The Kansas City Chiefs may own the record for longest punt return in Super Bowl history thanks to their partnership with wide receiver Kadarius Toney, but they clearly did get the long-term starter they thought they acquired when they brought the former New York Giants starlet in via a trade.
Toney, who has since been released by the Chiefs, has not found a ton of NFL success outside of Kansas City. In a recent podcast appearance, Toney tried to talk nicely about quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his overall status as the best quarterback in the league, though some cynical fans might see this as an attempt to send overtures to Andy Reid in pursuit of another job.
“The moment I realized that, like one practice, the man threw some like a jump (pass). It was a crazy pass, I don’t know what kind of pass he threw,” Toney said. “I wish I had recorded it on film. The man threw a crazy pass. I’m like, yeah, he’s different…I ain’t never seen nobody doing like, they’re not even playing an overall video, and it was on the money.”
Things didn’t end well between Toney and the Chiefs, and he is trying everything he can to get in the good graces of as many fanbases as possible. Trying to suck up to Mahomes isn’t going to be enough to convince the Chiefs to give him yet another chance.
Kadarius Toney trying to suck up to Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes praise
Toney, who was picked in the first round by the Giants, was traded to the Chiefs midway through his second season after failing to show the necessary improvements as an overall receiver. The Chiefs tried everything possible to get Toney in top condition on and off the field, but nothing seemed to work.
Between multiple back-breaking drops, tipped balls that led to interceptions, and more general nonsense that had nothing to do with football, Toney was never going to evolve into one of Mahomes’ more reliable targets. The Chiefs quickly ended their partnership when that became clear.
After an ill-fated cameo with the Browns and some off-field problems that are still hanging over his head, it seems unlikely that anyone is going to give Toney a second chance. His punt return in the Super Bowl will be remembered forever, but he may have talked (and played, most certainly) his way out of a spot in the NFL.
