If you like tracking celebrity sightings at sporting events, this was an especially busy season to follow the Kansas City Chiefs, who play the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
But it wasn’t the first time that the famous actor celebrated on the field after Kansas City won the Super Bowl. Rudd was also joined by Eric Stonestreet (the actor who played Cameron in Modern Family) when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2020.
Here are some of the other most notable names rooting for Kansas City:
Adam Sandler remains one of the most beloved funny people of his generation, and he broke out one of his most notable characters to wish actor Henry Winkler well on the release of his new memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond.
Sandler and Winkler famously starred alongside each other in the 1998 football comedy The Waterboy, and the former briefly reprised his role of Bobby Boucher to encourage his followers to buy Winkler’s new book.
Mama would be proud to hear Boucher’s voice again, as this is the kind of delightful throwback that makes you want to put on The Waterboy as soon as possible.
It’s hilarious to hear Sandler say Winkler’s “Mr. Coach Kline” name again after all these years, and it’s hard not to want to go get yourself the most refreshing bottle of water possible and check out Winkler’s new memoir.
Look, if this prompts Sander to play Boucher again in a Waterboy sequel, we’re all for it. Even then, this is just another wonderful reminder of why we love the Sandman so much.
Kansas City Chiefs celebrity superfan Henry Winkler has often expressed his love for the team on various platforms and publications. He recently appeared as a guest on the morning sports show “Up and Adams,” hosted by Kay Adams, to jokingly announce that he was among the many new players added to the roster this offseason.
“Gotta say I was gonna break some news that I have finally, after a long negotiation, I have been drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs,” said Winkler with a smile. “I will be on their team this year. It’s amazing. I’m going to suit up, my God; I can’t believe.”
He already has a plan for how he’ll help the Chiefs.
“OK, I’m going to stand right next to (Travis) Kelce,” said Winkler. “And then I’m going to stand behind Kelce, and he will protect me for the season, and I will just run with the ball, and he will be like a wrecking machine and knocking over the pins of any other team.”
Winkler continued to break down his strengths as a football player and goals within the Chiefs’ high-powered offense.
“Yeah, it will be very, very difficult to find me on the field,” said Winkler. “But you know, what if I catch one ball from the Master Mahomes? I will be in heaven. Then everything I’ve ever dreamed of will have come true.”
Actor Henry Winkler shared his thoughts on the #Chiefs and QB Patrick Mahomes during a recent trip to Kansas City. | from @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs have a widespread fanbase that continues to grow along with the team’s success. Whether a local supporter or a celebrity, Chiefs Kingdom has earned a reputation for being loyal and engaged in the team’s progress.
During the past few seasons, the Chiefs gained another notable supporter in legendary actor Henry Winkler. The longtime performer is best known for his role in hit comedy films like ‘The Water Boy’ and his iconic role as the Fonz in the 1970s classic “Happy Days.” Winkler made a well-known visit on the field pregame before the Chiefs’ November 20th “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Winkler’s visit to meet Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sparked plenty ofconversation on Twitter, leading to the 77-year-old actor being praised by tight end Travis Kelce on his podcast. Recently, Winkler spoke with KMBC News in Kansas City, reflecting on his love for Chiefs Kingdom and thoughts on Mahomes’ latest MVP season.
“Like, I was nine years old. The joy.” Winkler said of his moment with Mahomes “And he is going to go down in history as one of the greatest. And I’m just happy to be here in this city. Everybody, can I just say thank you Kansas City? Because since I have arrived, people have been so unbelievably warm.”
The Chiefs made their triumphant run to winning Super Bowl LVII following the well-known injury suffered by Mahomes earlier in the divisional round.
