Patrick Mahomes' return to the NFL has been entrusted to a man none of the 32 franchises thought was good enough to be drafted.
Having won the National Championship with Indiana, and formed a crucial part of the offensive line that protected Fernando Mendoza, Kahlil Benson now has the responsibility of keeping Mahomes safe on his return.
The 24-year-old's last start at left tackle came in high school, but it didn't stop Andy Reid marking the 2026 season with a career first, per The Athletic's Jesse Newell.
Benson became the first undrafted rookie to start a Week 1 game for Reid during his 12 years in charge of the Chiefs.
He was near perfect in a 31-10 destruction of AFC West rival Denver Broncos, playing 32 pass blocking snaps and allowing just one pressure - per Next Gen Stats.
Just as importantly, Mahomes was sacked just twice and took just five hits as he made his first start since going down with injury in the defeat to the Chargers that ended the Chiefs postseason hopes.
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Reid turned to Benson, who did not play a snap on the left side during his college career with Indiana and Colorado, when 2025 first round pick Josh Simmonds was ruled out.
Simmonds was up and down in his rookie year, but was expected to lock down the left tackle spot for the 2026 season, but a back injury he has been dealing with since August ruled him out.
Standing 6ft 6in and weighing more than 310lbs, it shouldn't be a surprise that Benson came from nowhere to impress against the Broncos.
It wasn't until his third year at Indiana that he became a starter, and even then it was it was on the right side of the o-line as tackle and guard.
That line led Mendoza to the Heisman Trophy and the first overall pick, as well as the Hoosiers first national championship - but it didn't lead to an immediate place in the NFL for Benson.
He was overlooked for all seven rounds and 257 picks in April, and even after that was not among the players initially signed as undrafted free agents by the Chiefs.
Having arrived at camp to initially increase numbers, he impressed enough to make the 53-man roster and start in Week 1 and now his $1million rookie contract could prove a bargain.
Who do the Chiefs play in Week 2?
The Chiefs' blistering opener has ignited hopes that they can improve on last season's 6-11 record and become Super Bowl contenders once again.
Star offseason recruit Kenny Walker III added juice to an offense that gave Mahomes time to get used to the field after nine months out with a knee injury.
When he was needed, Mahomes did what he did best, airing the ball out across the field, and despite wearing a knee brace showed plenty of speed in running for the opening score of the game.
All in all it was more than could have been expected from a man whose season ended with a torn cruciate ligament and he will get his next test in Week 2.
The Chiefs are in prime time again as Mahomes' return takes top billing in the early weeks, and they travel to an Indianapolis Colts team humbled at home by the Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile Reid is no stranger to turning back the years when it comes to the playbook, and that was the case on Monday night.
To see out the game, the Chiefs head coach revealed that he turned to a play almost 100 years old - and suggested to him by an old friend.
"Chris Berman sent me that play - so that's a 1936-er right there," he said he in post match game media availability.
"It was a great play, they executed it well. We did it in training camp and we have run it before, just not that smooth."
Berman is the much loved ESPN presenter, and the play featured Mahomes and new quarterback Justin Fields both on the field.
Fields was a decoy, Walker was the subject of Mahomes hand off and the game was iced.
And just like that, with an undrafted rookie, a trick play and a big money offseason recruit, the Chiefs might just be back.
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