The Kansas City had other options at returner this preseason. They chose the sure thing.
On Monday, special teams coordinator Dave Toub, who is also the team's assistant head coach, couldn’t have been clearer about Nikko Remigio’s standing as Kansas City’s primary return man.
"You think about Nikko, he’s been our starter," said Toub. "For the last eight games that we’ve played, he’s been our guy. I’ve gotten used to having him back there.
"He just keeps getting better, and he really had a great training camp. He’s become a leader for us as far as his work ethic and everything he’s about. He’s a great teammate, and he’s a good guy, really. I’m happy he’s on the team.”
That glowing endorsement tracks with how the Chiefs built out their roster to start the season. With Rashee Rice beginning a six-game suspension, Kansas City opened the year carrying eight wide receivers, a deliberate hedge that also locks in Remigio’s role on teams. The club’s initial 53-man roster listed eight wideouts (including Remigio), and Rice’s status explains why the number is temporarily high.
Dave Toub's comments (and the Chiefs' decisions) say everything about Remigio's perceived future with the team.
That said, the Chiefs could have funneled returns to someone else to keep the positional demands lighter. Rookie running back Brashard Smith got looks on returns this summer, and Tyquan Thornton is a fallback option as well. But practice reps and public comments (like Toub's) made it clear that Smith and Thornton were “in the mix” considerations. No one was going to replace Remigio.
Remigio seized the Chiefs' return gig down the stretch last season and never gave it back. He logged 11 kickoff returns for 295 yards (26.8 yards/return) and 11 punt returns for 104 yards (9.5-yard average) across five games. Carry that into three postseason games (where the averages jump to 30.1 yards/kickoff and 19.0 yards/punt, respectively) and you arrive at Toub’s “last eight” figure.
Remigio's splash plays were real, too. He opened the Divisional Round with a 63-yard kickoff return that immediately flipped the field against the Houston Texans. He also ripped off a 44-yard punt return in the AFC title game in Buffalo to set up points before halftime. Those high-leverage moments in the postseason did wonders for his future fortunes.
Toub is clear: Remigio has earned this. He provided the team with a steady hand down the stretch, and now he's being trusted from the outset. With Week 1 against the L.A. Chargers in Brazil on deck, a team that has played K.C. very close since Jim Harbaugh took over, the Chiefs decided to go with their most trusted asset on special teams. The decision could make all the difference.