (Edwards). Well, come on, try; my game is this, right? I know they’re gonna do it.

“I see the formation. However they get to it, they motion, I know what it is. I see the guard looking down for the double team. I see the fullback looking up at me like that. I study and know what’s going on, so I anticipate that play. So guess what, it’s a blitz, and I’m coming right at you. I stop it, it’s done, they’re not gonna do it again. I play with a chip on my shoulder and try to understand and anticipate. I’ll call out plays when I see formations; I call it on defense. It’s part of understanding the game, studying, and being able to anticipate and make plays.”

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The Chiefs won last season’s Super Bowl, led by the incredible play from their defense that opened eyes around the league. The success on that side of the ball was a proud moment for Edwards following as a former player.

“[It] put a big smile on my face because I liked it back when I was with the Chiefs,” Edwards explained. “We had Marty-ball, right? So we had a defense, we had a really amazing defense, and the defense was a catalyst. It seems like that was the way last year; of course, the offense is with (Patrick) Mahomes and everybody there; I mean, of course, you’re scoring and making things happen, for sure. But… the defense was a stronghold, and it showed and just put a big smile on my face.

“I love the offense; I love it when games are three to nothing, and watching the defense this past year is just exciting. I mean, it made it exciting. They made it exciting to watch my defense, and they’re just continuing to get better and better. They made some additions, and it’s gonna continue to grow. That confidence that they’ve had this past year is just going to grow into this year.”

To learn more about Donnie Edwards’ work with military veterans, visit the Best Defense Foundation’s website.

Former Chiefs LB Donnie Edwards discusses Best Defense Foundation, military veterans

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former #Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards about the Best Defense Foundation and military veterans. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL have consistently supported the active military and veterans. Many players and coaches have strong ties through family, friends, and inspiration from the many who have sacrificed their lives for the United States of America.

Former Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards was known for his hard work on the football field for 13 seasons in the NFL. He has taken that mindset and utilized it to support military veterans.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Edwards about establishing the Best Defense Foundation and his reaction to being honored by the NFL with the Salute to Service award.

“I’ve always had an affinity for the military, having been born and raised here in San Diego. It’s a big military town. We have the big naval base and the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. All of my family served in the military,” Edwards explained. “More importantly, my grandfather, Maximino Razo, is a Native American who served in the 25th Infantry Division and is a Pearl Harbor survivor. He’s the one who set the foundation for me here in this country; he always told me you can achieve anything in this country if you want to, you work hard, go after, it doesn’t matter where you come from, there’s tremendous opportunity in this country, and go after it.

“I never lost sight of that. [I am the] first one of my generation, out of 11 kids, to go on to college, let alone get a master’s degree from UCLA, and go on and play 13 years in the NFL. It changed my life tremendously; I’m just one small example of living the American dream. I realized that’s on the backs of the serving men and women, and I want to do my part, serve, give back, and say thank you. Thank you for giving this kid right here an opportunity to live the American dream.”

Edwards created the Best Defense Foundation in 2018 to honor and celebrate war veterans.

“I’ve been doing a bunch of stuff with the military over the years. I’ve done 11 USO tours around the world from Afghanistan to Okinawa, Djibouti, and Nigeria,” Edwards told Easton Jr. “I mean, all over Jordan, Turkey. Visiting our troops to tell them thank you, that we don’t forget about you, want to make sure that we can give a little piece of home back to them and talk football and talk Chiefs football and all that kind of good stuff.”

Said Edwards:

“Back in 2003, I was talking to some World War II veterans. This is when they’re in their early 80s. They spoke of returning to Normandy to their battlefield, and I said, ‘Really, do you want to go back?’ and they said, ‘Absolutely. I want to see what we did.’ I said, ‘Why don’t you go back?’ They said, ‘Oh, I’m too old. I don’t have the money.’ Then it came to me, and I was still playing football at the time. I said, ‘Well, let’s go, I’ll take you.’ So that’s how we started from a simple coffee conversation about returning to Normandy. With a few World War Two veterans, I think we took four or five World War Two veterans back in 2006. That was my first time taking veterans back. Then, it blossomed into this big program of having this incredible charter with Delta Airlines and supporting partners with Michelin and Boeing to help facilitate bringing 50 World War II veterans back to Normandy for the 80th anniversary. It just warms my heart to give our greatest generation this incredible opportunity of closure, camaraderie, and brotherhood.”

In 2019, Edwards was honored with the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, which recognizes his service and sacrifice in support of our military through partnerships, grants, and recognition of service members, veterans, and their families.

“This is really special. It’s a great reminder to service and, overall, the years of giving back to our military, and, of course, no one does it for the recognition at all; you do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Edwards said. “It’s always nice to be recognized for what you’ve done. This is a testament to all those that give back, to our military, because they’re the ones who give kids like me an opportunity to play football. There’s no playing football in America, and having a life that I have, that wasn’t for all of those that serve. So this is a reminder of people given to me and for me to give back to them. It’s a mutual relationship, and it’s truly an honor that I don’t take lightly.”

To learn more, visit the Best Defense Foundation’s website