Following last season’s preseason finale, the Kansas City Chiefs re-signed veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout had been with the Chiefs in 2022 — helping to deliver a championship in Super Bowl LVII — before departing for the New England Patriots in free agency.
After foregoing 2025’s free-agency market to stay in Kansas City, Smith-Schuster sees the benefit of being back with the Chiefs for the full offseason program — and feels very good about the choice
he made.
“Things happen for a reason,” he told reporters on Wednesday, “and I am happy to be back here playing with the guys here. It feels great; it feels like home. You know I missed the barbecue and everything else that comes with it.”
“I would say this offseason, I took a lot of focus on myself and my shape and my health… The older you get, you’ve got to compete with these young guys. So it’s nice that you know the motivation is still here — and [so is] the fire [in] my heart.”
Smith-Schuster believes he had a great training camp in St. Joseph — and after being limited by injuries in recent seasons, he’s also proud of his current health and conditioning.
“I feel like it’s the best shape I’ve ever been in,” he declared. “I feel great going into this season. [I’m] able to [play] wherever I can help at, fill in the void, fill the spots [and] keep these guys going. It’s going to be a long season with our schedule and how it is.”
And he’s looking forward to where it begins: against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil on Friday, September 5.
“I’m super excited about that,” he said, “so I’m just trying to stay ahead of the course.”
As the team’s most senior wideout, Smith-Schuster’s been asked to help get Kansas City’s younger wideouts up to speed — something that he considers his responsibility.
“I think naturally I’m a people’s person,” he explained. “So I like to help out with the guys — especially in learning plays [and] studying plays. For me, I remember when I was a rookie and some of the older guys took time out of their day — [guys] who had family or who had things going on.”
Now that the tables are turned, Smith Schuster is happy to spend at least an hour a day helping the young players get their feet under them.
“This is their livelihood,” noted Smith-Schuster. “They’ve been playing football since they were kids. So, for them, the more they can get out of a veteran, [the better]. It’s nice to help them out because I know it goes a long way, not just for them but for the future.”
Smith-Schuster has been encouraged by the performance of rookie receiver Jalen Royals — as well as the Patriots’ former second-round selection Tyquan Thornton — as they master Kansas City’s complicated offense.
“For Jalen, just being who he is — and being able to be coachable throughout these times? And seeing Tyquan grow? I’ve been with him when he was with the Patriots. So seeing him come from there to here — and [then] seeing him open up and stretch the field — has helped us out a lot. It’s pretty nice to see that these guys are coming along.”
Of course, some of the team’s new wide receivers will receive unfortunate news on Tuesday’s final cutdown, when each team’s 90-man roster must be trimmed to 53.
“My advice to them,” said Smith-Schuster, “is [use] every opportunity to make the best of it. For a lot of young guys, I would say throughout the preseason, [when] you get those chances to go out there, you work — whether it’s blocking, making plays [or] catching the football.
“For a lot of them, it’s also for other scouts — [because] all other 31 teams look at our film and vice-versa. So what they put on tape, they’re all getting evaluated [from it].
“For the guys who make this team, just know [that in] every position, go out there, be coachable [and] be a sponge.”
