KC Chiefs: Creed Humphrey is focused on team goals over individual awards

The K.C. Chiefs are used to having some individual players earn quite a bit of postseason hardware these days given the level of star power. Rookie center Creed Humphrey really doesn’t want much to do with that.

That’s not at all to say that the Chiefs who have won individual awards—whether that’s a league MVP or an All-Pro honor—are focused on individual achievements. Rather, Humphrey just makes it crystal clear to those around him that football is a team game and he only cares how the team fares. That is his primary focus.

The Chiefs selected Humphrey in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft as part of a massive offensive line overhaul that included significant signings like Joe Thuney, a blockbuster trade for Orlando Brown Jr. and some savvy draft picks—including Humphrey and sixth-round steal Trey Smith out of Tennessee.

The team made Humphrey available to reporters on Monday after the team’s latest padded practice at St. Joseph for training camp. When asked about his goals this season, Humphrey made it clear he’s here to help the Chiefs in whatever way that means.

Creed Humphrey has a team-first focus for KC Chiefs.

“To help the team in any way I can,” said Humphrey to the question. “I’m not a guy who’s going to go and try to win any individual awards or things. I want to put my team in the best position to win, so that’s my whole thinking is whatever I can do to help the team the most.”

Earlier in the offseason, the Chiefs decided to allow Austin Reiter to hit free agency, and there was some rumors the team was interested in bringing him back, but they signed Austin Blythe, formerly of the L.A. Rams, to a one-year deal instead. Blythe started all 16 games last year and gave the Chiefs a stop-gap solution. However, when the Chiefs invested such an early pick at center, it was clear that Humphrey would have a path to immediate starter if he wanted.

That’s a good thing, because Humphrey also described a tension or counterbalance to what he was saying about team goals. He obviously wants to help in any way he can and is willing to do what he is told. At the same time, he wants to be an active participant in helping his teammates achieve their collective goals.

“In my position, I’m not a guy who necessarily wants to come in and be a role player,” said Humphrey. “I want to be able to get out there and play the game. That’s everybody’s mindset in the NFL, and I know that only comes if I prepare right and take every day the way I should take it. That’s what I’m trying to do right now is to keep working on my craft every day and attack each day.”

Humphrey has been out there with the first-team unit for the majority of training camp, and the first official depth chart cemented his foothold on the starting center position. After 37 starts against elite competition atop the Big 12 (and nearly 2,500 snaps), it makes sense why Humphrey would be as pro-ready as he is. The learning curve is there for everyone, yes, but some players have a better on-ramp than others.