Kansas City Chiefs return specialist Nikko Remigio has plenty of speed on his own, but this summer he may have found his toughest training partner at home.
That would be his wife, Maureen Remigio, a standout runner who helped the Philippines’ 4x400 meter relay team set a national record in 2023. So when asked who would win a foot race inside the marriage, Remigio didn’t exactly rush to claim bragging rights.
“I get that question a lot,” Remigio said. “I’d say in the sprints, I’ve got her. But anything over 200 meters, 300 meters, she might get me.”
Track is what connected them in the first place. The two met through a shared coach, and Maureen moved to Kansas City from the Philippines after Remigio made the team two years ago as a rookie free agent.
On the field, Remigio is still carving out his place in Kansas City. He led the Chiefs in punt and kickoff return attempts last season, and that job remains his in training camp, with Brashard Smith also working as one of the primary return men.
This camp is a little different for Remigio because he enters with a defined role, but he says his approach hasn’t changed.
“My mindset doesn’t change at all,” Remigio said. “I consistently stay in a place of having everything to gain and nothing to lose.
“I’m a firm believer in that. I stood up here in front of you guys last year and told you that my mentality was that undrafted free agent that barely got a shot to make it, and I’m scratching and clawing, and I stand by that.”
Remigio appeared in five games as a rookie in 2024, then played in 14 last season. In his career, he has taken 70 offensive snaps and caught three passes on seven targets. One of those grabs was a 21-yard catch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 last season.
As a returner, he has already shown he can help. He averaged 9.5 yards per punt return last season, with a long of 31 yards, and he brought back 29 kickoffs at 25.6 yards per return.
Now he’s chasing more. The Chiefs have not released a depth chart, and several wide receivers are dealing with injuries, but under normal circumstances Remigio would likely be behind Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton and rookie Cyrus Allen in the receiver rotation.
“I’m obviously expanding to try to get a bigger role on the team, getting some more reps on offense, becoming more of a factor in that scenario,” Remigio said. “And then most importantly, my role as a returner, just being the best returner that I could possibly be, and the goal is to be the best in the NFL. So that’s where I’m at.”
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