Kansas City has found another believer in Emmett Johnson, and this one comes from inside the building.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy made it clear he’s all in on the rookie running back after Johnson’s breakout against the Denver Broncos, praising the way the Nebraska product has handled his role and the work he’s put in to earn it.
“Emmett works. He does not take anything for granted.
It ain't by chance that he's had success when called upon, because you talk about a kid that does not take anything for granted. He goes out there and he works - whatever you ask him to do, he's gonna try to excel at it,” Bieniemy said of Johnson.
Bieniemy also pointed to Johnson’s mindset, saying he has the “type of mental and physical attitude that you want from all your players,” a strong endorsement for a fifth-round pick trying to carve out a bigger spot in a championship-winning organization.
Johnson hasn’t had many chances to make noise in the Chiefs offense this season, but he made the most of the one he got against Denver. He finished with 128 yards on five catches and scored on a 73-yard touchdown, a performance that turned plenty of heads.
Now the question is whether that outing leads to more work. With Rashee Rice back in the mix, Kansas City still needs a spark on offense after a two-game losing skid, and Johnson may be in position to provide it. The Chiefs face the struggling New York Jets in Week 9, and Johnson will look to keep the momentum going.
In Other News...
Chiefs Are Chasing A Turnaround History Says Shouldnt Happen
The Chiefs early push back into contention comes with a reminder that the NFL does not usually reward quick fixes. After stumbling to a 6-11 season in 2025, a year that included losing Patrick Mahomes to injury, Kansas City has opened this season 5-2 and is trying to climb back into the leagues top tier without tearing up the foundation that made it a perennial contender.
History, though, is not especially friendly to that kind of rebound. Only three NFL teams have gone from six or fewer wins one season to a Super Bowl title the next, and each of those turnarounds came with a Hall of Fame quarterback change. The Chiefs are taking a different path by keeping Mahomes and much of the core intact while trying to rebuild the rest of the roster, which is why their latest surge feels encouraging even if the larger question is still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Fans Will Love Who's Calling Sunday's Jets Game
The Chiefs and Jets are back on the schedule Sunday, and the matchup carries a familiar feel for Kansas City fans. It will be the 42nd meeting between the franchises, with the Chiefs holding a slim edge in the all-time series, and the game arrives on CBS with a broadcast crew that should be instantly recognizable to anyone who spends fall Sundays tuned in.
Jim Nantz will be on the call, joined by J.J. Watt and Tracy Wolfson, giving the game a marquee feel before kickoff even arrives. For Chiefs fans, that only adds a little more juice to a meeting that has long tilted their way, especially with New York still trying to solve a road problem in Kansas City that has lingered for years. [Read more 🡒]
Eric Bieniemy Just Put Chiefs Young Receiver Room On Notice
Eric Bieniemys postgame message after the loss in Denver carried a clear edge for a Chiefs receiver group that has been asked to grow up quickly. With injuries thinning the room, rookie Cyrus Allen has seen his role expand, and the offensive coordinator pointed to the kind of detail that can swing a drive in a tight game, stressing that the young players have to keep learning and keep sharpening the little things.
For Kansas City, it is less about one mistake than the larger test facing a young passing group trying to earn trust in real time. Bieniemy made it clear that consistency matters, and the Chiefs will be watching closely to see which receivers can turn those lessons into dependable snaps as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]