Tua Tagovailoa is close to breaking a pair of records held by a Hall of Famer and a future Hall of Famer.
The Miami Dolphins offense has picked up the pace after a rough start to the year, but it isn’t going to come close to the numbers it racked up during a prolific 2023 season. Tua Tagovailoa may etch his name in the NFL record books anyway, though.
After missing four games earlier in the year due to a concussion that sent him to injured reserve, the fifth-year quarterback has been stellar in his return.
With four games left in the regular season, Tagovailoa has completed 240 of his 325 pass attempts this season. That 73.8 percent completion rate is just a hair behind the single-season NFL record of 74.4 percent held by future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
If Tagovailoa, who’s averaging about 36 pass attempts per game, can complete somewhere around 76 percent of his passes in the last four games of the year — no small feat — he’d take Brees’ spot in the record book.
To get that done, Tagovailoa will almost certainly have to break another legend’s record first.
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana completed at least 70 percent of his passes in eight consecutive games during the 1989 season. That’s a streak of efficiency even Brees never matched. Tagovailoa is now at seven consecutive starts at 70 percent or better.
With two more efficient performances, Tagovailoa could eclipse Montana’s streak and inch closer to potentially beating Brees’ record too.
Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Danan Hughes, who reflected on his touchdown reception from a pass by Marcus Allen and his favorite #Chiefs memory. | w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Danan Hughes, one of the unsung heroes on the special teams unit in the 1990s.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Hughes opened up about his upcoming appearance at the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar on October 26 and 27 in Las Vegas. He also reflected on his touchdown reception from a pass by a Hall of Fame running back, and his favorite memories with the Chiefs.
“Yeah, I’m excited. Getting to Vegas is always exciting, and that was the scene of our Super Bowl win this past year,” Hughes said. “It will be fun to get back there and play against the Raiders up until this point. That is also the team that was the last to beat us last season before we went on the run to win the Super Bowl. So there’s always an incentive to be in Raider Nation and play against the rivals in the Las Vegas Raiders. But then, being a part of that event with my former teammate, Mark McMillan should also be fun. So yeah, I’m looking forward to it. It should be a blast to get out there. There will be a lot of Chiefs fans and Raiders fans, and it should be fun to mix and mingle.”
Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar is located just steps away from Allegiant Stadium at Mandalay Bay and creates a “50-yard-line” experience with a 30 ft. LED viewing screen commanding the main dining room and TVs throughout.
Hughes opened up on a famous touchdown pass he caught on Monday Night Football in 1997 from Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.
“Yeah, it was great,” Hughes said of the trick play. “We had practiced it for a few weeks before, and it being Monday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers made it even more rewarding. For a guy who had a few starts at wide receiver but was mainly known for my special team’s acumen and being a captain of the special teams for four of my six years, it was always rewarding to be able to get an opportunity to be in on offense and be intricate in a scoring drive. So that’s a great memory. It’s one of my highlights.”
The touchdown reception wasgreat, but it was not necessarily Hughes’ favorite with the Chiefs because choosing one is complicated.
“People always ask me what the most memorable moment I had,” Hughes continued. “It’s tough because the first thing that comes to mind is a play like that, but then, being in the huddle with Joe Montana, being a part of the AFC Championship, walking out, I got a picture in my basement of going to a coin toss as a captain, and in the picture is Joe, Montana, Marcus, Allen, Neil Smith, I believe Derek Thomas and Dan Marino because we were playing the Miami Dolphins.
“I’m like, somebody doesn’t belong in this picture, so for me to be a part of that and have that memory. It’s tough to pinpoint one because I was a part of so many great times and great memories that I can still recollect, and the Chiefs fans still remember them. There are times when people will come up to me at the stadium or if I’m at a restaurant and talk about the 90s and some of the great games, Monday Night Football, winning close games, being a part of some great drives, and the miracle at Mile High that just made it so special. So all of it has been a true blessing for me.”
Former #Chiefs WR Danan Hughes told Ed Easton Jr. about his role as a team ambassador, and reminisced on his six-year tenure in Kansas City. | w/ @EdEastonJr
This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Danan Hughes, one of the unsung heroes on the special teams unit in the 1990s.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Hughes 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 role as an ambassador with the Chiefs, and his reflections on his career as a player.
“I played in the early 90s and created an atmosphere of embracing the community, [and] I’m still working in the community,” Hughes explained. “I’m part of the Chiefs Ambassadors, a group of former Chiefs still in the Kansas City community and doing work. This is my fifth season there. I know many fans want to interact about that dynamic and partner with Mitch Holthus, who’s been here for 31 years as the voice of the Chiefs.
“I love that stuff. I feel like that’s what I signed up for as a player. You know what you’re doing, what you’re supposed to do, and what the fans love. They are so intricate in the success and existence of this NFL franchise that you can’t help but want to give back, mix and mingle whenever you can, and have some fun and laughs.”
