Kansas City Chiefs: Gehrig Dieter’s dream is now a reality

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Gehrig Dieter has been called up and will play in his first NFL game on Monday Night Football. Hard work pays off.

With the injury bug bothering some members of the Kansas City Chiefs receiving group, it was time for Andy Reid and company to make a move. That move was to call up Gehrig Dieter from the practice squad.

Gehrig signed as an undrafted free agent last season, and spent the entire season on the Chiefs practice squad. He quickly became close friends and roommates with Patrick Mahomes, and the two remain as close today.

Dieter is everywhere. He is constantly hanging out with his teammates that get to play on Sunday’s each week—high profile guys. Just last week Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Gehrig were ringside for a WWE event. Gehrig was with Mahomes at Royals games, Nascar events, haunted houses, and Halloween parties.

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Dieter is constantly showcased with his teammates when anything humorous is involved, as well as all the local charitable events. Dieter is a Chief. He brings a certain flavor to this team—always has a smile on his face, always working his hardest to be in a position to take the next step.

Hard work pays off. Not only is he being called up, but his first NFL game is one of the most anticipated regular-season games in decades.

There is a possibility he only sees action on special teams, but if you have paid attention to his career, that’s a good thing for the Chiefs.

The possibility of him seeing a target or two are pretty great. The connection between Mahomes and Dieter is obviously strong off the field, and Dieter possesses a set of hands that simply doesn’t drop passes. He can also run routes with the best of them.

In a celebratory text to his parents, the reply I received is exactly what you thought it would be. Derek Dieter, Gehrig’s dad, replied just seconds later with what could only be expected: “When he text us to let us know, his mom and I just sat crying in a parking lot in front of Pier One.”

It’s been a long road for Dieter, his fiance Meg, and his entire support group of family and friends. He broke records in high school as a receiver, and he spent time at Bowling Green before transferring to Alabama for his final collegiate season. On draft night he was certain he was getting drafted, but the phone never rang.

Since then Andy Reid has kept him hidden, tucked into the depths of the practice squad, seemingly knowing he selfishly had something in Dieter that he didn’t want anyone else to have.

All the hard work. All the disappointment. All the stress. With one call, it was all worth it. We seldom make our own paths; for Dieter, he has taken each hurdle with stride.

In an interview you can read here, Meg mentions how he handles the stress better than she does. Always keeping his head up, always having faith in himself. Life isn’t easy on the practice squad. Meg wrote a heartfelt piece on the struggles of what every family goes through that is trying to make the team when he was originally cut, and then added to the practice squad.

No matter what the extent of his play time is on Monday night, Gehrig has achieved what millions of fans and millions of young kids have dreamed about: playing in the NFL.

Two years ago I knew very little about Gehrig. After two years of coverage and interest, its safe to say that the Chiefs are a better team with him on it, and Kansas City is a better place for having him and fiance in it as well.