Kansas City fan comes to aid of Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson, clearing snow at his residence
The weekend’s winter storm produced Kansas City’s fourth-largest single-day snowfall on record, and it was an eye-opening experience for some people who returned to town Monday.
That included Chiefs players who had been in Denver for Sunday’s game.
Safety Justin Reid, who grew up in Louisiana, played college football at Stanford and started his NFL career in Houston, said clearing his driveway was a difficult task.
“Shoveling a long driveway full of ice is harder work than the weight room,” Reid wrote Wednesday in an X message. “Core, back and quads gonna be firing on all cylinders come next Sunday.”
Reid wasn’t kidding, because ice can be a bear to remove.
Teammate Jaylen Watson, who is recovering from a broken ankle, also mentioned the storm in a social-media message. But he was looking for a shovel.
A Chiefs fan named William Mashburn of Lee’s Summit saw that Wednesday and said Watson had no business shoveling around his residence.
“What do Chiefs players preparing for playoffs have in common with the elderly and disabled?” wrote Mashburn, who goes by “Larry” on X. “They shouldn’t be out there shoveling ice covered driveways. when and where? I got you.”
Watson responded by sending Mashburn a direct message and the Chiefs fan came to the aid of the cornerback. On Wednesday night, Watson shared his gratitude for Chiefs fans on his Instagram story.
Watson fractured an ankle in the Chiefs’ Week 6 victory against the 49ers and it seemed he might be done for the season. But last week the Chiefs opened up his 21-day practice window, which means he could be back for the playoffs.
Mashburn talked about the experience of helping a Chiefs player.
“I saw Justin Reid’s comment before Jalen’s,” Mashburn said Thursday in a phone interview. “And then I saw our co-star cornerback recovering from a broken leg. ‘Anyone got a shovel?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God, no, no, no. I got you, man, don’t do that. I’ll give you the grandma treatment here.’”
Watson grew up in Georgia and played college football in southern California and Washington State, so he apparently wasn’t prepared for this winter storm.
Mashburn, however, was ready for whatever needed to be done to help Watson.
“I had the snow blower loaded up in the truck,” Mashburn said. “I drove home from the office when we were trying to figure out a time to meet. I was like, ‘Well, I’ve got some time. I’m gonna go home and load up my truck. I have shovels, ice breakers, snow blowers, salt, everything, everything I could possibly need. I’ve got it all, whatever issue you’re having, I’ve done this a million times. Doing it one more is no sweat for me.’”
Turns out Mashburn was overly prepared. Watson lives in an apartment complex, and plows had buried his vehicle while clearing the parking lot. Mashburn shoveled out Watson’s truck, then scraped the windshield and other windows.
Mashburn, 43, also made sure the doors were opening and cleaned off the handles.
“It’s easy for us who live here,” Mashburn said. “Even if we can’t do it, a neighborhood kid will come by, pay them to do it. But you know, in his situation, you don’t have the tools, the equipment, the experience, there’s no neighborhood kids knocking on your door. I mean good for him for asking.”
Watson showed his gratitude by signing one of his No. 35 Chiefs jerseys for Mashburn.
When he arrived back home with the special keepsake, Mashburn’s three kids were thrilled.
“My daughter’s already excited to wear it to Chiefs day at school,” Mashburn said. “Be careful with that. Don’t be getting it wet.”
Mashburn’s helping hand for a Chiefs player resonated with other Kansas City fans. But he said it’s way of showing gratitude to the players who have won two straight Super Bowl championships.
“It’s pretty crazy, a simple thing goes a long way on the Internet,” Mashburn said. “(Chiefs players are) not from here, they’re not necessarily prepared or have any experience with winter. They’ve got buddies hanging out on islands right now, enjoying the offseason.
“We’re lucky that they’re still here. So if they need a hand with winter weather, no problem. Come January, you guys do what you do and we’ll do what we do. You play championship football, and we’ll take care of the snow. We’ll do what we do best.”
Social-media reaction
Other Chiefs fans were thrilled to see Mashburn step up to help Watson, and they thanked him on X. Here is a bit of that reaction.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM.
