Chiefs Coordinator Quotes
August 12, 2026
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB
Q: How important is Saturday for the rookies to get some real, full speed experience?
TOUB: “I can’t wait because for me this is the time I get to evaluate whether a guy can block and tackle on special teams, live tackling to the ground. Plus, you are hitting someone else. I mean these guys have been hitting each other for a few weeks now, and it’s getting old. It really is getting old. The same thing over and over again, so this is going to be great to have a game.”
Q: What more would you like to see from WR Nikko Remigio this year in the return game?
TOUB: “More touchdowns, that would be great. His vision really improved, I think. You see it in practice, he’ll see a crack in the middle. Instead of running all the way around it, he will plant a foot and get up field and get 15 to 20 extra yards. Those are the ones that sometimes pop you and get out on you in a hurry. He’s catching the ball great. I am really pleased with where he is at right now.”
Q: On TE Travis Kelce’s career.
TOUB: “14 years. To do it 14 years in the NFL, that’s saying something. Even as a coach it’s hard. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s got energy. He’s out there getting everybody fired up for the long drive drill. I don’t see anything less or different in (TE Travis) Kelce this year.”
Q: On the evolution of P Matt Araiza.
TOUB: “Yeah, this is his third year. He’s improved on his touch on his pooch punts. He is really bombing the ball now. You will see a lot of kicks over 5.0 hang time. If he can hang the ball up 5.0, it doesn’t matter who we have at gunner, they’re going to be able to cover. He cleans up a lot as far as that goes. He is really having a great camp right now. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the game, too.”
Chiefs Players Quotes
August 12, 2026
TE TRAVIS KELCE
Q: Before we get into football stuff, how was your wedding, the rest of your summer, what's was it like?
KELCE: “It was a fun offseason, man. Wedding was the best night of my life. I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That's about all I really got from that night. It was a crazy night, it was full of a lot of celebration, but it's football, baby.”
Q: Is there something about training camp and spending time in the dorms at Missouri Western State University that you look forward to?
KELCE: “It's always going to be my sanctuary. I think St. Joe's got a special place in my heart. You need to have these days. You need to have this time of grinding with the guys, being around them all day, every day. You start to create that chemistry and that standard of how we're going to do things. This year, it's ramped up even more, especially on the offensive side of the ball. It feels good to have the leaders out there all feeling the same thing.”
Q: What is the difference between now and your first year in the league?
KELCE: “I mean year one, I was just trying to make the team, I guess. So, I think this year, not only making the team, but trying to figure out how I can bring guys along with me and show them how to play championship football. I think that's a big thing. And then be able to just enjoy these moments with the guys that I built this culture with. (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid and guys like (QB) Pat (Mahomes) and (DT) Chris Jones and (DE) George (Karlaftis) and everybody.”
Q: When you say you want to be better than last year, what areas are you looking to improve in?
KELCE: “All aspects of football, man. Being more accountable when the ball is in the air. There were a few games last year that I felt like I put on myself. In the blocking world, being able to get my guys so we can spring guys for bigger gains. And then on top of that, just being a better leader. When we get stuck with adversity hidden, who's going to want you in that foxhole with (them)? And that's one of those things that I want to be one of those guys that everybody counts on to be there and get us out of that foxhole.”
Q: This is QB Patrick Mahomes’ 10th season. I just wonder if you might recall some of your first interactions with him and the arc of your relationship with him since then.
KELCE: “One of the most surprising things you'll ever find out about playing with (QB) Pat Mahomes is the guy's got a good cadence. There's something with the frequency of his voice. And when he says ‘hut hut’, it really gets you to mentally—when you're tired, you’ve really got to lock in because that frequency can get you to jump no matter what. It's a good cadence. Everybody knows I love that guy. That's a brother to me. So proud of the way he handled adversity from last year to right now. Obviously, we’ve still got about a month, less than a month till the first game. But you see him out here, man. You see him enjoying the game, competing at a high level, not thinking about the knee. And he's playing his tail off right now and leading us is the biggest thing. When you get your leaders out there, your best players out there, and they're setting the tone, setting the standard of the team. As long as 1-5 is out there doing that, man, we're going to be a good football team.”
Q: How excited are you to bring back your connection with QB Patrick Mahomes based on how last season went?
KELCE: “I mean, we've got a lot of great players on this offense. It's not just me. We've got some young guys that can play in (WR) Cyrus Allen, (WR) Jalen Royals. Obviously, (WR Tyquan) Quan (Thornton) is coming back. He's looking great running down the field. And then we've got (WR) Xavier Worthy, who if you see him in the offseason, we've just got to get him a little healthy right now. But that man, he's a man on a mission right now, and I love the way he's working and his attention to detail and how he's running his routes and just the aggression that he's running his routes in. When we get him back out here, man, we'll be a full arsenal. And I think (QB) Pat (Mahomes) has done an unbelievable job of not only getting himself ready for here but working with these receivers and making sure that everybody's living up to that standard of how we're going to play this year. And you can't forget (WR) Rashee Rice, man. Rashee Rice is out here working his tail off, trying to get right as well and we love (number) four for getting out here and getting through these dog days, knowing he's coming off a knee surgery.”
Q: What did it mean to get married in Madison Square Garden?
KELCE: “MSG, man. I always told myself I'd go for a playoff game when the Knicks were rocking and my wife (Taylor Swift) went when I was stuck in a training minicamp. So, I didn't get my opportunity to go then. So, it's kind of cool to be able to live out my childhood dream of being in that venue and the mecca of all sports venues, being able to get married in there, I can't thank the owners of MSG for allowing us to get the opportunity to do that, knowing that we wanted a private event and everything. So, it was perfect and the A.C. was cooking, baby. That was the best part.”
P MATT ARAIZA
Q: How’s the operation going with K Harrison Butker and LS James Winchester as you’ve been together for a few years now?
ARAIZA: “Yeah, it’s good. I mean, the longer you play with people (K Harrison Butker and LS James Winchester) you learn their tendencies, you learn where their mind goes on gameday and stuff like that, so it’s definitely helped our chemistry grow over the last couple of years.”
Q: What’s the difference between kicking the ball hard and kicking the ball high?
ARAIZA: “It’s like two completely different swings. It’s like in golf, like your driver vs your 60 degree. I mean, there’s different thought processes on both of them because there’s different outcomes that you want, so, really, it’s kind of completely keeping them separate that’s helped me.”
Q: What have you seen so far from K Harrison Butker out here?
ARAIZA: “Yeah, we’ve change our practice process a little bit. We’ve been bouncing around specifically for field goal period vs the traditional start close and finish with the far kicks. But, just continuing to learn, continuing to grow, dial in our process. It’s been a good camp so far.”
T KAHLIL BENSON
Q: How is camp going for you?
BENSON: “It’s been really good, man. I think it’s really helpful for all of us. Actually, everything’s been going good. I mean, I see everything as beneficial, with the team, everything, when it comes to the teammates and they’re lifting us up, especially as rookies. You want to do the best that you can, especially just trying to keep the coaches and how they’re supposed to be. Really taking those coaching points and really keep everything in, moving forward.”
Q: Did you have any conversations with the Chiefs prior to the draft?
BENSON: “Honestly, I just kind of kept my head down. I knew my time was going to come and really just stay humble, and stay faithful, and kept praying to God. Just making sure I was ready to be on call when it was that time.”
Q: What do you take pride in as an offensive lineman?