Chiefs have a clear-cut leader in the WR room who is making an impact on and off the field during training camp
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster discusses the leadership role he has taken on within the team.
The Kansas City Chiefs have a very young wide receiver corps as a whole.
JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown are the oldest at 28 years old, but Smith-Schuster has two more years of NFL experience under his belt. Following Monday’s training camp practice, coach Andy Reid without hesitation called Smith-Schuster the leader of the wide receivers.
While speaking to the media after Day 8 of training camp practice on Tuesday, Smith-Schuster was asked how he responds to Reid’s comments.
“It’s a huge responsibility,” Smith-Schuster said. “I take it pretty seriously. We got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages, and for me, it’s a big responsibility. I take full control. I lead by not just my words, but by my actions. Like I said, there’s a lot of guys, experiences, different ages, and everyone’s coachable. So, I’m glad to take that responsibility.”
Entering his ninth NFL season, there aren’t a lot of situations that Smith-Schuster hasn’t been in. He’s had plenty of success, and has a plethora of knowledge to share with younger WRs. Smith-Schuster went on to say that his teammates have been receptive to him as a leader, not only due to his football experience, but also because he establishes a personal relationship with them.
“I’m the guy that’s not always serious,” Smith-Schuster said. “I like to have fun, have a good time, make the environment very comfortable for them to come talk to me about anything, and vice versa. [I] ask how their family’s doing, and how they’re doing today. I know every single day we show up and it’s about football, but I think it’s also very important to ask about their personal life and how they’re doing.”
Smith-Schuster might not be the Chiefs’ top WR on the depth chart, but his leadership is invaluable. However, don’t discount him on the field. Smith-Schuster has looked revitalized during training camp, seemingly benefitting from having a healthy offseason. If he can avoid injuries, he will provide excellent depth and be an reliable safety valve for quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2025.
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