“Well, they are a great team,” said Winkler. “I mean, you know, there were a lot of injuries, and everybody just stepped up. But Mr. Mahomes, what do you know? My uber driver taking me to my ribs dinner the other night. I had great barbecue. And he said, ‘We would have all bet on the Eagles once Mr. Mahomes was injured.’ And then he came back with a fury. You can’t keep that man down. I really believe that he likes to, ‘Oh, well, I’ll make it difficult for myself, and then I’ll win.'”
Winkler was asked if the Chiefs are a “comeback team” for the way they pulled out late-game victories over the past few seasons, and he didn’t hold back in his stance on the team.
“It doesn’t matter what they are called. They are the best,” said Winkler. “They have the ring. Everybody else is waiting for the ring.”
Do you have what it takes to be hired as the #Chiefs’ Ritual Officer?
We need to know Chiefs Kingdom, what’s your gameday ritual?
We’ve all got one, from wearing our fav pair of socks to sitting in the same spot every Sunday, so comment yours for a chance to win a one-day contract in our newest position, Chiefs Ritual Officer 👀 pic.twitter.com/3OuhnDGswk
The Kansas City Chiefs announced details for their 2022 playoff campaign and it’s all centered around Chiefs Kingdom’s gameday rituals.
“Chiefs Kingdom is distinctive in its fandom, its traditions, its love for the team, and in the way it unites people,” Chiefs executive Lara Krug said, via press release. “Part of what defines Chiefs fans is the level of ownership that they take in their team, and we see that every week at the stadium, on social media and in interactions around the city, region and beyond. We’re always looking to connect with and celebrate our fans in new and different ways and we think the Chiefs Ritual Officer search truly embraces the uniqueness of Chiefs Kingdom and the fans who make it special. We’re thrilled that Travis and Tru Kolors were open to partnering with the club for an exclusive merch collaboration this postseason and are excited that they’re delivering their energy and style to our fans through this partnership.”
Here is more information on what the team is set to do during the course of the postseason:
1. The team will offer a lucky fan a one-day contract to join the franchise as the Chiefs Ritual Officer. They’ll receive the following:
142 home game tickets across the 2022 playoffs and the 2023 season (a nod to the club’s Guinness World Record for loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium at 142.2 dB)
Official signing day at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex
Private tour of GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Two (2) pregame field passes to the club’s first home postseason game of 2022
Chance to deliver the game coin to officials prior the club’s first postseason game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this year
Gameday rituals are all deeply ingrained in sports culture among fans, players and coaches. The team says their ideal candidate for the ritual officer role will, “(a.) be a die-hard Chiefs fan, (b.) know the importance of – and have – one or more well-timed, strategic rituals for their Chiefs fandom, and (c.) be energetic and loud.” Fans who feel they have what it takes to be hired as Chiefs Ritual Officer have been encouraged to submit their application by Friday, January 13. A panel of five judges selected by the club will choose the newly-appointed ritual officer.
2. The Chiefs are collaborating with Travis Kelce’s Tru Kolors clothing brand to launch a first-of-its-kind player/local club fashion line.
“When I was asked to design the exclusive playoffs merch collab for the Chiefs with my clothing brand, Tru Kolors, I was genuinely excited,” Kelce said, via press release. “I love fashion, football, and the unwavering energy of Chiefs Kingdom, so having the opportunity to design a capsule for this playoff season is a major moment. I’m a kid of the 90’s and I am still inspired by the greats of that era. It’s an influential design element of Tru Kolors and my personal style, so we leaned into that aesthetic for both the hoodie and the crewneck utilizing super premium fabric.
“The fact this is the first of its kind athlete x NFL local club design collab, means a lot to me and to Tru Kolors. We designed this for the Tru Chiefs fan.
“Now let’s bring this home, Chiefs Kingdom.”
via Chiefs PR
Fans can start shopping the Tru Kolors x Chiefs collection beginning today at www.trukolors.com or www.nflshop.com. The collection is limited and will only be available while supplies last.
