This amazing Chiefs play got lost in defeat vs. Eagles. It tells a larger story
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Josh Simmons recorded fastest lineman tackle since 2018 at 18.35 mph
- Simmons chased down interception return, stopping likely Eagles touchdown
- Play highlighted Simmons’ athleticism and recovery from prior knee surgery
The most athletic play by a member of the Chiefs last weekend wasn’t a pass, a reception, a rushing attempt or a block, but a tackle.
And it wasn’t made by a defensive player.
Left tackle Josh Simmons, an offensive lineman standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 310 pounds, was at the 15-yard line after Patrick Mahomes’ pass to tight end Travis Kelce fell into the arms of Philadelphia Eagles safety Andrew Mukaba.
Mukaba made the interception early in the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The home fans sat stunned as he headed up the left sideline with designs on a 100-yard return for a touchdown.
After a moment to process the situation, Simmons started his pursuit.
“The adrenaline of the game, it was so close, the crowd was huge, so it was more reflex than anything,” Simmons said. “And I had a pretty good angle, so I just started booking it.”
Angle or not, Simmons would not have been a betting favorite to run down Mukaba, who like Simmons is an NFL rookie. But Simmons caught Mukaba and ended the play with a flying body tackle at the Eagles’ 41.
According to Next Gen Stats, Simmons’ chase topped out at 18.35 mph, the fastest speed reached by an offensive lineman making a tackle since 2018.
Mukuba thought he had a touchdown.
“I really did,” Mukaba said after the game. “I looked to my right, I couldn’t even cut back because the O-lineman was coming. But I tried to get as much as I can, tried to hit the gas at the last minute, but he still got me.”
The play provided Simmons with additional good news.
“I don’t know if I’ve run full speed like that since my knee surgery,” said Simmons, the Chiefs’ new blind-side protector for Patrick Mahomes.
Patellar-tendon surgery in his left knee cost Simmons the final 10 games of his college career, including Ohio State’s run to the national championship. Pre-injury projections had him ranked among the top 10 or 15 likely selections in the draft, but he fell to the Chiefs with the final pick of Round 1, No. 32 overall.
Simmons missed some time during the Chiefs’ offseason training work and his role as an opening-game starter wasn’t assured until training camp. If there was any question about a lingering knee issue, though, Simmons answered those in a few seconds against the Eagles.
He also impressed his teammates and coaches.
“He’s freaky athletic,” Chiefs center Creed Humphrey said. “I was behind him and I couldn’t keep up.”
The only other Chiefs player who was seemingly in position to potentially catch Mukaba was Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who was coming from the other side of the field.
But a collision wouldn’t have happened until much farther down the field.
“I thought that was pretty impressive,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I mean, a 300-pound man running like that and making the tackle like he did. That was one of the positives (from the loss).”
There weren’t many others for the Chiefs. Had they won, Simmons’ tackle would have been one of the game’s biggest talking points. But after a 20-17 loss, focus turned to mistakes, lost opportunities and KC’s first 0-2 start since 2014.
Still, two games into his NFL career, Simmons has a moment to remember.