Chiefs star breaks down in tears, honoring promise to late mom

Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith could not hide his emotions after a whirlwind couple of days.  On Tuesday, Smith revealed to reporters the motivation he carried for his entire life that led him to his recent historic four-year $94 million contract with the Chiefs.  “I lost my mom when I was 15,” Smith told reporters while tearing up.  “I made two promises to her: that I would get my degree and play in the NFL. I didn’t promise her I’d be the highest paid, but I made a promise, man.”  Smith has now fulfilled both those pledges.  In December 2020, he earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation and sports management from the University of Tennessee.

                                                                 Smith is highly rated by his teammates and coaches

He would later be drafted by the Chiefs and go on to win two Super Bowl titles with the franchise.  Now, the 26-year-old has been rewarded with a market-setting contract that is worth $94 million and includes $70 million in guarantees — a record for an NFL guard.  “My parents sacrificed so much for me to be here. So much,” Smith added.  “To have that moment with them, it’s special, bro. It’s special. And it’s something I won’t take for granted.”

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach shared his delight at tying Smith down to a new deal after some initial challenges.  “Given the talent and cultural impact a player like Trey brings to an organization, he was a priority for us,” Veach said.  “Extensions off of a franchise tag can be challenging for players, teams and agents to get done. When we started negotiations in February, we knew there would be a lot of hurdles.  “It was clear that if Trey hit the market this offseason, he likely would have received contract offers at or above the franchise tag number on an annual basis.”

Where does Trey Smith’s contract rank amongst NFL guards?

Smith’s average annual salary of $23.5 million puts top of the list of the highest-paid offensive guards in the NFL.  Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles sits second with an annual salary of $21 million year, while Atlanta Falcons star Chris Lindstrom is just below with $20.5 million.  Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Hunt of the Carolina Panthers are tied at fourth with an annual salary of $20 million

How did Patrick Mahomes react to Trey Smith’s new deal?

When news broke last week of Smith’s extension, his teammate Patrick Mahomes used his X account to post a beaming face with a smiling emoji in reaction.  Then in his training camp press conference, Mahomes expanded on his delight at seeing not only Smith’s new deal but also defensive end George Karlaftis’ extension.  “I’m extremely excited, more than the player, the people that they are. I mean, y’all know Trey, y’all know George.  “They come to work every single day, attack the day, great teammates, great people in the community, and that’s
what you want on your team,” Mahomes told the media.   The Chiefs’ preparations for the new NFL season began on Tuesday with their first pre-season game set for August 10 against the Arizona Cardinals.