Hello Addicts! It feels good to return to Arrowhead Addict after a hiatus that lasted way too long. For my triumphant return as a contributor, I had an incredible opportunity to sit down with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chase Litton for an interview.
Litton was the third-string quarterback for the Chiefs last season, and is a favorite to sit in the same seat this year. He signed with the team last offseason as a rookie free agent out of Marshall and impressed the team enough to beat out Matt McGloin in the preseason.
Litton and I both train at the same gym, Zone 6 Fitness, and we sat down one day after working out to talk football, dogs, and Kansas City.
AA: Tell us your football story. Where did this all begin for you?
Chase: It all started when I was a little kid. Whether it was playing with my brothers or my friends. Playing flag football in little league, and then in high school.
AA: How did you end up on the Chiefs?
Chase: When I was getting ready to enter the college level, I had zero offers. I was actually going to go to a prep school and reclassify to 2015. Marshall was the school I was going to go to, and Doc Holliday said ‘You know Chase, we can offer you a scholarship to come here as a 2015 recruit, you’re just gonna have to report here in January.’
So I had six months of no football. It was crazy. I just worked out and found some local guys who were still in high school to throw to. That was my time for six months. Then, I stepped in January 1st of 2015 with Marshall. I was there from 2015-2017. I played as a freshman, played all three years there.
I left early and went undrafted. Coach Reid and Brett Veach gave me an opportunity. Obviously you don’t turn that down. So I got a chance. They signed me right after the draft and then we started rookie minicamp.
AA: What was getting that phone call from the Chiefs like?
Chase: I think everybody wants that call, you know? Sitting there on the couch with my family, my phone ringing. I never got that. That is what it is. But that didn’t stop me from not getting a better call later in life.
Whatever your passion, your journey is—that put a little chip on my shoulder because there are some guys out there who did get drafted that you, personally, feel you are better than them. If you don’t feel like that, you shouldn’t play football, especially at this position.
So, when they gave me that opportunity, I talked to them. I went there and I signed on to be part of the organization. I wouldn’t change it.
AA: Walk me through a typical day of practice.
Chase: Usually up at 5:30 in the morning, get there around 6 at the latest, get in the hot tub/cold tub to start. Go upstairs, eat a good breakfast then go right into meetings. We do our installs up in there, Start going over installs on your own, meeting with your coach. Then meetings with the o-linemen, Walk-through, then eat lunch, and then we are right out on the field.
Our warm-ups are always the same. Go through our drills that Coach Kaf has for us. It’s fire; it comes quick. You have to be prepared. Eat a good lunch then stretch or do whatever you need to do to be ready. You know, when I see Chad stretch, I think ‘I’m still young, I don’t need to stretch’. But, you see guys like him doing that and you realize that’s what you’ve gotta do to be a pro. Chad’s helped me out a lot. Even without him saying things, just his actions alone show me how to be a pro.
AA: Did you have a player you looked up to as a kid?
Chase: Absolutely. That was Peyton Manning. I remember getting the call from Archie about getting accepted to the Manning Passing Academy. I was super nervous and excited but I also wanted to ask ‘Is Peyton there?’
AA: How do you keep yourself sharp between games and in the offseason?
Chase: Playing football, especially at this position, you have to take your work home with you. So I take my work home and I study it day in and day out. I want to be a student of the game. You want to stay on top of it and be ready. You never know when your number will be called, when it’s your time to step up. I obviously didn’t get that chance last year but I might this year and I have to be ready.
On our film days I sometimes get asked to watch film for Pat (Mahomes) and help him get better at his game. I even see guys like Chad go and talk to him during practice and stuff and I listen. He may not be talking to me but I still listen because there are things I can learn.
AA: What do you think of the Kansas City area and the fans?
Chase: Oh, I have never seen a fan base that is so passionate yet respectful and uplifting. I mean, you have your bad apples, but these fans have always had encouraging things to say and are as loud as they come!
AA: Alright, I have saved the best question for last. Batman or Superman?
Chase: Batman, without a doubt!
I want to extend a big thanks to Chase for the opportunity to do this interview, and thanks to Zone 6 Fitness for allowing this interview to take place. I can only speak for myself here, but I am a fan for life. It is good to finally be back. Thanks for reading Addicts. Go Chiefs!