Kansas City Chiefs LS James Winchester reflects on what Toby Keith met to him following his passing

If you’re from Oklahoma, there is a good chance you have been impacted by the loss of one of country music’s greatest. That is the case for Kansas City Chiefs LS James Winchester, who has now reflected on the passing of Toby Keith, as well as what he meant to him. “Hearing of Toby’s passing […]

Brandon Little Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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If you’re from Oklahoma, there is a good chance you have been impacted by the loss of one of country music’s greatest.

That is the case for Kansas City Chiefs LS James Winchester, who has now reflected on the passing of Toby Keith, as well as what he meant to him.

“Hearing of Toby’s passing hit a lot of us very hard,” Winchester told Chiefs Digest. “Toby, growing up in central Oklahoma he was king. He was the guy that everyone looked up to. His music, but not only that, as a man [too].”

Keith passed away after a battle with stomach cancer at the age of 62 on Monday surrounded by his family in Oklahoma. Winchester was born in Oklahoma and played his college ball for the Sooners.

“The number one sooner fan you’d ever find,” Winchester said of the late Keith. “For me, he was a guy that I looked up to as a sooner fan, and being a part of the program and seeing him around.”

Winchester was an Oklahoma fan before he played for them and he’s now been with the Chiefs since the 2015 season. The long snapper has never missed a game while in the NFL.

In just a couple of days, Winchester will be competing for a Super Bowl with the Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately, the passing of Keith came in the same week. We all know his impactful it can be to lose an idol, even if not close on a personal level.

Keith’s music will play on and Winchester will surely be one of his listeners for the long haul.