Tight end Ricky Seals-Jones reportedly had no shortage of suitors when he hit the open market. The longtime NFL veteran could have truly tested the market, but he quickly decided that the Kansas City Chiefs were the best fit for his skills. This may seem strange at first, as Travis Kelce is the unquestioned starter for the foreseeable future. However, Seals-Jones recently said that Kansas City’s explosive offense combined with their passionate fan base made coming to Kansas City an easy decision.
Ricky Seals-Jones Chose Kansas City Chiefs Due to Patrick Mahomes, Fanbase
When asked what made the Chiefs so appealing in free agency, the first thing Seals-Jones mentioned was the high-powered offense led by Patrick Mahomes. According to the tight end, the “explosive offense” was “incredible to watch” and he wanted to be a part of it. The Chiefs expressed interest to his agent, and Seals-Jones said that the decision to sign was “a no-brainer”.
Seals-Jones is no stranger to the wild conditions of Arrowhead Stadium. Back in 2018, Seals-Jones traveled to Kansas City as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Even though his team lost, Seals-Jones said that the passion and excitement of the stadium left a lasting impression. Calling the Chiefs fanbase “top five in the NFL”, Seals-Jones said that he’s “excited to be part of [the Chiefs] and not against it”.
Ricky Seals-Jones is not going to be the star of the offense, and he understands that he’ll have to contribute on special teams if he wants to be part of the team. This is anything but a dealbreaker, as Seals-Jones noted that he played special teams with both Arizona and the Cleveland Browns. At the end of the day, it’s all about “willing to do whatever to help the team win”.
Free Agency and COVID-19
This free agency period has been one of the strangest in recent memory. Thanks to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, NFL teams haven’t been able to host free agents prior to an official signing. This is obviously quite the adjustment from the usual method of team building and is a harsh transition for player and team alike.
Seals-Jones says that the honest and open communication from Kansas City’s organization played a large role in his decision to sign with the Chiefs. “It was like what [Demetrius Harris] said and what [the Chiefs organization] said were not two different things”. Seals-Jones went on to mention that he spoke with players familiar with the organization, and everyone he spoke to “still shows respect” for the Kansas City Chiefs and their organization.
Of course, an organization is only as good as the head coach, and the Chiefs have one of the best. Seals-Jones called Andy Reid “a Hall of Fame coach before winning the Super Bowl” and added that he has “never heard one bad word” about Reid. Ultimately, having the opportunity to play with Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, a fantastic fanbase, and a trustworthy organization made signing with the Chiefs a no-brainer for Ricky Seals-Jones.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
