The Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line room looks a little different these days. Not because of sweeping personnel changes, but because players who were once the young guys are now among the team’s most experienced voices.
That includes right guard Trey Smith.
Entering his sixth NFL season, Smith spoke candidly about the lessons he has learned from veterans, the responsibility of helping younger players develop, and the impact offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s return could have on a team looking
to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season.
Throughout the conversation, Smith sounded less like a player trying to establish himself and more like someone helping establish the standard for those around him.
Asked about his approach to caring for his body, Smith immediately pointed to advice he received from a former teammate and current Chicago Bears left guard.
“I think back to Joe Thuney,” Smith said during a press conference last Thursday. “He told me at a young age, ‘Hey man, I realized at an early age if I didn’t stretch every day, if I didn’t do these things, I wouldn’t be playing offensive line very long.’”
“Just trying to learn and add more things in my toolbox so I have more longevity as I keep playing,” Smith said.
It’s the type of wisdom often passed from veteran to young player — and now Smith finds himself in a position to do the same.
When asked about the growth of young offensive linemen such as left tackle Josh Simmons and left guard Kingsley Suamataia, Smith described the difficult transition every rookie faces.
“Year one’s a blur,” Smith said. “You’re trying to hold on. You had a whole college season straight into draft prep, and now you’re into a whole new organization, a whole new city, a whole new group of people.”
According to Smith, the biggest jump comes when the game finally slows down.
“The beauty of it is that first year you start to really build up your football acumen,” Smith said. “The game starts to slow down a little bit.”
That’s why he’s encouraged by what he’s seeing from the Chiefs’ younger linemen.
“I love Josh Simmons, man. I love what he’s doing,” Smith said. “Kingsley Suamataia, he’s doing a phenomenal job as well. The game is going to keep slowing down for them as they get more reps and more actual game experience.”
Smith’s comments reflected someone who understands the developmental process because he’s lived it himself.
That same veteran perspective showed up when the conversation shifted to Bieniemy’s return.
Asked what message he would have for younger players who haven’t experienced the former NFL running back’s coaching style before, Smith delivered one of the most memorable quotes of the day.
“Get it together, or he’ll get you together,” Smith said with a smile.
The laughter quickly gave way to praise.
“The thing about EB, man, he’s going to bring the energy, the passion and the intensity that we need,” Smith said.
More importantly, Smith believes players understand why Bieniemy coaches the way he does.
“He’s going to coach you hard, but you understand it’s coming out of a place of love because he sees potential and passion in what you do,” Smith said. “And he just wants you to be great.”
For a team trying to move forward after one of the most disappointing seasons of head coach Andy Reid’s tenure, accountability matters.
Asked how often last season serves as motivation, Smith didn’t hesitate.
“Every single day,” Smith said. “We’ve had a great run of success, and we have an objective and goal every single year we step onto the field, and for us, we fell short of those goals.”
Now the focus is on restoring the culture that helped make Kansas City one of the NFL’s premier organizations.
“So for us it’s how do we get back to that winning culture and where we want to be at the end of the year,” Smith said, “hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.”
Smith’s comments may not have been an official declaration of leadership, but they revealed something important nonetheless. The young offensive lineman who once leaned on veterans like Joe Thuney for guidance has become one of the veterans helping lead the next generation forward.
As Kansas City looks to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season, Smith’s role extends beyond protecting the quarterback. He’s helping pass down the standards, preparation habits, and accountability that have defined some of the most successful offensive lines of the Andy Reid era
