For all of the championship success the Kansas City Chiefs have had, not everyone has received an “A” grade inside the building.
In fact, the one given an “F-” grade is owner Clark Hunt, which came from his own players, and he addressed this poor mark at the NFL‘s Annual League Meeting.
Kansas City Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt Addresses F- Grade
Detailed by The Athletic’s Nate Taylor and Kalyn Kahler, Chiefs players including Patrick Mahomes voiced their disappointment with Hunt’s way of upgrading the Chiefs’ facilities.
Both reporters shared how the Super Bowl-winning passer voiced his displeasure about the lack of air conditioning inside the team’s indoor facility during a T-Mobile commercial shoot in the summer of 2023. Another description illustrated how head coach Andy Reid had a red windbreaker drenched in sweat as temperatures rose to triple digits inside the building during one practice.
Both Taylor and Kahler reported that Chiefs players were promised upgrades by Hunt before the start of the 2022 season. Hunt, however, failed to deliver on the promise, the report said. Because of the lack of upgrades around the Chiefs’ building, Hunt was given an “F-” grade via the NFL Player’s Association annual team report cards. The second survey, released on Feb. 29, placed the Chiefs next to last out of all 32 teams.
Hunt, though, informed both reporters that he’s addressing the issue involving his grade and the upgrades.
“We are making some pretty significant investments in the training facility this year, and we’ll continue to do that,” Hunt said during the NFL owners’ meetings. “We’ve outgrown that building in a number of ways.”
One of the other failing grades the Chiefs received involved the team’s cafeteria.
Hunt says that is being addressed in what he described as a “more expansive” cafeteria idea inside the building, although he didn’t elaborate on what the new features will entail. Hunt additionally didn’t provide any other nuggets on what else he plans to bring to their facility.
Meanwhile, Hunt denied that he is on bad speaking terms with any Chiefs players. He believes it was merely a “miscommunication” that occurred.
“I have spoken to some of our veteran players about that, and they’ve confirmed to me that it was miscommunication,” Hunt said.
He also added that he had no previous conversations where he said he would change the interior of the locker room.
“Certainly, I personally never said anything to them about a renovation of the locker room. It was a misunderstanding,” Hunt said.
Chiefs Speak Out in Support of Hunt Despite Failing Grade
Following the low grade, are there any Chiefs who supported Hunt?
Consider former Chief Wille Gay Jr. as one. The now New Orleans Saints linebacker explained that the Chiefs players were appreciative of the little things given to them.
“Money was spent very tightly around there,” Gay said of the Chiefs via The Athletic. “When we did get something, whether it was a chair or T-shirt, it was like, ‘Man, we got new chairs!’ That was a big upgrade. We enjoyed the small things that we got.”
But what about any current Chiefs? Reid got the chance to address his feelings for Hunt.
“I think Clark does a great job. Whatever they say about everything else, I give him an A+ because he gives us an opportunity to win games. As a coach, that’s what you like,” Reid said to reporters during Monday’s meeting.
Reid added: “He gets it. We have a great working relationship. He allows us to get players and keep players. That’s a tough thing to do as you navigate through the salary cap.”
Yet, while Hunt has shown an ability to get and keep players in K.C. — including helping prevent Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones from leaving in free agency — he’s been criticized for his slow process in improving the facilities the Chiefs use. Still, Hunt believes he and the Chiefs players will see improvement in communication and upgrades soon … which could mean a change in his F- grade by this time in 2025.
“We’ll certainly include the players in our thinking on the future of the training facility,” Hunt said. “We’ll want their input, and we’ll seek that when the time is right.”
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