Super Bowl ring ceremony bonds these Chiefs, even the ones who have moved on from KC
They came from Cleveland, Washington, D.C., New England and other corners of the country to share in the spoils of the Chiefs’ greatest triumph.
A Super Bowl ring ceremony isn’t just for the returning players, but all who contributed to the Chiefs’ conquest of the Philadelphia Eagles in February for their second Super Bowl championship in four years.
Players no longer with the Chiefs, like safety Juan Thornhill, relished the moments he shared with his former teammates.
“This is everything you work for ... you have a ring ceremony with all your teammates,” Thornhill said.
Thornhill came from Cleveland, where he signed a three-year deal in March after spending his first four seasons with the Chiefs. He arrived with a ring strategy.
Thornhill was wearing two rings, one from the Super Bowl LIV victory from his rookie season and an AFC Championship Game ring from the next year, when the Chiefs fell in the Super Bowl at Tampa. He said the new ring was sized to fit the finger of his AFC title game jewelry, and he was wearing it for the first — and only — time on Thursday.
“I’ll take this one off and put the new one on,” Thornhill said, pointing to the AFC Championship ring.
Also walking the red carpet before entering the event at Union Station were players like wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who came up with seven receptions in the Super Bowl and is now with the New England Patriots.
New Washington Commanders were well-represented. Moving to D.C. along with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy were tackle Andrew Wylie and wide receiver Marcus Kemp. They celebrated as Chiefs.
“These are my lifelong friends, and that will always be the case,” Wylie said.
Bieniemy and others were with the Chiefs during their recent White House visit but this was Bieniemy’s first trip back to Kansas City since leaving the Chiefs.
“Kansas City means a lot,” Bieniemy. “The family, the neighborhood we lived in. You’re always going to miss it. I’m going to miss the community, the love and support of the fans. I will say this, it’s been a great experience.”
Only members of the team, organization and family were inside Union Station for the ring unveiling, a moment that will forever bond these Chiefs.
“I have such great relationships with those guys,” Patrick Mahomes said. “Four or five years together with some of them. We’ll be able to celebrate with them tonight and I’m glad we’re able to do it because we put so much work to get to this moment.”
Or, as Travis Kelce put it, the group enjoyed a “last hurrah” before locking in on next season.
This ring ceremony stood in contrast to the previous celebration, ensnared in pandemic restrictions. The Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers in their stadium, at tables spread across the field with family in the stands and wearing masks.
This time, the players and coaches walked across a red carpet, dressed to the max, reveling in a season that produced a seventh straight AFC West crown, fifth straight AFC title game appearance and another Super Bowl championship.
This story was originally published June 15, 2023 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Super Bowl ring ceremony bonds these Chiefs, even the ones who have moved on from KC."