3. The franchise will be releasing an anthem video narrated by Henry Winkler — the actor, director and producer whose Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes fandom is well-noted. The anthem video will highlight Chiefs fans and the rituals that helped make this season and postseason a reality for the team.
Mahomes: “I’m gonna take you up on that dinner, though.” Winkler: “There is always a seat at my table for you.”
Henry Winkler and Patrick Mahomes are both living their best lives in the 2020s. Mahomes, already an NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, was the recipient of the biggest contract in league history when he signed a 10-year, $450 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. Winkler, perpetually great as a comedic actor, has been phenomenal in a dramatic turn as acting coach Gene Cousineau in the HBO genre-shedding series Barry.
It wasn’t entirely surprising to see greatness recognize greatness when Winkler took to the Rich Eisen Show last summer and was more interested in talking about his love for Mahomes than the season three finale of Barry. That’s where he excitedly asked the longtime broadcaster if he’d met Mahomes and called the young signal caller “one of my heroes.”
This got back to the Chiefs, who granted the veteran actor sideline access for Kansas City’s Week 11 game in Los Angeles. Mahomes came ready with a customized jersey with Winkler’s last name and the QB’s number 15. And Winkler came ready with a standing invitation to come over for dinner any dang time.
A relationship that began with Winkler gushing over his favorite football player like an awed elementary school student has progressed to Mahomes eagerly telling a man five decades older he’s “gonna take [Winkler] up on that dinner offer.”
At a time where most celebrity interactions ring hollow and beg to be viewed through the most cynical of lenses, Winkler and Mahomes appear to have a true appreciation for each other. That’s awesome. Now we wait until the offseason to hear Winkler describe his dinner with Patrick while radio hosts ask him to talk about next year’s Barry finale.
Given how brutal that episode was, I don’t blame him.
Henry Winkler’s resurgence has been wonderful to watch.
The actor who rose to prominence playing Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days has re-entered the public consciousness over the past two decades thanks to his Hank Zipser books, as well as roles in Adam Sandler-adjacent films (The Waterboy, Here Comes the Boom) and as the iconic “worst [expletive] attorney” Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development.
As good as he’s been, the defining piece of his renaissance is his role as acting coach Gene Cousineau in HBO’s Barry, a dark comedy that has aggressively favored the former word in that descriptor over the latter as it has gone on. Winkler has been Emmy-worthy throughout the show’s third season, but there was no better display of his talent and range than in the season finale, which was broadcast Sunday night.
But when he went on Rich Eisen’s show as part of a promotional tour to discuss his work, Winkler was more interested in the NFL than talking about himself.
“Have you met Patrick Mahomes?” Winkler asked a surprised Eisen, who’d launched into a plug for Barry moments before being kindly interrupted. “He’s one of my heroes. That’s true. I root for that team, even though I have never lived there. I think he is just phenomenal to watch.”
“Apropos of?” asked Eisen.
“Nothing!” responded Winkler, who then went on to ask about Aaron Donald’s contract status — and then earnestly congratulate the three-time defensive player of the year — as the host and his production crew laughed in the background. The legendary actor then went on to riff about the durability of football players and Sandler’s inability to dress himself properly before finally getting back to the show he was ostensibly there to talk up.
This is all massively on-brand for Winkler, who remains a cultural icon but constantly comes across as a guy who genuinely wants to swap stories with whomever he’s lucky enough to talk with. He began a pre-finale interview with Vulture by dissecting his experiences with Frank Sinatra. He ended it by talking about all the dogs he hugged on the set of Barry:
“I made friends with all of them. They were all in a pen in the backyard where it took place. There were 32 in total, and I hugged every one of them. I’m a dog lover. I have three dogs. A Labradoodle, a goldendoodle, and a one-legged, idiosyncratic German shepherd.”
This is all to say Patrick Mahomes should absolutely carve out a spot on his schedule to meet Winkler and possibly visit a dog shelter together. If Winkler’s latest round of interviews is any indication, they’ll have plenty to talk about.
