The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into Christmas Day with a twist few saw coming: a home finale at Arrowhead Stadium without Patrick Mahomes under center-and not Gardner Minshew either.
Instead, all eyes are now on Chris Oladokun, the young quarterback who got his first taste of regular-season action in the Chiefs’ 26-9 loss to the Titans. With Kansas City officially signing Shane Buechele to the active roster from the practice squad, the quarterback room has a new dynamic heading into Week 17.
But Oladokun? He’s embracing the moment.
"I'm ready for the opportunity,” Oladokun said. “It's not only a great opportunity for me but a great opportunity for our team to go out there and battle. That's all I can ask of these guys.”
And make no mistake-this is more than just a developmental moment for Oladokun. It’s a chance to show what he can do under the bright lights of Arrowhead, on a national stage, on Christmas Day. That’s not just another start-it’s a memory in the making.
"I have family in town, so I'm looking forward to it,” he added. “The possibility of making a first [start] on Christmas Day is pretty special."
With the Chiefs already out of playoff contention and a short week ahead, the coaching staff doesn’t have much time to finalize who will take the first snap. But if Oladokun gets the nod, it’ll be a major opportunity not just for him, but for a roster filled with younger players looking to make their mark.
That’s the silver lining in a tough season-meaningful reps for the next wave of talent. And Oladokun understands the value of that, not just for himself, but for the entire group.
“Obviously, we have a lot of young guys playing, but it's great experience not only for me, but for all of our young guys. It's going to be real valuable for us,” he said.
Shane Buechele, the more experienced option, could also be in the mix. But whether it’s Buechele or Oladokun, the Chiefs’ offense will look a lot different over these final two games. With Mahomes sidelined and the postseason out of reach, Kansas City is shifting gears-focusing on development, evaluation, and maybe, just maybe, finding a spark to carry into next year.
The stage is set. It’s Christmas Day at Arrowhead. And for Chris Oladokun, it might just be the beginning of something special.