The GEHA Field hummed like a jukebox before last call. Thousands with red towels twirling like they were waiting for Garth Brooks to walk out. But the loudest statement came from a kid who still gets carded at the team hotel.
No fireworks, no mic drops—just pads popping and linemen moving like chess pieces. And sometimes, a rookie uses that stage to send a message. Not just to the coaches, but to the entire league. This was one of those nights.
That message was delivered by first-round pick Josh Simmons. He was the last pick of Round One, once dinged for knee worries. But he's yet to skip a practice. And he didn't just participate in the preseason finale against the Bears.
Simmons started his third straight preseason game at left tackle. Andy Reid kept the first-team offense out longer than usual, even in a 29-27 loss to Chicago. It's because he wanted everyone to see the $14.6 million rookie protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side for real.
Simmons answered the call. He was a brick wall in pass protection and a bulldozer in the run game. On the opening drive, Simmons sealed Gervon Dexter Jr. so Isiah Pacheco could waltz in from two yards. That set an immediate, physical tone for the night. And even the franchise quarterback took notice.
Patrick Mahomes had all day to operate. That's thanks to a clean pocket on his blind side. “It starts up front,” Mahomes stated. “When the offensive line’s blocking like that, it kind of gets the offense going.” For a unit that gave up a career-high 36 sacks of Mahomes last year... this newfound stability is a welcome sight.
So how did the rookie become so pivotal so fast?
Josh Simmons: From Question Mark to Cornerstone
The Chiefs signed veteran Jaylon Moore to a $30 million deal to be the answer at left tackle. Instead, the rookie who wasn’t supposed to play immediately has taken the job and run with it. Simmons' preseason stats are staggering.
He didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure across 26 pass-blocking snaps. His PFF pass-blocking grade? An elite 84.1. And his approach is all business.
“I’m just working on everything,” Simmons said. He’s focused on refining his technique and eliminating tells that might tip off the defense. “If I could just take the little baby nuggets that I’m getting in the preseason and work on it for Week One, we’ll be good,” Simmons added. This meticulous preparation has impressed his coach.
Josh Simmons in the preseason per @PFF
— All Chief'd Up! (@AllChiefdUp) August 24, 2025
🏈0 pressures allowed
🏈84.1 pass-blocking grade
All on 26 pass-blocking snaps. 💪🙌#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/jo9Uf2HfWr
“He’s worked at it,” Reid noted. “He hasn’t missed a beat here as far as missing a day or any of that. He’s been available.”
The implications for the Chiefs are enormous. Second-year guard Kingsley Suamataia slid inside and looked like the missing puzzle piece next to Simmons. Together, they mashed the Bears' front seven like ribs on a Kansas City smoker. Besides, Simmons’s ascension on his affordable rookie deal provides incredible cap flexibility.
It allows the team to invest elsewhere while solidifying the most important position on the line. And this wasn’t just a good preseason. It was a statement.
A rookie arrived. He held his own against proven veterans. And earned the trust of his superstar quarterback. He transformed a major question mark into a reason for optimism. The big stage is coming, and the kid already speaks the language.
As Crash Davis said in Bull Durham, “Don't think. It can only hurt the ballclub.” Josh Simmons isn’t overthinking it. He’s just playing ball, and that’s bad news for the rest of the league.