The Kansas City Chiefs are keeping the band together—or at least one key piece of it. Adam Schefter dropped the word on March 18, 2025: JuJu Smith-Schuster, the veteran wideout who’s become a familiar face at Arrowhead, is sticking around for another year on a one-year deal. It’s the second encore for the 28-year-old in Chiefs red, and after a winding road through the NFL, it’s looking like he’s found his sweet spot with Patrick Mahomes and company.
Let’s rewind the tape. JuJu first landed in Kansas City back in March 2022, fresh off five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chiefs had been sniffing around him in 2021, but he wasn’t ready to leave the Steel City. A year later, though, he took the leap, signing a one-year, $10.75 million “prove-it” deal. And prove it he did—leading all Chiefs receivers with 78 catches, 933 yards, and three touchdowns on the way to a Super Bowl LVII ring. He was Mahomes’ go-to guy in big spots, a chain-mover with soft hands and a knack for getting open. It was a hell of a bounce-back from his injury-riddled final year in Pittsburgh, where he’d managed just 15 grabs in five games.
Then came the detour. After that Super Bowl run, JuJu chased the bag to New England in 2023—a three-year, $33 million deal with the Patriots. On paper, it made sense; in reality, it was a mismatch from the jump. Playing with Mac Jones and a shaky offense, he scrounged up just 29 catches for 260 yards over 11 games. The fit was off, the production was meh, and by August 2024, the Pats cut him loose. Kansas City didn’t waste time—they scooped him back up for the ’24 season, and he slid right back into the mix like he’d never left. In 18 games, he hauled in 18 catches for 231 yards and two scores—modest numbers, but clutch when it counted in another Chiefs title run.
Now, here we are. The Chiefs could’ve let him test the waters—Schefter says other teams were circling—but JuJu wanted to stay put. At 28, he’s still got juice, and he’s betting on Mahomes’ magic to keep him rolling. The one-year pact screams mutual trust: Kansas City gets a reliable vet who knows the system, and JuJu gets another shot at a ring with a quarterback who makes everyone better.
Why It Works
JuJu’s not the flashiest piece in the Chiefs’ offense—Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce grab the headlines—but he’s the glue. In 2022, he led the team with 48 first-down catches, and in ’24, his 11.8 yards per catch showed he can still stretch a defense. He’s not the 1,400-yard monster from his 2018 Pittsburgh days, but he doesn’t need to be. Mahomes spreads the ball around, and JuJu thrives in the gaps—think third-and-6, hands up, first down secured. Plus, he’s a locker room fit—high-energy, all smiles, the kind of guy who keeps the vibes right on a team chasing a three-peat.
For Kansas City, it’s a no-brainer. They’ve got Mahomes locked in, but the receiver room’s always a puzzle. Hollywood Brown’s a speed demon, Rice is emerging, and Xavier Worthy’s got wheels, but depth matters when you’re playing into February. JuJu’s a safety net—been there, done that, and won’t flinch in the playoffs. After the Patriots flop, he’s not breaking the bank either—this deal’s likely in the $3-5 million range, a steal for a guy with his resume.
Home Sweet Home
Pittsburgh will always be where JuJu grew up—five years, 4,788 yards, and a fanbase that still chants his name. He loved it there, but the Steelers’ QB carousel post-Big Ben couldn’t match what he’s got now. Catching passes from Mahomes isn’t just a gig—it’s a cheat code. At 28, he’s not chasing stats anymore; he’s chasing hardware. Two rings in three years with the Chiefs say he’s picked the right spot. That 2024 stat line—18 grabs, 231 yards, two TDs—won’t wow you, but it’s the plays you don’t see on the box score that keep him in KC: the blocks, the routes that open up Kelce, the trust Mahomes has in him late in games.
This isn’t a farewell tour—it’s a reload. The Chiefs are all-in for 2025, and JuJu’s along for the ride. Picture it: late January, Arrowhead roaring, Mahomes drops back, and there’s JuJu, snagging a 12-yarder to seal another AFC title shot. That’s why he stayed, and that’s why Kansas City wanted him back. Home’s where the rings are, and JuJu’s not leaving anytime soon.
