Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Mahomes stress importance of voter registration

Some Chiefs players discussed a forthcoming voter registration initiative.

A few members of the Kansas City Chiefs have been in the news over the last couple weeks for using their platforms and influence to share their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. To take things even further, those players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes and safety Tyrann Mathieu, are shouldering the load for a new initiative that would register people to vote.

As the protests continue in cities coast to coast (and even globally) for Black Lives Matter, the quotes from Mahomes and Mathieu in recent days to reporters show that they’re already thinking about next steps—ways to galvanize the momentum of this movement toward lasting measures. For both players, voting is that “call to action,” as Mathieu says, that is needed because protests alone won’t change a thing.

"“If we are to really give those people a voice and really allow those people to go into their communities and really select their leaders, I think that’s going to be very, very important going forward. I think if you’re going to change anything, you’re going to have to educate people on what it is that they have to do to change things — more than just protesting. They have to really find a call to action.”"

Andy Reid recently held a press conference and hinted at an announcement to come soon concerning voter registration. It’s clear that not only is the Chiefs head coach behind his players but the entire team is positioned to support whatever is coming through the pipeline—from owner Clark Hunt all the way down.

Mahomes was quick to clarify that the players aren’t pushing any specific agenda in terms of who to vote for specifically.

"“We can sit here all day and talk about a lot of different things, right? And most of those topics are very sensitive; they’re very tough conversations. I think voter registration isn’t one of those conversations. I think it impacts everybody. I think everybody can be a part of that.”"

Details are not yet available for the project and it will be interesting to see whether this is a Chiefs-centric push or whether or not the entirety of the NFL gets on board with it as well. Other teams are beginning to come out with their own plans while others like the Minnesota Vikings are leaning in to efforts already up and running, such as the team’s social justice committee formed in 2018.

The NFL is already putting a lot of money behind such endeavors which included an announcement on Thursday of a $250 million commitment over the next decade to combat systemic racism. Some organizations who have received money already from the NFL for these efforts include the United Negro College Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.