Chiefs second-year WR Nikko Remigio has become a huge part of Kansas City’s postseason story en route to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
Filling in for injured WR Mecole Hardman as a return specialist, Remigio has made key plays as a kick and punt returner in each postseason game for the Chiefs. In the AFC divisional round against the Houston Texans, he notched a 63-yard kick return, the longest of the season by a K.C. player.
Speaking to Kay Adams on the “Up & Adams Show,” Remigio revealed that he can’t take full credit for his game-changing 41-yard punt return in the AFC Championship Game win over the Buffalo Bills.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce gets the assist on the play after he called Remigio out on the sideline after he fielded his first punt.
“Yeah, I mean, Trav (Travis Kelce) had come up to me earlier in the game, and I had fair-caught that punt coming out the gate, and he was like,’ That’s not being great bro.’ I knew going into this next opportunity that I had that I had to make something happen,” Remigio told Adams. “So, I went and took a peek down the field and saw that the guys were — that it was going to be tight and a quick play. And, you know, just made it happen.”
The punt return started a six-play, 34-yard touchdown drive that gave Kansas City a 21-10 lead over the Bills late in the second quarter.
They always speak about how the great NFL players elevate those around them. Kelce knew how to push the right buttons to inspire greatness out of Remigio at this moment. He was a little hesitant, playing in his second-ever playoff game and an AFC title game for the chance to reach Super Bowl LIX. All he needed was a little push.
“This was the first punt that I had kicked and fair-caught it on the 10 (yard-line),” Remigio said. “Really, I had some room, and I had an opportunity to take the punt. I was like, ‘Man, that’s my first time being in the AFC Championship Game, let me just get my feet wet a little bit.’
“I went, and I ran to the sidelines, and he said, ‘That’s not being great.’
“And I’m like, ‘He’s right.’
“So, I went out there the next punt, and I’m like, ‘I’m taking it regardless.’
“He was the first one to greet me coming to the sideline, and he’s like, ‘That’s how you be great, dawg!’ “I was like, ‘Aw, man, this is a dream.'”
Remigio is now set to appear in his first-ever Super Bowl because of that push from Kelce.
