The Kansas City Chiefs, known for holding the record for the longest punt return in Super Bowl history, once invested in wide receiver Kadarius Toney, hoping he would become a key player alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Despite the initial promise, Toney’s tenure with the Chiefs ended prematurely. Recently, Kadarius Toney praising Patrick Mahomes to Chiefs fans during a podcast appearance has raised questions about whether he might be seeking another opportunity with Kansas City.

Toney’s Efforts to Applaud Mahomes Amid Career Struggles

Kadarius Toney, a former first-round pick by the New York Giants, was traded to the Chiefs partway through his second season after failing to make consistent improvements as a wide receiver. The Chiefs invested heavily in his development, offering extensive support to improve his performance on and off the field. However, Toney’s time in Kansas City was marked by struggles, including critical drops, tipped passes leading to interceptions, and other off-field distractions that undermined his progress.

During a recent podcast, Toney echoed admiration for Mahomes, highlighting a moment when Mahomes made an exceptional throw in practice.

“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.”

Challenges That Led to Toney’s Exit from the Chiefs

Despite Toney’s praise for Mahomes, his performance issues and inconsistencies alienated both the Chiefs organization and their fanbase. The partnership ended when it became apparent that Toney was not evolving into a dependable target for Mahomes. Following his release, Toney’s brief stint with the Cleveland Browns also failed to revive his NFL career. Additional off-field issues continue to cloud his professional prospects.

Implications for Toney’s Future in the NFL

While Toney’s memorable Super Bowl punt return remains a highlight, his overall NFL journey has been turbulent, marked by unfulfilled potential and disciplinary concerns. His recent public commendation of Patrick Mahomes could be interpreted as an attempt to regain favor within the Chiefs organization or among NFL fanbases in general. However, considering his past struggles and current reputation, any path to a comeback, particularly with Kansas City, appears uncertain and difficult.