The Kansas City Chiefs’ upset victory over the favored Baltimore Ravens in last season’s AFC Championship game helped the team to back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun did not play in the game but was crucial to the team’s weekly preparation.
Oladokun appeared on the “Trapped in thoughts“ podcast hosted by Justin Stuckey, where he talks about his experience on the Chiefs practice squad and being a key player in the AFC Championship game win over the Ravens.
“Coach (Andy) Reid said, ‘Hey, nobody’s ever done this before, but our defensive player of the game,'” Oladokun said, “and he called my name and the defense was all fired up for me. To get that validation, like, ‘We need you. You helped us win this game,’ and that’s something I’ll never forget because I’m not getting up at 5:30 every morning for nothing. I’m valuable to this team.”
Oladokun’s study of league MVP Lamar Jackson and simulation of his style helped the Chiefs’ defense during practice. Although he has not played in an official regular season or playoff game for Kansas City, he has earned the trust of the coaching staff and teammates.
“Anyone out there, whether they’re on the practice squad or not, who plays a lot,” Oladokun said, “just has to find their role or find a way to help the team in any way they can.”
The former seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers was on the Chiefs’ practice squad for the past two seasons, during which time he played in several preseason games.
