Arrowhead Pride
On Wednesday, Kansas City’s return man discussed his clutch postseason and the importance of his heritage with host Kay Adams.
A key player in the Kansas City Chiefs’ ascension to the team’s third consecutive Super Bowl is second-year wide receiver Nikko Remigio, who has only been on the active roster since December 7.
As the team’s primary punt and kickoff returner since Mecole Hardman’s ultimately season-ending injury, Remigio has delivered two monster special teams plays that started Kansas City drives deep in opponent territory in the first two games.
Remigio appeared on Wednesday’s episode of the Up and Adams Show on FANDUEL TV to discuss his postseason heroics.
“I don’t know that I could ever get used to this,” he told host Kay Adams of clinching a trip to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. “This is year two for me, and this is my first year actually contributing. It’s definitely a special moment for me.”
Remigio announced his presence with authority by opening the Chiefs’ Divisional Round victory over the Houston Texans with a 60-yard return on the opening kickoff. He claims to have predicted his success to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub before the game.
“Going into the game,” he recalled, “I had told our head special teams coach, Coach Toub, that, ‘I’m about to hit it today. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but I’m about to hit it.’ He called a middle return right out of the gate, and that’s exactly what happened.”
A week later, with the stakes even higher, Remigio recorded a 41-yard punt return in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills to start a drive at the Buffalo 34-yard line. Six plays later, the return set up quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ first rushing score of the night.
Remigio had called for a fair catch on Buffalo’s first punt. He revealed a conversation with tight end Travis Kelce that helped him take advantage of his second opportunity.
“This was the first punt that they kicked, and I went and fair caught it on the 10,” explained Remigio. “Really, I had some room, and I had an opportunity to take the punt. But I was like, ‘Man, this is my first time being in the AFC Championship Game. Let me just get my feet wet a little bit.’
“I went, and I ran to the sidelines. [Kelce] was like, ‘That’s not being great.’ I’m like, ‘He’s right.’ I went out there for the next punt, and I was like, ‘I’m taking it regardless.’ He was the first one to greet me coming to the sideline, and he was like, ‘That’s how you be great, Dog!’ I was like, ‘Man, this is a dream.’”
One of Remigio’s nominally three offensive snaps against the Bills was the final kneel-down, allowing time to expire. This allowed him to be the first player to interact with Mahomes as the Chiefs officially punched their ticket to New Orleans.
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