Hughes looks forward to embracing the crowd visiting Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar ahead of Kansas City’s Week 8 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
From 1993 to 1998, Hughes played for the Chiefs, teaming up with some of the greatest players in league history during the franchise’s resurgent period.
“It was a surreal experience coming from the University of Iowa and then just coming four and a half hours down south to Kansas City,” Hughes said. “I didn’t know what to expect, but as you mentioned, I walked into the locker room the same season we acquired Joe Montana and Marcus Allen, already having Derrick Thomas. A few years later, drafting Tony Gonzalez and playing with so many Hall of Famers.
“I was drafted with Will Shields, a Hall of Famer. So there’s so much history here that it’s been great to be a part of, and even though I can say I was part of the greatness in the heyday in the 90s, what they’ve done in recent years surpasses those times. But I’m proud of this organization and to be a part of it.”
Hughes continues his community efforts and life as a Chiefs analyst well after his playing career in Kansas City.
“I’ve made it my home; my wife and I are both from New Jersey and decided to stay in Kansas City. It tells you a lot about how we value this community and how it has embraced us,” said Hughes. “I don’t know if many other cities will be able to boast about embracing a guy who played 25 or 30 years ago, and yet, I can walk around town.
“People still love me because I wore that jersey and played for this great franchise. So, I don’t take any of it for granted. I know it’s a blessing and an honor, but it just tells you about the fans’ passion and willingness to embrace us as former players, even though I haven’t worn a jersey in 25-26 years.”
For more information on the Chiefs Kingdom Tailgate at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, log on to flankerlv.com
One of the greatest of all time talks what sold him on Jayden Daniels.
Through four weeks, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is the talk of the NFL. He’s breaking records and helping his team win games. Washington sits at 3-1 and atop the NFC East before its Sunday clash with the Cleveland Browns.
Daniels’ performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on the Week 3 edition of Monday Night Football earned him another fan.
Legendary former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana — one of the greatest of all time — watched Washington upset Cincinnati and spoke of the play that really sold him on Daniels.
“You have to understand you’re going to get hit,” Montana said, per Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports. “The guys who make the difference are guys who are accurate knowing you’re going to get hit.”
Montana is referring to Daniels’ 27-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with around two minutes remaining to seal the victory. It is one of the finest plays in the NFL this season, with Next Gen Stats saying it only had a 10.3% probability of being completed.
“They didn’t show it, but he got smacked as he let it go right over the top of the defender in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown,” Montana continued. “I thought that was probably his best throw of the night. I mean, what did he have, a 90 percent completion percentage? Can’t complain with that. He’s fun to watch.”
He wasn’t done praising Daniels.
“I can find 20 guys who can throw the ball through that wall, but they can’t complete a pass because they aren’t accurate enough or they don’t have the touch. He seems to have all of that in one package, plus the guy can run.”
One month into his NFL career, Daniels has made a believer out of one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history. The greatest, Tom Brady, has already taken notice of Daniels.
On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr’s chats w/ J.J. Birden #KCvsATL
We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re previewing the Kansas City Chiefs Week 3 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
Senior Writer Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former Chiefs wide receiver J.J. Birden about his thoughts on this year’s first-round NFL Draft pick Xavier Worthy. He also details his time playing alongside Joe Montana in the 1990s. The one-time Falcons receiver breaks down his reasons for retirement and life after football.
We check in with this past week’s press conferences, which featured comments on Kareem Hunt’s return from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, cornerback Trent McDuffie, and head coach Andy Reid ahead of Sunday night’s game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The latest episode of the Chiefs Wire Podcast will inform listeners about all developments in the team’s game plan heading into their first road game of the 2024 regular season. The Falcons game plan after their Monday Night Football win, as both teams compete on Sunday night after comeback victories, and Chiefs Kingdom will learn more about a fan-favorite former player.
Check out the link below to get your fill of Chiefs talk ahead of Sunday’s kickoff:
#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Marcus Allen about the annual American Century Championship and his tenure in Kansas City in the 1990s. | @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs have hosted many talented running backs over the years, but few can match the immediate impact of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, who joined the team in 1993 after 11 seasons playing for the Los Angeles Raiders.
Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Allen about his involvement in and enjoyment of the annual American Century Championship golf tournament and his five-year stint with the Chiefs in the 1990s.
“It’s an event that everybody looks forward to in the American Century, and it has done an amazing job since it became the title sponsor,” Allen explained. “It’s just, it’s incredible. I think for me, this is 26 years now. I’m not one of the originals, I think the originals are still Jack Wagner and Jim McMahon. I think [I am] maybe the third longest-tenured person there. I love going, playing, competing against my fellow athletes and friends, and it’s just an outstanding event. NBC does an amazing job. It’s a lot, it’s been a lot of fun, and it’s something we look forward to every year.”
