Arrowhead Pride
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub commented on his kick returner on Friday.
Nothing has come easily for Kansas City Chiefs kick returner Nikko Remigio. He spent all of last season on the practice squad and didn’t even have a space in the locker room; his locker was in the equipment room last season.
But when the Chiefs veteran return man Mecole Hardman went down with a knee injury earlier this year, it opened the door for Remigio to get his shot, and he seized the moment and hasn’t looked back since.
Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said that beyond his work ethic, part of the reason Remigio has seen so much early success on punt returns is that he is still improving as a return man every week.
“During the regular season, he got better and better and better,” Toub remarked. “And now, in the playoffs, he’s really hitting his stride, and his confidence is high. And that’s what you want in a punt and kick returner is confidence.”
Along with his confidence, Toub said that he was impressed by Remigio’s tenacity.
Tenacity is a trademark of Filipino culture. When times get tough, you don’t just dwell on it, you keep fighting (or, “laban lang,” as they say in Tagalog, which translates to just fight).
Remigio said while he was on the “Up and Adams Show” with Kay Adams last week that his Filipino culture is important to him and is one of his primary motivations.
“I’m half-Filipino,” said Remigio. “My culture [and] my nationality is everything to me. To be able to represent the Philippines – there’s not too many Filipino athletes doing it at this stage, especially in the NFL. To be able to represent my culture and my family, it’s a big driver in why I’m here today. To be able to represent them in a positive light is what it’s all about for me.”
Culture, family, community and teamwork are all things that are deeply embedded in Filipino culture. Pinoys are known for displaying unique optimism even in the most challenging times. You could even say it’s a core tenet of Filipino society — or Bayanihan, which is known in the Philippines.
The term has its roots in a long-held practice in the Philippines of neighbors helping a family relocate by literally picking up their house on bamboo poles and carrying it to its new location. This was all done with a festive spirit, and when the house would reach its final location, the family whose home was moved would throw a party or a fiesta for everyone.
The Philippines is a country that has seen wars, dictatorships, and more natural disasters than you can count, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone feeling sorry for themselves.
And it’s this never-surrender spirit that has helped Remigio. Toub said that once Remigio got his shot, he wouldn’t let it go.
“He never gave up,” said Toub. “He did such...
