In Kansas City, culture isn’t some fake motivational poster. It’s lived every day. Especially since Andy Reid took over the reins in 2013. Ask anyone in the building. Back in November, the defense was rocking “In Spags We Trust” shirts like a badge of honor. But the love and respect are mutual. Chris Jones put it best when someone stole Mike Pennel’s car last season before the game 9 against the Broncos.

“I went and told Spags,” Jones said. “I wasn’t lending Mike my car. So, I said, ‘Spags, Mike got his car stolen.’ And Spags asked him, ‘Do you want to use my car?’” That’s the DC handing over his keys. “You have certain guys in the building where you can depend on them for anything,” Jones said. “Spags is one of those guys.”

That kind of trust bleeds into everything. Meetings, practices, Sunday drives. “Everybody is excited to be in the building,” Jones added. “It’s a place we enjoy coming into.” That’s not lip service. It’s why vets like Mike Pennel keep coming back, and they wanna continue. Now, after re-signing with the Chiefs, he summed it up with four words that said everything: “Until KC stops calling, we gonna keep answering.”

So, yeah, Pennel’s coming back for Year 13, and it’s not just nostalgia. The Chiefs lost Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton in free agency and needed depth. They already signed Jerry Tillery — a move that looked like a possible transition plan. But as the roster shifted, the front office circled back to someone who knew the building, the system, and the culture. Pennel played all 17 games last year, started a career-high seven, and handled 30% of the defensive snaps.

And if you’ve forgotten what Pennel brings when the lights are brightest, rewind Super Bowl LIV. Niners had the ground game rolling… until Pennel wrecked a run and flipped the energy. That one stop helped turn the tide. He was mic’d up that night too — pure chaos in the best way: “I’M A BEAST DOWN HERE… HIT ME!” The man was a one-man riot in the trenches en route to the 31-20 dub.

That kind of presence — vocal, violent, and vibe-setting — is what you need when January football gets real. Pennel’s not here for the nostalgia tour. He’s here to plug gaps, fire up the room, and maybe make one more championship moment.

Still, this wasn’t just a football decision for him. It was personal. “My son motivating me, going, ‘Oh, we still playing football? We still playing in Kansas City?’” Pennel said. “Yeah, yeah—so we got to do it.” He didn’t need to sell it hard. The love for the locker room and the leadership speaks volumes: “If the franchise and coaches still believe in me to come back for year 13… by all means — I’m there.”

Basically, this is the kinda love and trust that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet. You’ve got to hear it firsthand. And apparently, it’s the kind that gets you one more year in red and gold. Maybe, just maybe, it’s the kind that might push Brett Veach to change his draft plans.

Andy Reid and Brett Veach might look for a ‘new juice’ in draft

There’s a twist in Missouri regarding their draft plans. Brett Veach, the mastermind behind Kansas City’s draft room, might be more open to skipping night one of the NFL Draft than we thought. Yep, the same GM known for trading up in Round 1 is now publicly toying with the idea of moving back. “I think that could be in our wheelhouse,” Veach said, suggesting Kansas City might trade out of the first entirely. Wild, right?

But before you assume he’s just bluffing—nah, this isn’t poker. There’s an actual strategy behind it. According to The Athletic, the Chiefs have just 12-13 players with a true “first-round grade” this year. In a typical draft, that number’s closer to 15-19. So if Veach doesn’t see a player at 31 worth the premium slot? He’s not reaching. Not even for a shiny pass rusher or a flashy wideout.

Per Nate Taylor: “If the Chiefs are unable to acquire Josh Simmons or another left tackle prospect in the first round, Veach could pivot his plans toward selecting an ascending defensive lineman with plenty of pass-rushing juice.” In simple words, they are improving the security for Patrick Mahomes, and that’s it. No, grasping at straws in an already stacked roster.

So, Veach is eyeing what he calls a “secondary wave” of talent. That meaty chunk of Day 2 players have starter potential. It makes sense, too. Kansas City has no fifth- or sixth-round picks this year. So, that’s a massive 93-pick black hole they’ll be sitting through. You think Veach, the guy who once flipped a seventh-rounder into Charvarius Ward, is just going to chill for three hours? No shot.

However, yes, of course, all of this hinges on one big “if.” Veach says they’re always open to calls from teams trying to jump up for a quarterback, but those calls? “Haven’t happened yet,” he deadpanned. He hears that suggestion every year—“just trade back with a QB-needy team”—and every year… crickets. “Maybe this will be the year,” he added, half hopeful, half laughing.

So while trading down feels possible, maybe even probable, don’t get too comfy. Brett Veach is unpredictable by design. Patience has always been the cakewalk for the Chiefs heading into the draft. This year, those tactics shouldn’t really change, either. But the intrigue’s going to keep building, that’s for sure.