One Chance, One Dream: What Chiefs Rookies Did That Shocked the Coaches on Day 1!

Tryouts, Dreams, and One Chance: What You Missed From Day 1 of Chiefs Rookie Camp!

The sun shone brightly over Kansas City on May 5, 2025, as more than 40 young hopefuls stepped onto the field at the Chiefs’ practice facility for the first day of rookie minicamp. The air was thick with excitement and nerves—because for many of these players, this wasn’t just practice. It was their one shot to make a dream come true.

While first-round pick Josh Simmons observed from the sidelines due to a knee recovery, all eyes were still on him as he soaked in the playbook, stood beside offensive line coach Andy Heck, and quietly studied every move. His focus and maturity sent a strong message: this rookie isn’t wasting a second. “It’s different out here,” Simmons said. “But I’ve been in complex systems before. I’m ready.”

Meanwhile, the action on the field was fast, physical, and filled with heart. Undrafted free agents and tryout players knew the odds—they’ve seen how few make it from this camp to a full-time NFL roster. Still, they lined up, sprinted, caught passes, made tackles, and pushed through drills with everything they had.

One standout was Jalen Coker, a sixth-round pick from Holy Cross, who turned heads with crisp routes and sure hands. He connected effortlessly with tryout quarterbacks during 7-on-7 drills, showing the kind of timing and vision that could carve him a role in Kansas City’s wide receiver rotation. Coaches nodded. Teammates clapped. Coker smiled but stayed locked in. “You’ve got to earn every second here,” he said.

Then there was Gavin Sawchuk—the undrafted running back from Oklahoma who dominated the Big 12 in 2024 with over 1,400 rushing yards. With Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire already in the Chiefs’ backfield, Sawchuk’s path won’t be easy. But his blazing footwork during agility drills had people watching. Running backs coach Deland McCullough kept a close eye. “He’s hungry,” McCullough whispered.

But it wasn’t just the names you know. A pair of local tryout players from the University of Missouri put together solid performances, diving for passes, blocking with grit, and soaking up every ounce of instruction. This camp isn’t only about polished technique—it’s about heart, adaptability, and the ability to learn fast in a complex NFL system.

As day one wrapped up and the sun dipped behind Arrowhead’s silhouette, one thing was clear: whether drafted or undrafted, every player on that field shared the same dream. Some will be cut. A few may make it. But all of them, on this day, fought for their future—with nothing but hope, hustle, and one precious chance.

And that’s exactly what makes rookie minicamp magical.