Chiefs Players Quotes
September 3, 2026
G TREY SMITH
Q: I understand they surprised you the other day, showing you on the cover of the Community Impact Report.
SMITH: “Yeah, that was definitely a surprise. Didn't see it coming. I’m tremendously honored and humbled to be a part of it and, obviously, that they think that highly of me. It's cool to be recognized in that way. I just love this community so much. So, I'm just going to continue to keep pouring as much as I can and giving back as much as I can.”
Q: On how to stay consistent with multiple tackles such as T Kahlil Benson and OL Jaylon Moore.
SMITH: “Yeah, (T Kahlil Benson and OL Jaylon Moore) they both do a phenomenal job. (Offensive Line) Coach (Andy) Heck and (Assistant Offensive Line Coach) Corey Matthaei do a fabulous job of teaching each and every one that goes out there. So, it's always been a next up mentality. When I go out, the next man has to step up and do a great job. So, I have great chemistry with both those players and other guys that we've assembled here as well and have to continue to just keep building, man, and have a quantum of faith and confidence in them and the job our coaches do, getting them prepared and ready to go.”
Q: How have you guys come along with the new running backs? And what's your excitement level for that part of the offense?
SMITH: “Yeah, man, really, not just running backs. I'm just excited for all of my teammates, past, current, and former, man, just really excited to watch them continue to grow. Even guys who left this building, still be in communication with them but obviously we have a really talented running back room. The guys are hungry. (Running Backs) Coach (DeMarco) Murray, also our coach, (Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy) EB, they do a phenomenal job in coaching those guys up and getting them prepped and going as we build our run game and continue to get that going. Just like we always talk about, when we're hitting on all cylinders as an offense, it's when we're at our best. So, just really excited to go work with those guys and just going to war with them in battle every single day.”
LB NICK BOLTON
Q: What are you doing in this time that you guys have since getting back from St. Joseph?
BOLTON: “Yeah, it's been good. I've been able to kind of tone a little bit of X's and O's a little bit. Kind of work on some things that we weren't good at in preseason games and things that we think the other team's going to attack us with and clean up some of the minor errors we had. So, it's been good to just come back and X's and O's, have some good on good out there and just kind of work.”
Q: How might CB L’Jarius Sneed shift the mindset of the defense on the field?
BOLTON: “Yeah, (CB L’Jarius Sneed) he's a veteran guy, played in the system before, so he has a lot of confidence in his game. He trusts his eyes, trusts what he sees. He's able to communicate that on the field as well. So, just going out there and communicating, seeing what he sees, giving us his checks, alerts, or things he sees, how he can help us make a play or two. Yeah, you definitely feel that when he's out there.”
Q: There are a lot of rookies on the defensive side. They've gone through this whole camp now. How have you seen them grow?
BOLTON: “Yeah, I would say just competing. You come in and learn X and O's as you kind of keep playing with competitive nature and open that when you need to and always just kind of bring your best every single day. This scheme, especially on the defensive side of the ball, can kind of get hectic. It's a lot. It kind of gets you swimming a little bit but just be able to take days and kind of learn and master schemes. I think it's been great. You can see how it's kind of progressed, and obviously when we get in the game plan, it's going to be kind of knocked down a little bit but just having those guys building that trust and that faith within the system and the teammates has been good.”
S XAVIER NWANKPA
Q: You signed here as a UDFA. What stood out about the Chiefs that made you want to sign with the team?
NWANKPA: “The scheme. They had some departures this offseason. It was a fresh room. So, I just wanted to come in here and just be able to compete, and I feel like I was able to do that.”
Q: What did it mean to hear you made the 53-man roster?
NWANKPA: “I felt super blessed. Obviously, that's what I wanted to do, make it a tough decision and obviously, they made a decision to keep me. So, I'm pretty ecstatic and just blessed to be here and just keep working.”
Q: What's the lesson or the advice that you would give to somebody who did not get drafted and worked hard enough to make the 53?