Chiefs are encouraged by skeptics who say the record is a mistake, the star says: 'We will continue to show up'

It has become commonplace that the Kansas City Chiefs' 13-1 record should not be their record – but that only fuels the fire of the back-to-back champions.

Sure, the Chiefs have won a lot of games of late, and the ball has gotten rolling a lot of times – literally and figuratively.

But Chiefs safety Justin Reid, honestly, thanks those who doubted what the Chiefs could do in the playoffs.

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“Thank you for the encouragement. We appreciate the encouragement people are giving us,” Reid told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “Despite winning two titles in a row, despite everything they said last year, they still don't believe. And we appreciate it. That gets us excited when we hear it. I like more motivation. It makes me angry, and it makes me go out there to prove a point.

“It is not always necessary [learn]. We will continue to show up.”

Reid has won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, but his ring back in February wasn't the only championship he won this year. He also took home the Chess.com BlitzChamps title.

Reid always had an interest in chess but took it seriously when he entered the NFL – and now, it's become a locker room staple.

“We have a tradition where we play every night before a game. As soon as we finish team meetings, I have a chess board sitting in my locker, the guys come over, and we play quick five-minute games. The guys from the front office come down. , the players play, and if you win, you stay , you lose, you get back in line,” Reid said.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) in the fourth quarter of the NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs on September 15, 2024 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The safety added that it is a combination of both superstition and brainstorming before the game.

“You can't stay too deep in anything. It's good to take your mind off another topic and do something else. I think that's fun and it's become a tradition that we always do that now,” he says.

NFL Films will be releasing a documentary about Reid's chess title and how other NFL stars got involved. The title also gave Reid the power to raise money for his charity.

“Everybody uses the same 'chess game' whether it's football or business or whatever's going on,” Reid said, adding that it's a great way for people to connect. “It's about being strategic and being three steps ahead of your opponent. It's great that they're promoting it. I think it's great, and I think it's a fun game that anyone can play.”

Reid will face his former Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon as the Chiefs are on the last home run. And considering he's the reigning back-to-back champion, he knows exactly what it takes to bring home another Lombardi Trophy.

Justin Reid #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs takes a picture with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

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“You want to play your best football going into the playoffs, and we didn't feel like we played our best football, yes, very good,” Reid said. “There are still ways to build, there are still things to do to keep getting better. Not being satisfied and preparing each week. The physical side will take care of itself, but whoever is mentally ready and doesn't make those mental mistakes under pressure will be the difference, we've been there, we'll continue to do it.”

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