The Kansas City Chiefs held an introductory press conference for their first three free-agent signings of the offseason on Thursday. Veteran safety Alohi Gilman was among those speaking to reporters, and it was immediately clear that he was ready for the challenge ahead.
Gilman signed a three-year, $24.75 million deal earlier this week to replace Bryan Cook, who signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. When Gilman stood in front of the podium, he didn't seem like a man who would need considerable time to adjust. Instead, he sounded anxious to dive into what was asked with a study habit that was already at work.
"With coach [Steve Spagnuolo] and his defense, he's a mastermind, a guru," said Gilman. "I've watched all the clips. I've watched them. I've been in the division, you know? So I'm excited to learn and get better myself."
The Chiefs introduced Alohi Gilman to the media on Thursday, and he already sounds like an ideal addition for Spags' secondary.
Gilman said he'd been able to have a conversation with Spags, and he was ready for the task. "Really excited to learn from him, grow from him. He's put out, obviously, you know, a couple of decades of some ballers, obviously, from when he was at the Giants, here. So just connecting with him and seeing ways where I could get better, and just push my game to the highest level."
Gilman played free safety for the Ravens last season, after being dealt in the Odafe Oweh trade with the L.A. Chargers, and he describes the position in terms that should appeal to a DC who treats the secondary like a chessboard. Gilman says the mental aspect of his role is what he's perfecting now.
"I've evolved over the years from college to now," said Gilman. "You know, as a young cat, you want to go and just run into everything and hit everything, and you still have that mentality. But for me, it's just the mental part of coming in and finding every way to gain inches, yards, feet in this game.
"That's what safety's about—seeing the whole field, playing that chess match against the best quarterbacks in the league, the Joe Burrows, the Patrick Mahomes, the Aaron Rodgers, all the guys, Josh Allen. So for me, I love that game. That's what brings the best out of me as a player, as a competitor.
"The physical stuff is what it is. You're going to come out there, and you're going to go and hoop and ball, and that's what it is. But the mental part as a safety is what I love, playing that chess match. I've had many battles with Mahomes, and unfortunately, it hasn't always ended the right way I wanted. But, you know, I'm glad to be a part of this opportunity and to go out there and play my brand of football."
Gilman admits he doesn't have much experience playing alongside his new teammates in the secondary, but a close friend on defense helped in the process of bringing him to Kansas City. Drue Tranquill played with Gilman at the collegiate and professional levels already, so his presence in the second level was a draw in free agency.
"Yeah, Drue's my guy. He's been recruiting me hard here. That's my third agent, so Drew's been doing his thing," said Gilman. I've had good conversations with him, obviously, over the years. Played with him at Notre Dame, with the Chargers, crossed over as well. So much respect for him as a warrior, as a player, as a teammate, just as a friend. So got a lot of respect for him.
"That's my guy. I'll go to war with him any day, and excited to strap it up with him. I'm just really excited about the opportunity."