NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick gives his stamp of approval on big Chiefs offseason move
The Kansas City Chiefs gave center Creed Humphrey a four-year, $72 million contract extension last week. After two Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro selection, Humphrey is now deservingly the highest-paid center in the NFL. He is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2028 season and will remain a cornerstone piece of their offense. […]
The Kansas City Chiefs gave center Creed Humphrey a four-year, $72 million contract extension last week.
After two Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro selection, Humphrey is now deservingly the highest-paid center in the NFL. He is under contract with the Chiefs through the 2028 season and will remain a cornerstone piece of their offense.
Humphrey has played at an elite level since being drafted in 2021, making the decision to extend him a no-brainer by the Chiefs. That sentiment was echoed by NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick while appearing as a guest on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
"That was another good move, I thought, by Kansas City, re-signing the center Creed Humphrey," Belichick said while talking about how the Chiefs handle contracts. "That kid's a good, young player. He's got a lot of football left in him."
Belichick went on to explain the value a good center brings to an offense.
"Center's an important position, especially with a quarterback like Patrick (Mahomes). In terms of not only the cadences, but the MIKE points, getting the protections set right, seeing subtle things that a center can see on the line of scrimmage about where a blitz might be coming from or a lineman cheating a certain way who can help the quarterback out."
Belichick also noted that bad center play can ruin the rest of the offensive line.
"A lot of those guys honestly are undervalued because of how good they help the other four guys play on the line. A bad center kills the other four linemen. A good center can help those guys play better by making the right calls and doing the right thing."
Lastly, Belichick explained the importance of the relationship between a quarterback and a center.
"There's nothing a quarterback hates more than an undependable center. Where's the ball going? Is he going to snap it early? Do we have the right guys blocked? That'll drive a (quarterback) crazy."
Keeping Humphrey and Patrick Mahomes together for the foreseeable future will benefit both players. They have excellent chemistry and know each other's nuances. Now the attention turns to guard Trey Smith, who is currently slated to become a free agent in 2025. If K.C. can find a way to keep Smith, its interior offensive line will remain one of the best for years to come.
