Chiefs’ Joshua Williams spreads kindness and raises money with a love for pancakes | Opinion
Kansas City Chiefs’ cornerback Joshua Williams likes to eat pancakes with peanut butter on them. I can say with certainty, I have never tried this concoction.
But Williams knows better than to ask head coach Andy Reid to try this unusual combination.
“He’s a big burger guy,” Williams said in a recent interview with the ”Up and Adams Show” on FanDuel TV. “I don’t want to get him out of his comfort zone. I don’t know if I can convince him on that one.”
On the podcast, Williams and host Kay Adams discussed his fondness for food, including pancakes, peanut butter, bacon, eggs and grits. Without provocation, Williams spoke highly of HomeGrown, a fast-growing Wichita-based breakfast, brunch and lunch spot with 11 locations, including four in Kansas City.
And it’s a good thing that he did.
Through the end of the postseason, HomeGrown and Children’s Mercy Hospital have teamed with Williams for a good cause. For every Big Red pancake eaten at HomeGrown restaurants in Wichita and Kansas City, the eatery will donate $1 to Children’s Mercy. According to hospital officials, the goal is to raise $5,000.
The Chiefs will host Buffalo in the AFC championship game Sunday in Kansas City. Why not start the day by eating red velvet pancakes at HomeGrown and donating to a good cause?
“Shout out to HomeGrown restaurant,” Williams said on Adams’ show. “That’s where I’m about to go right now and grab me the It Takes the Cake special. I’m about to get my pancakes, eggs with cheese on it, grits on the side with cheese and then some sausage.”
In response, Adams said: “Hold on. I thought you put peanut butter on your pancakes? Was I lied to? I’m sorry.”
Williams then smiled, pointed at the camera and complimented the host’s research ability.
“You’re locked in,” Williams said. “You’re locked in. I do, I do, but not at HomeGrown. You gotta do those with like the microwave pancakes.”
Williams is such a smooth talker, maybe HomeGrown executives should give this man a permanent second job as a product pitchman. He seems down-to-earth as well. When Adams asked Williams why he was shouting out the restaurant, his answer was an indication of this character trait.
“I’m not shouting out nobody but the people that make the food,” Williams said. “I have no kind of sponsorship, no nothing. I just go there and enjoy the food. That is the best food if you come to Kansas City and need some breakfast.”
Almost on cue, Adams said: “Your agents … they’re on the line, I think. They gotta get you that sponsorship.”
Williams then nodded his head in approval and put his hand to his ear to signal a phone call.
“Call me,” he said.
They must have. I’ve seen videos of Williams in recent days on social media promoting the fundraiser.
Locally, my favorite HomeGrown location is in Liberty. I’ve visited the eatery’s Brookside location before too. In addition to my standard order of extra crispy bacon, eggs scrambled hard with cheese and an English muffin drenched in butter and jam, I am also a big fan of the mimosas.
It’s something about the fresh-squeezed orange juice and sparkling wine HomeGrown uses that makes the drink really good.
Maybe I’ll order red velvet pancakes on my next trip there before Sunday.
But hold the peanut butter.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM.
