Tag: defensive back

Third-year Chiefs CB impressed coaches during second career start: ‘He did a nice job’

Kansas City #Chiefs cornerback Nazeeh Johnson impressed coaches during second career start: ‘He did a nice job’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have been hard hit with injuries on both sides of the ball this season but remain undefeated through nine games. Young players like Nazeeh Johnson have stepped up to help the team thrive through injury hardships.

Johnson recorded his first career sack in his second career start in last Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged his career game during the postgame press conference.

“I’m going to give credit to Nazeeh (Johnson) because Nazeeh never gets any credit – for leading the team in tackles,” said Reid. “he did a nice job there.”

Johnson finished his productive game by leading the team with ten tackles (six solo), including one for loss and one quarterback pressure. Week 10 marked his first double-digit tackle performance as the former 2022 NFL Draft seventh-round selection admirably fills in for injured starter Jaylen Watson.

Kansas City remains undefeated at 9-0 this season, becoming the fifth reigning Super Bowl champion to win its first nine games. They join the 2011 Green Bay Packers, 1998 Denver Broncos, 2015 New England Patriots, and 1990 San Francisco 49ers.

Chiefs Dave Merritt reveals his thoughts on third-year defensive back: ‘I trust him’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt reveals his thoughts on Joshua Williams: ‘I trust him’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt opened up about the status of cornerback Joshua Williams during Friday’s press conference.

“When Jaylen Watson was playing a lot, I told Josh (Williams), ‘Stay ready. Your time is going to come.'” said Merritt. “Sure enough, it definitely came, in a way that we (didn’t expect) it to come, but Josh is one of those young men who works better when you give them more reps in practice, probably 90% of our locker room. Once you give them more reps and they get more comfortable, they can go out and execute what we’re asking them to do.”

Williams has shared time with teammate Nazeeh Johnson, who is replacing the injured Watson. The former Fayetteville State standout has gotten extra reps while Johnson recovers from his concussion. Merritt reminded reporters of Williams stepping in admirably during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

“You guys remember when he went in the game for LJ (L’Jarius) Sneed, Cincinnati (Bengals) game after what four or five plays?” said Merritt. “The kid continued to play well through the rest of the Super Bowl runs. So, two years of experience, postseason, the kid has been in there, so I’m not going to skip a beat. I trust him, and I believe that he’s going to do well.”

The Week 9 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is another opportunity for Williams to prove he can handle the starting role.

Chiefs DB Jaden Hicks explains the failed fake punt attempt vs. 49ers: ‘That didn’t work out’ 

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive back Jaden Hicks explains the failed fake punt attempt vs. the San Francisco #49ers: ‘That didn’t work out’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs rookie defensive back Jaden Hicks addressed with reporters on Wednesday the failed fake punt attempt against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7.

“Yeah. So throughout the week, we’ve been planning if it was a fourth and one, then we’re gonna run that fake,” said Hicks. “So the fourth and one came, and we decided to run it, but they clogged up the middle pretty much. And so, yeah, that didn’t work out too good.”

Hicks was unable to get any push when he received the ball on the fake and was immediately smothered by 49ers defenders. The turnover on downs occurred in the first quarter, stalling Kansas City’s drive.

“As soon as he said, it like, we’re running deep, that play, and I’m like, okay, so we had to get it,” said Hicks. “yeah, just seeing everything was closed up in the middle, that’s where the play was designed.”

The rookie redeemed himself with a clutch interception and was one of three on the day against Brock Purdy. The young defensive back continues to earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Mark McMillian praises the Chiefs’ stars who have fueled recent success

Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former #Chiefs defensive back Mark McMillian about his thoughts on Kansas City’s budding dynasty. | w/ @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are on a unique run of success that they hope will continue this season with a third consecutive Super Bowl title.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Kansas City defensive back Mark McMillian about his upcoming appearance at the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar on October 26 and 27 in Las Vegas and his thoughts on the current Chiefs dynasty.

“[I] came up with a concept, obviously, playing with the Chiefs, you know how big their fan base is across the country, especially here in Las Vegas,” McMillian said of the event. “I partnered up with Flanker before during the Super Bowl, and they used my barbecue spices and barbecue sauce, and the chef really loved the concept.

“I think we fed probably like 200 to 300 people, and then with football season, being around me, living here in Vegas, we just wanted to come up with a cool concept that we can have myself, Danan Hughes, come in and meet and greet and just try to enjoy the fans and the Chiefs on the road.”