A turning point in Allen’s NFL career was signing with the Chiefs before the start of the 1993 season. The move to Kansas City was rejuvenating for the veteran, as it helped lead the franchise to become a contender.
“They accepted me immediately,” Allen said of the Chiefs’ fanbase. “Going out and playing hard certainly helps that, right? Also, playing the game the right way, hard and as tough as possible, and keeping it simple, the fan base was incredible. And then to play alongside some great players like Joe Montana and Derrick Thomas, John Alt, and Kimble Anders, and just several guys I played with. I remember getting so close on a couple of occasions but not being able to finish there.
“Those were the high points, just being involved and playing those games no one else thought we could win. And then there were some games we obviously let get away from us, which we should have won. And then I think about the Hunt family and just how gracious they are, and just provided a great opportunity for the players to succeed there.”
During his five seasons in Kansas City, Allen was named a Pro Bowler and, in his final year, at 37, became the oldest player to score ten or more touchdowns in a season.
“The city was great. It was an incredible five years for me,” Allen said. “I know they’re experiencing great success now, and rightfully so. They should get all the credit. But I do feel like, yeah, we early on. I think we sort of changed the dynamic there. That’s at least what I was told by a lot of people, you know, a lot of fans there and stuff like that.
“We brought back the love and interest in the fire amongst the fans. 1993 was amazing; we went all the way to the AFC Championship game. Unfortunately, we lost that game. If Joe doesn’t get knocked out of that game, I think we go in and beat Buffalo [Bills], which is one of the hardest things to do in Buffalo.”
Allen joins other retired NFL players and celebrities for the annual American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe from Wednesday, July 10th through Sunday, July 14th, airing on NBC, with special coverage on Peacock and GOLF Channel. The 54-hole tournament raises funds for local and national charities with a purse of $750,000,including a $150,000 first prize.
Ed Easton Jr. spoke to NBA champion Rasheed Wallace about his new show and his reason for becoming a Kansas City #Chiefs fan. | @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs have many famous fans who are involved in many forms of entertainment.
Each has a story about how they found their fandom, but few have a better tale to tell than NBA champion Rasheed Wallace, who recently sat down with Ed Easton Jr. to talk about his venture into podcasting and his status as a Chiefs superfan.
Speaking about his new career as a content creator, Wallace made it clear that he was getting used to being back in the spotlight:
“The podcast is different from regular broadcasting, or normal sitting-behind-the-desk medium because then you can’t say what you want to say, because you’re on public TV, and all that you got to have good etiquette,” Wallace explained. “But with the podcast, it’s easy because you can say what you want; I’m saying you can cuss and do everything you can. You can really be you. That’s one thing I like about it, and that was an easy transition for me because most of my fans know sometimes, I got a little potty mouth, but that’s definitely part of it.”
Wallace initially expressed no interest in doing a podcast until he received encouragement from former Portland Trail Blazers teammate Bonzi Wells.
“My guy Bonzi Wells got me started in the podcast stuff,” Wallace said. “He was one year do it for years before him, and I finally did a show some years back called ‘Let’s Get Technical.’ He kept telling me, ‘Man, we need a podcast.’ He was saying this around the same time when Matt (Barnes) and Stephen (Jackson) started ‘All the Smoke,’ and he was saying this, then I was like, ‘Man, I’m not trying to do that.’ “
On The Sheed & Tyler Show, an Underdog Fantasy production, Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, and TylerIAm offer their unfiltered takes on the NBA and various sports, both past and present.
“So, finally, I broke down and started it. Then after Bonzi got hired, as him and I got hired into the collegiate world as coaches, you know that pretty much threw a wrench into that,” said Wallace. “However, we still kept our relationship with one of the head guys over there at Underdog Fantasy, and then once he moved over there, he’s like, ‘Hey, look, you guys need to come on over and have a show.’ So that’s how Tyler and I got started.”
For years, the four-time NBA All-Star didn’t have a favorite NFL team but always followed one player. The legendary quarterback who famously joined Kansas City in the early 1990s turned Wallace into a lifetime fan.
Said Wallace:
“I became a Chiefs fan in 1992, and the reason being, I was a Montana fan; Joe Montana got traded from the Niners. I wasn’t a Niners fan — an individual of football. I didn’t have a team at the time, and then when he got traded, nobody I knew was a Chiefs fan. And so I was like, ‘Oh, man, that’s perfect; we were still in the gutter.’ We weren’t winning. I said, ‘OK, that’s just my team.’ I stuck with them through all the days. That’s the whole Trent Green, then the Alex Smith (eras). I have been there since ’92 for my guys, and now that we are finally winning, it feels stupendous.”
“The Sheed & Tyler Show,” an Underdog Fantasy production, airs new episodes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will officially make his NFL debut in less than three months. The Washington quarterback just completed his first offseason program and has his new coaches and teammates excited about the future.
