Chiefs’ Demarcus Robinson tries to win multiple Super Bowls

In his three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson has impressed with big plays when his number is called. In 2018, he caught quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 50th touchdown pass on a thrilling 89-yard play. Last year he exploded for six catches, 172 receiving yards and two long scores in week two.

Even with those important moments, he finished fifth on the team in yards received last season, serving as a complement to the star pass catchers with whom he shares the field. So, when he hit free agency this offseason, most expected him to sign a multi-year contract elsewhere to become a bigger part of another team’s offense.

Instead, Robinson re-signed to Kansas City on a team-friendly one-year contract for minimum pay. On Sunday, the fifth-year team explained their decision to come back.

“I wanted to come back here,” Robinson said. “I don’t think there is much to prove, I think they knew what I can do and we have a good understanding of what they want me to do here. I agree to do what I have to do here to get to what I want to do next.

While a bigger contract was usually the motivation for a player to come out of his rookie contract, Robinson was fueled by the idea of ​​further team success and how it would help him remember him.

“We won a championship, and you play the game to win championships,” said Robinson. “I think we have the best chance to go back and win another championship here, and that’s why I’m playing the game, to win championships and build a legacy for my family and myself. I wanted to come back and win as much as possible.

It seems selfish on the surface – a player decides where to play solely based on where he thinks he’ll get another ring. It’s much deeper than that, and it’s proven by the relationship he has with his offensive teammates.

“We always get together and hang out,” Robinson said of his friendships in the Great Receiving Room. “Whether at Pat’s or at [tight end] Travis [Kelce]home, anyone’s home, we all love to hang out. I think it brings you closer to just being in the field, working on the job.

Patrick Mahomes agreed on the special relationship that offensive players share. He spoke of the great friendship while telling reporters that he didn’t have to convince Robinson to return to Kansas City.

“He wanted to be part of this team,” said Mahomes. “I think what he thought was best was to be here with us, to be part of this culture, to be part of this community.

Mahomes’ on-court relationship with Robinson is special. During Mahomes’ rookie year preseason, it became clear that he had developed a chemistry with the sophomore team that had yet to even record an official NFL statistic. They hooked up for huge games, and those moments maybe helped jumpstart Robinson’s career.

Now the two have a lot of respect for each other. The quarterback known for his improvisation recognizes the benefits of this chemistry – and the fact that Robinson has surpassed the role given to him.

“He’s a guy who could be a number one receiver in a number of different places,” Mahomes admitted. “It’s good to have a guy who’s on the same page as me. You see the jostling, he was always on the same page as me. He’s someone who works extremely hard, he blocks for the other guys, and he’s someone who is a special player in this room. I’m glad he’s part of our team.

Photo by Michael Reaves / Getty Images

Head coach Andy Reid agrees with his quarterback on Robinson’s talent – and he’s expressed how important he is for an offense that demands versatility from his players.

“I’m a huge Demarcus Robinson fan,” Reid told reporters. “Demarcus could be a starter anywhere in the NFL and that’s how we look at him … I think everyone has the greatest respect for – he knows every position, he knows every group staff, especially the quarterback. has confidence in himself, which probably becomes the most important thing.

Even with so much praise Robinson receives from his caller and the man throwing the ball at him, he knows he has to keep working to continue playing the role he plays for the Chiefs.

“We have a lot of elite guys and if you don’t work you don’t eat,” said Robinson, echoing the words of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. “There’s another guy trying to come and eat like we all are, so you just have to be on your guard no matter what.”

No one knows if there were any significant offers from other teams for Robinson this offseason. Either way, he made the choice to take a lower pay than most expected of him – but that doesn’t mean he’s not motivated by money.

“I’m just trying to take care of my family. I want to win as many Super Bowls as possible, and in doing so, I want to make as much money as possible playing this game.

He may not have seen a single pass make its way into Super Bowl LIV, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have the chance to play a clutch the next time the Chiefs play in Super Bowl. . He understands that the more he plays on the biggest stages of football, the stronger his legacy and reputation becomes.

These opportunities will lead to bigger gains down the road. For now, Robinson is happy with his role – as long as it leads to another championship ring.