The Chiefs have enjoyed three Super Bowl victories since the 2019 season and are focused on a three-peat this year. McMillian believes Kansas City will succeed more if they keep their core together.

“It was an unbelievable run from the Hunt family, from the top on down,” McMillian explained. “[They gave] these guys all the resources they could to be successful; obviously, Andy Reid is a Hall of Famer in the making. He could just walk into Canton right now and get his gold jacket. Obviously, having the franchise quarterback Patrick Mahones and Travis Kelce are the two main guys who’ve been there for the long haul with Andy.

“They continue to surround Patrick with guys, and he makes them better. It’s unbelievable what they’re able to do and able to accomplish. They’re still going, and they’re not done yet. So as long as you got number 15 throwing the rock, man, you got a chance to win many football games and Super Bowls.”

For more information on the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, log on to flankerlv.com

Mark McMillian reflects on Chiefs tenure, transition to broadcasting career

Ed Easton Jr. spoke to retired defensive back Mark McMillian about his tenure with the #Chiefs and his post-football broadcasting career. | w/ @EdEastonJr

The many notable players who have worn the Kansas City Chiefs’ uniform in their careers all carry fond memories of their tenure with the team, regardless of whether it ended with a Super Bowl title.

This week, Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Chiefs defensive back Mark McMillian about his upcoming appearance at the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar on October 26 and 27 in Las Vegas, his tenure in Kansas City, and his eventual broadcasting career after retirement.

“It means the world as players, we don’t get a chance to interact with the fans or tailgate with the fans, so being able to be still appreciated for the work that you put in and be able to mingle with the fans that paid their hard-earned money to come out and watch us play and run around and do the good and the bad,” said McMillian. “Those fans were through tough times, weather, storms, snow. So it’s just… I’m just always appreciative, especially [for] people that follow my career.

“Knowing my status and my story of not even supposed to be in that position, and to be able to have a nice little eight-year career and finish it off—playing under Marty Schottenheimer and playing with Derrick Thomas. Those names stick out: Marcus Allen and Andre Rison. The list goes on with the guys that have the opportunity to play for and play with, and being able to come back to Vegas and Raider country and host the Kingdom Tailgate is pretty special.”

McMillian played two seasons in Kansas City. In 1997, he led the NFL in interception return yards and was tied for second place with eight interceptions. He continued to reflect on his time with the Chiefs.

“Running out of the tunnel, hearing the fans, seeing how passionate they are about their football playing with Rich Gannon, I was a kid that wasn’t even supposed to be in that position,” said McMillian. “Here I am, running out of the tunnel with the likes of Dale Carter and James Hasty, some really good names, and so many memories there.

“Breaking Emmett Thomas’s record for interception yardage was a little highlight, and it tied for the league and the NFL with interceptions, leading the league with touchdown returns. There are just so many great memories of playing in Kansas City. Man, I can’t mention just one.”

After eight seasons in the NFL, McMillian took his talents to the broadcasting world. He currently serves as a pregame host for CBS, covering the rival Las Vegas Raiders.

“I went to school for broadcasting, so that was my major,” McMillian explained. “So, many people are like, ‘Hey, how did you get into it? How are you so good?’ I’ve been broadcasting in Alabama since 1991-1992. In my rookie year in Philadelphia, we had a show called ‘The Little Big Man Show,’ for which I won an Emmy Award. So I’ve been, I’ve been doing TV for a while, but the transition is great, obviously, you know, here with CBS doing a Raiders Pregame Live show, it’s a little difficult.

“It’s not like being a radio or TV host in Kansas City, where you’re winning. It’s a little tougher, but I love it. I love to break down about the game. Give the fans an insight into what I see as to what they see on TV. And it justifies what I talked about because I played the game at a high level.”

https://www.instagram.com/mcmillian29/reel/DAoJZmXPWTE/?hl=en

For more information on the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, log on to flankerlv.com

Chiefs DB Justin Reid discusses the challenge of stopping George Kittle: ‘A fun guy to go against’

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive back Justin Reid discusses the challenge of stopping George Kittle: ‘A fun guy to go against’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid has never been shy about covering the best offensive players in the league. He prides himself on these matchups as he approaches this Sunday’s game against George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers.

Reid shared his thoughts on facing Kittle again during Thursday’s press conference.

