A familiar face is staying in Kansas City as the Chiefs keep much of the band together.
JuJu Smith-Schuster has re-signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal, according to widespread reports on Saturday.
He is now set to run it back with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid.
Smith-Schuster left Kansas City once, after winning Super Bowl LVII two years ago, but returned shortly thereafter.
He signed with the New England Patriots and played there for a season, before returning to Kansas City last August.
He learned that the grass isn’t always greener.
And clearly doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice.
In 14 games last season, Smith-Schuster caught 18 catches for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns in his return to Kansas City.
Mahomes has already gone on record saying how excited he was when Smith-Smith-Schuster initially returned for the first time, empathizing how he just gets ‘it.’
“It’s super exciting,” Mahomes said, echoing the thoughst that have seen the franchise welcome back the likes of Kareem Hunt and Mecole Hardman to the offense down the years.
“Just the person and then being in the locker room, being in the meeting rooms, he gets it, man.
“He gets how to be a pro, and then he works hard. He’s out here and he looks great.
“I’m excited for him to just continue to learn the little things that we changed in the year that he wasn’t there, but he’s picked up a lot of the stuff really fast and it’s good to have that type of guy in that receiver room.”
Smith-Schuster returned in 2024 also on a one-year deal for a little over $1 million last year, which made him a bargain for Mahomes and the Chiefs.
The numbers on his new one-year deal have yet to be reported, but the figures look to be the same as he provides a viable option behind Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown who will aim to put injury problems behind them.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Chiefs weren’t the only ones interested in the 28-year-old wide receiver.
‘The former Pro Bowler had interest elsewhere, but wanted to stay in KC,’ Schultz wrote on X.
The Chiefs will be looking to get more out of its wide receiver room and Smith-Schuster will look to do that.
He is by no means no what he once was, but he can still provide a steady veteran presence and leadership role in the receiver room.
After the Chiefs 40-22 thrashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the franchise will be looking to retool itself.
Specifically along the offensive line.
The Chiefs signed offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal to help solve its tackle issues that plagued them all last year, most notably in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have started a different left tackle in each of their five Super Bowl appearances since 2020, and used Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris and DJ Humphries at the position before moving Joe Thuney there last season.
It was a never-ending revolving door.
They are hoping Moore can be the answer.
While that remains to be seen, Mahomes and the Chiefs know exactly what they’re getting with old friend, Smith-Schuster.
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