Kansas City, MO – July 26, 2025
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Training camp in Kansas City got off to a fiery start this week, and it wasn’t the summer heat turning heads — but two rookies trading barbs before they ever made a play.
On the very first day, tempers flared between a pair of young hopefuls as a miscommunication during drills quickly escalated into a heated argument. Instead of coming together, the pair ended up pointing fingers and blaming each other, forcing the coaching staff to intervene.
Veterans and coaches watched with disappointment as the newcomers failed to set the right example. That’s when one of the Chiefs’ most respected voices stepped in to set the record straight.
Chris John, never one to mince words, delivered a message that echoed through the entire locker room: “In Kansas City, it doesn’t matter what round you were drafted in. Show up early, shut up, and go to work. That’s how you earn your helmet.”The two rookies in question — Jeffrey Bassa, a fifth-round linebacker from Oregon, and Brashard Smith, a seventh-round running back out of SMU — arrived with plenty of promise but learned a hard lesson about team culture on day one. Bassa, celebrated for his 74 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2024, came to camp with high expectations as a future core special teamer and developmental linebacker.
Some fans even called him the “steal of the fifth round” before he ever put on pads.Smith, who flashed elite receiving ability and forced nearly 200 missed tackles in college, was hoping to carve out a niche in the backfield rotation. His Honorable Mention All-Big Ten nod in 2024 marked him as a potential hidden gem for the Chiefs.
But talent alone isn’t enough in Kansas City’s championship-caliber locker room. Both players will need to show they can put ego aside and grind from the bottom up.As Chris John’s words reverberate through camp, all eyes are on the rookies’ response. For now, the message is clear: respect, work ethic, and humility come before highlight reels.Stay tuned to ESPN!