“Oh, Huge challenge. All around tight end. I mean, him (George Kittle) and (Travis) Kelce are like the two best in the business, but he does it all.” said Reid. “He runs vertical routes, runs pivot routes, Big Red Zone target. Very comfortable guy for Brock Purdy to throw to great hands and a willing blocker. Sure, everyone’s seen the tapes of him blocking guys. Loves to get down and dirty, but just a fun guy to go against and for me, those are the type of challenges that you want as a guy that covers tight ends, is to go against guys like that and see where you step up.”

Kittle has a reputation for trash-talking during games, and Reid embraces the back-and-forth moments as both sides play mind games to gain a competitive advantage.

“Yeah, I mean, it makes it a little more fun,” said Reid. “the more years you get into it. But it’s always very friendly at the end of it.”

The Chiefs’ secondary got the best of Kittle during the Super Bowl, so there will be extra motivation to head into Sunday’s showdown.

Ex-Chiefs DB Mark McMillian talks ‘Mighty Mouse’ nickname, Gordon Ramsay experience

Ex-Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Mark McMillian explains his ‘Mighty Mouse’ nickname, Gordon Ramsay experience | w/ @EdEastonJr

Many NFL players thrive in professions unrelated to the game of football when they retire, and the Kansas City Chiefs have seen several such athletes come through the franchise over the years.

This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to one of the unsung heroes of Kansas City’s swarming secondaries in the 1990s, former Chiefs cornerback Mark McMillian.

In his interview with Easton Jr., McMillian opened up about his upcoming appearance at the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar on October 26 and 27 in Las Vegas, his ‘Grill’n McMillian’ franchise, the ‘Mighty Mouse’ nickname he earned in the NFL, and the experience he had working under Gordon Ramsay on ‘Next Level Chef.’

“I started ‘Grill’n McMillian‘; I’ve been in business for four years and have been selling my spices here in Arizona, Las Vegas, and Hy-Vee in Kansas City,” McMillian said. “So just excited for this opportunity to be able to give back and for everybody to enjoy the spices and the barbecue sauce; it’s got a little Kansas City sweet heat thing to it.”

 

McMillian has a unique nickname from his playing days: ‘Mighty Mouse.’ He explained the nickname’s origins and its fit with the 1990s Chiefs.

“My JUCO (Junior College) coach always called me Sweet Pete from the movie Popeye,” McMillian explained. “Then, when I went to Philadelphia, it was Mighty Mac, Mighty Mouse. It took off when I got to Kansas City because Derrick Thomas was the Falcon, and Andre Rison was Spider-Man.

“And they said, man, we got to name you because you’re doing good. And, with the Chiefs’ colors, I always came up with an interception at the right time. I just went to that theme, and then they started playing the Mighty Mouse theme song when I started getting interceptions. So that was pretty cool.”

In 2023, McMillian appeared as a contestant on the second season of the American culinary reality competition television series Next Level Chef, mentored by Gordon Ramsay. He compared his experience under the famous chef to playing under some of the best football coaches.

“They’re almost the same, you know, they’re both fiery. Marty (Schottenheimer) was fiery,” McMillian explained. “I played under Ray Rhodes in Philadelphia, who had a lot of fire and a lot of passion, and Gene Stallings in Alabama. He was a Bear Bryant guy. So he had that kind of mean draw and tenacity. And that was one of the questions they asked me during the psych evaluation test. What if Gordon gets in your face and starts yelling? What would you do?

“I was honest. I don’t know what I would do, so I’ve been in that situation before as a coach, but I knew that was my job. A cooking show, I didn’t know what I would do. Still, he’s totally a different person off camera; being selected for that show and flying to London from, you know, just grilling in the backyard to being on one of the hit shows ‘Next Level Chef’ was unbelievable. I continue to carry that torch, and now I am hosting tailgate parties.”

McMillian will continue to extend his business beyond football with event cooking demonstrations.

“I have a tailgate event that I’m doing this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for NASCAR, where I’m doing a cooking demonstration for fans as well,” said McMillian. “So I’m just not doing football. I’m transferring over to the NASCAR space as well.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DA3ndSVP1GF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

For more information on the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, log on to flankerlv.com

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo explains the legacy left by former All-Pro Safety

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo explains the legacy left by Tyrann Mathieu | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has dramatically improved over the years, primarily due to veteran talent that changed the culture.

During Friday’s press conference, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo praised former star defensive back Tyrann Mathieu.

