Former Chiefs star who retired before Patrick Mahomes was born credits QB for helping him ‘get rich’ decades later

Patrick Mahomes is blockbuster.

Since his arrival into the NFL back in 2018, the Chiefs quarterback, along with Travis Kelce and Andy Reid have taken center stage, reaching five Super Bowls in the last seven seasons, winning three.

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As the popularity and success of the Chiefs has continued to soar in recent years, former KC stars, who have long been retired, have also reaped the rewards.

Take Christian Okoye for example.

The Nigerian fullback was a second-round draft pick in 1987, who spent his entire six-year NFL career with the Chiefs up until his retirement at age 31 in 1992.

But he admitted that he has made more money post-retirement than he did during his NFL career, largely in part due to Mahomes’ on-field success.

“I’ve made more money after retirement than I did when I was playing,” Okoye said during an appearance on the One54 Africa podcast.

“And I have to tell you this, the money has come since Mahomes came to the Chiefs. You know what I’m saying? Yeah. So, because of their success. I’m being included, and I love it.”

Okoye is an under-the-radar Chiefs legend

Known as ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’, Okoye eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark twice in his career.

On both occasions, he was awarded All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, with his best season coming in 1989 when he rushed for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 starts.

He was even enshrined in the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2000, which is a remarkable feat for an athlete who once as a track and field star who had dreams of competing at the Olympics, only to have to pursue other avenues when the Nigerian government declined his participation.

He would find football for the first time at age 21, with his 4.45-second 40-yard dash highly unusual for someone who stood at 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds.

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At the time of his retirement due to a lingering knee injury, he was the Chiefs’ all-time rushing leader with 4,897 yards from 1,246 attempts.

Those records have since been surpassed by Priest Holmes.

Prior to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win in 2020, the team had gone 50 years without getting their hands on silverware.

Mahomes, Kelce and Reid changed that, with Kansas City now one of the most marketable teams in the NFL.

A modern dynasty of sorts – though they suffered a down year in 2025 going 6-9 – the admission from Okoye highlights just how much influence a franchise’s current-day success can have on former players associated with the team.

“I love it,” Okoye said when talking about witnessing the Chiefs’ recent success, “because I get called and asked, ‘Hey, Christian, do you mind doing this? We’ll pay you this much.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, I’ll be there.'”

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He even weighed in on the quarterback GOAT debate between Mahomes and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

“Well, I’ve got to go with my guy. I love Tom Brady, but I’ve got to go with Patrick Mahomes, of course,” he stated.

Okoye still holds close ties with the Chiefs organization and the surrounding area, with him regularly involved in their community outreach programmes, while he is also part of the ownership team of indoor football team Kansas City Goats.

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