As the Kansas City Chiefs navigate one of their most challenging stretches in recent memory - a run of tight losses that’s left their playoff hopes hanging in the balance - there’s one constant they continue to lean on: Creed Humphrey.
The All-Pro center has been a pillar in the middle of Kansas City’s offensive line, anchoring a unit that’s had its share of ups and downs this season. But while the offense searches for rhythm and the scoreboard tells a story of missed opportunities, Humphrey’s presence remains steady - both in the trenches and in the locker room.
Patrick Mahomes knows leadership when he sees it, and for him, Humphrey checks every box.
“He’s a leader, man,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “He knows what it takes to be successful, and he pushes the guys around him to rise to that level.
He’s a great person, a great football player, and a great leader on this team. I’m glad he’s the one leading that offensive line.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly from a quarterback who’s played behind some elite protection during his career. And it’s not just Mahomes who sees it - Andy Reid echoed the sentiment with his trademark blend of football wisdom and straight talk.
“He’s an All-Pro,” Reid said. “That helps.
He’s a great player and a great person. He’s stable.
You’re going to get the same thing from him every day - same prep, same work ethic. He’s dirty-tough and strong.
Smart, too.”
That combination of consistency and grit is exactly what the Chiefs need right now. At 7-5 and facing a five-game stretch that could define their season, Kansas City doesn’t just need talent - it needs tone-setters. And Humphrey is quietly becoming one of the most important voices in that room.
He understands the urgency. He knows the margin for error is razor thin. But he also knows this team isn’t far off.
“We’re close,” Humphrey said. “A couple plays here and there each game, and things would be different.
So for us, it’s about coming in with the right mindset every day - one meeting at a time, one walkthrough at a time, one practice at a time. We’re making sure we’re getting everything we can out of each day and improving.”
That kind of day-by-day mentality isn’t just coach speak - it’s the mindset of a team trying to recalibrate without pressing the panic button. And for a veteran offensive lineman like Humphrey, part of the job is making sure that message gets through to everyone in the building.
“It’s huge,” he said. “All the games have been close.
Just a few plays here and there, and we’d be looking at different results. So for us, it’s about staying consistent and executing when we need to.”
The Chiefs have been here before - in tough spots, needing to rally late in the season - but this year feels different. The AFC is crowded, the margin for error is slim, and the offense hasn’t quite clicked the way fans have come to expect. That puts even more weight on the shoulders of guys like Humphrey, who lead not with flash, but with foundation.
If Kansas City is going to make a run, it’s going to start up front - with a line that protects Mahomes, opens lanes, and sets the physical tone. And at the center of it all, quite literally, is Creed Humphrey - the steady force the Chiefs need now more than ever.