KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For former Kansas City Chiefs players Neil Smith and Danan Hughes, the 2021 AFC Championship seems like the same song, but remixed 27 years later.
Smith was a defensive captain on the 1993-94 Kansas City Chiefs and a Pro Bowler that year. It was one of six Pro Bowls during his career.
“I was the guy that originally started the back swing," Smith said. "That’s my patented swing there.”
In 1994, it was a swing and a miss for Kansas City. Smith recalled the ups and downs of that season while showing 41 Action News some of his trophies and accolades.
“This is one of my babies, right here,” Smith said, blowing dust off of a trophy. “It’s the MVP Trophy we had. I think it was back in '93.”
That’s one of the trophies he got that year, but not the one he wanted most. Smith said the goal always is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the football season. When asked about his fondest memory of that Chiefs squad, he said it was exciting playing with a top-ranked defense and two high-profile additions on offense.
“We were a very good team," Smith said. "Pretty solid. We were always known to have a great defense in the '90s and here comes Joe Montana and Marcus Allen.”
A solid defense with character and a stud QB. If it sounds familiar, look no further than the current Chiefs squad. The 1993-94 Chiefs would go on to an 11–5 record, which included a Week 13 win against the Buffalo Bills.
“We knew going in if we can put a hat on Thurman Thomas, we can pretty much control the game defensively,” Smith said.
That same week against the Bills, Rookie Danan Hughes was called up from the practice squad.
“I was a punt returner," Hughes said. "No. 3 receiver, and it was surreal.”
Hughes also saw the expectations and level of confidence from the start of that season.
“Yeah, we had a swagger," Hughes said. "We had an expectation of going out on the field and winning. But there weren’t any previous years of that.”
The '93 Chiefs went on to win their Wild Card and Divisional Round games. In the AFC Championship they would have a rematch of Week 13, and play the Buffalo Bills.
“When we came out of the locker room in Buffalo, we were like dang this is some different cold,” Hughes said.
In that AFC Championship, QB Joe Montana got hurt and the Chiefs lost 30–13.
Twenty-seven years and one Super Bowl later, another trip to the big game is on the line. Against The Buffalo Bills.
It’s almost like de ja vu for these two former Chiefs.
And because those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, both Smith and Hughes have this bit of advice for the current team.
“You cannot overlook this game by any means. I’ve been there,” Smith said. "If you don’t respect it, the other team can beat you.”
Hughes added, “Don’t make any assumptions. This week is different than Week 6.”