While players have several weeks off between the end of the offseason and the start of training camp, Daniels doesn’t plan on taking much time off, as he revealed last week.
It’s that type of work ethic that transforms quarterbacks from potential to greatness. Speaking of greatness, in an interview with GQ via X user @JayDanielsMVP, Daniels recently revealed his top five quarterbacks of all time.
Here’s Daniels’ list:
Tom Brady
Joe Montana
Patrick Mahomes
Peyton Manning
Michael Vick
Daniels said his comparison for himself is Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
While Vick is not a top-five quarterback of all time, Daniels said it was his list. Vick is arguably the greatest dual-threat quarterback ever and clearly influenced Daniels.
What do you think of Daniels’ list? Brady, Montana, Manning and Mahomes would likely make most people’s top five lists.
#Commanders QB Jayden Daniels ranks his top 5 NFL QBs of all time 👀
In the over 100-year history of the NFL, if you really stretch things there may have been a handful of quarterbacks to be as successful as [autotag]Joe Montana[/autotag].
“Joe Cool” helped the San Francisco 49ers to win four Super Bowls, three of which he took home game MVP honors in. He and Bill Walsh teamed up to have the 49ers in contention in the NFC every year of the 1980’s and Montana would eventually spend two years in Kansas City before retiring where he’d help the Chiefs to threaten for the AFC crown.
Before Montana was drafted by the 49ers however, he was a Pennsylvania kid and a Notre Dame backup quarterback. After starting his college career buried on the depth chart, Montana worked his way to playing time, helping Notre Dame in comeback victories over Air Force and North Carolina.
Yet Montana still didn’t lock down the starting job until 1977 when he helped lead the Irish to a national championship.
Montana turns 68 years old today, so cheers to one of the very best to do pretty much anything he ever touched!
Celebrate by checking out some of the very best photos of Joe Montana over the years below!
#Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to former wide receiver J.J. Birden about similarities between Patrick Mahomes and Joe Montana. | @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs’ success over the past few seasons has everyone calling the franchise a dynasty. Past players realize the team’s greatness and are hopeful for more in the future while recognizing familiar traits from their tenure.
Former Chiefs wide receiver J.J. Birden was a teammate of NFL legend Joe Montana during his time in Kansas City. Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Birden about adjusting his game alongside a football icon and seeing similarities in Patrick Mahomes’ leadership.
“Yeah, playing with Joe was something special because here, you’re getting the opportunity to play with one of the best,” Birden said. “When he joined Kansas City, he was in his 15th year, already winning four Super Bowls and achieving all these accolades. But I’ve always considered myself a learner. Right away, I think, like, ‘OK, success leaves clues; what can I learn from one of the greatest?’ I certainly did.
“I think what impressed me the most about Joe was that he came in with an attitude like, ‘OK, how can I make the Chiefs players and organization better?’ That’s what leaders do. They lead from the front. Joe came in, studied like a rookie, prepared like a veteran, led like a pro, and lifted us up.”
Montana’s time in Kansas City was only two seasons, but he led the team to the playoffs in each. Birden explained that the same winning attitude and leadership is already present in Mahomes’ era.
“That’s what I see in Patrick Mahomes,” Birden continued. “Even at a younger stage in his career, he is a leader, and leaders lead from the front, and they make everybody else better. It gets me excited to see Hollywood Brown, you know, and obviously [Xavier] Worthy and everybody else, because Patrick will play a role in making those guys better. … They will see they need to step up their game because when Joe started throwing me curl routes and cut comebacks and goals, I realized that I got to be quicker at on my break, I got to be better on top on the schemes and stuff. It just made me better as a player.”
Mahomes’ greatness on the field influences his teammates, especially his wide receivers, making them want to work harder. Birden was motivated more with Montana at quarterback following his great seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
“I wanted to play at my best. Joe Montana is used to playing with guys like Jerry Rice and John Taylor; they are Hall of Fame as far as Rice. Taylor may be one day,” Birden said. “So, when Joe came in, I wanted to make sure he didn’t feel a drop-off. There was a little bit of pressure. But at the same time, I was motivated to work harder to work more on my routes and catching the ball. I studied film more and was more prepared for the game.”
The Chiefs led the league in dropped passes last season, drawing criticism from spectators throughout their Super Bowl run. Birden believes the receivers’ room will rebound and be more diligent for their quarterback in 2024.
Said Birden: “There’s a balancing act for players like the Chiefs wide receivers. Yes, you want to play better because you’re playing with Mahomes. But that should motivate you to spend more time mastering the basics and fundamentals and not being overconfident so that you and Mahomes will be on the same page when you go into the game. You get out there and do your job.”
J.J. Birden is a motivational keynote speaker; check his official website for more information.