“Listen, I’ve got a special place in my heart for (Saints S) Tyrann (Mathieu), right? He’s a special guy. It’ll be great to see him” said Spagnuolo. “I think the last time – I think we saw him when we went down there (to New Orleans) (for the) preseason game. Yeah, that’s the last time we got the chance to give him a big hug, but (I) love Tyrann.

Mathieu signed with his hometown, New Orleans Saints, before the start of the 2023 season but made sure to leave an ongoing legacy within the Chiefs secondary.

“You know, I see it every day. It’s a little thing, but our DBs, before we – you guys aren’t out there until we get to stretch, right?” said Spagnuolo “Usually, about 10 minutes before that, all of the DBs are out on the field, and they’re doing footwork and (Defensive Backs Coach) Dave’s (Merritt) with them and (Safeties Coach) Donald’s (D’Alesio) with them, but that was really established with Tyrann all the way back (in 2019). He was pulling those guys out of the locker room 10 minutes early, so that’s a leadership thing.”

Mathieu spent three seasons in Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl selections twice, first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and second-team honors in 2019. He made an impression on a young L’Jarius Sneed, who has then passed on traits to current lead defensive back Trent McDuffie.

“I think he laid a foundation here, especially in the secondary, of some of the things that we do quite frankly and the way (that) they operate,” said Spagnuolo. “I know those years. Looking back on when he was first here (Titans CB L’Jarius Sneed), LJ was young at the time, and I remember him learning from Tyrann. Then, Tyrann left, and LJ was teaching Trent (McDuffie), so there’s been a trickle down, and I think we owe Tyrann a lot for what he did when he was here.”

If he’s available to play on Monday, Mathieu should expect some applause and appreciation from the Arrowhead Stadium crowd.

Broncos worked out 2 defensive backs on Thursday

The Broncos worked out defensive backs Marquise Blair and Alex Johnson on Thursday.

The Denver Broncos brought in a pair of defensive backs for workouts on Thursday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (via KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson).

The Broncos hosted Marquise Blair and Alex Johnson on a tryout basis. As of the time of this writing, neither defensive back has been signed.

Blair (6-1, 196 pounds) entered the league as a second-round pick out of Utah with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. He spent the first three years of his career in Seattle, totaling 49 tackles and three pass breakups in 22 games (three starts) from 2019-2021.

After being waived by the Seahawks in 2022, Blair played in three games with the Carolina Panthers before later joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. He returned to Seattle this summer and spent part of the season the Seahawks’ practice squad before being released on Sept. 24. Blair is a safety who can also play as a slot cornerback.

Johnson (6-0, 185 pounds) is a rookie out of UCLA who spent time with the New York Giants this summer. He is a nickel cornerback who spent six seasons at the college level. Johnson grabbed five interceptions and broke up three passes in his final season with the Bruins last fall.

Broncos worked out two players

  1. DB Marquise Blair (Utah)
  2. DB Alex Johnson (UCLA)

The 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad are both full, so if the Broncos add a defensive back, they will need to make room on the team with a corresponding roster move.

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Sauce Gardner, Justin Simmons and more react to Pat Surtain’s mega deal

Sauce Gardner, Jalen Ramsey and Justin Simmons reacted to the Pat Surtain news on Twitter/X.

The Denver Broncos gave All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain a four-year, $96 million contract extension on Wednesday, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.

Here’s a sampling of how fans, pundits and players reacted to the news on Twitter/X, headlined by reactions from safety Justin Simmons and fellow cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Jalen Ramsey.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1831324150268326295

https://twitter.com/jsimms1119/status/1831330133472412090

https://twitter.com/iamSauceGardner/status/1831322026516058486

https://twitter.com/jalenramsey/status/1831322690852172004

https://twitter.com/PjLocke4/status/1831387255044513845

https://twitter.com/ChrisHarrisJr/status/1831499228172239264

https://twitter.com/BrandonPerna/status/1831324572420919448

https://twitter.com/FrankiesFilm/status/1831324003442790864

https://twitter.com/MileHighMims/status/1831322406700605876

https://twitter.com/Robby_NFL/status/1831326336775753862

https://twitter.com/MaseDenver/status/1831330475199140007

https://twitter.com/ZacStevensDNVR/status/1831329056127693188

The Broncos previously gave guard Quinn Meinerz a four-year, $80 million deal in July. Denver has now secured their top two players for the duration of rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s contract.

Surtain, 24, is entering his fourth season in the NFL and looking to build on his seven career interceptions. PS2 was already considered the best cornerback in the league — now he’s paid like it.

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