The Kansas City Chiefs are still reeling from their Super Bowl 59 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but one veteran isn’t letting the disappointment linger. Instead, he’s channeling that frustration into motivation for the 2025 season.
One Chiefs Player Is Using Recent Super Bowl Loss As Motivation
Speaking on the “Up and Adams” show, guard Trey Smith opened up about the emotions and lessons from last season.
“I think you need losses in life to learn from it. You need adversity to create endurance. It helps build character from that as well. If you go and win, win, win; you don’t have any negativity that comes your way and you get used to it. You become complacent. I think that’s the beautiful thing about a loss. It taught us how much it hurts to lose compared to how great it feels to win,” Smith said.
“That feeling we had at the end of the season… and just hearing about it a lot in the offseason… it’s definitely gonna fuel the fire that’s already within us that we wanna go get it done”
Trey Smith on the lessons and motivation the Chiefs are taking from their Super Bowl… pic.twitter.com/Yw3MEc1ccd
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 10, 2025
Smith emphasized how deeply the Super Bowl loss impacted the team, especially given their consistent excellence over the past few years.
“I hate losing more than I love winning. I think the lesson is finish. For me personally, just finish strong. We got to that point, we battled every single game to get to the Super Bowl three years consecutively, and we still fell short. That’s something that I have to reflect on. How could I have been better in the Super Bowl to help my team win?” Smith added.
Trey Smith Focused on Redemption, Not Distraction
Despite an ongoing contract situation as Smith is currently franchise-tagged and negotiating a long-term deal, his mindset is locked in on football. He praised the Chiefs’ front office and left contract details to his agents, vowing to focus on being his best self for training camp.
“I lose sleep thinking about protecting Patrick [Mahomes]. I know the things that I need to get better in my game to be the best protector that I can and just be an asset for my team.”
”I lose sleep thinking about protecting Patrick”
It’s safe to say that Trey Smith isn’t taking his job lightly 😬@heykayadams | @treysmith #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/3J5rliG8ZH
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 10, 2025
Smith also expressed excitement about mentoring rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, calling him a hard worker with major potential.
Chiefs’ Culture Is Simply Lombardi or Bust
With three straight Super Bowl appearances but only one title in that stretch, the Chiefs remain in championship-or-nothing mode. Smith’s leadership voice is a cornerstone of that culture.
“That feeling we had at the end of the season… and just hearing about it a lot in the offseason… It’s definitely gonna fuel the fire that’s already within us that we wanna go get it done.”
His message resonates with a team aiming to solidify a dynasty while fending off AFC rivals hungry to dethrone them. The Super Bowl loss may haunt them, but for Smith and his teammates, it’s also become their most potent fuel.
As training camp approaches, Kansas City faces real questions about its offensive line depth, especially if Smith’s contract situation lingers into preseason. But inside the locker room, players and coaches are leaning into the challenge. The Chiefs have retooled several positions, and with Patrick Mahomes still at the helm, expectations remain sky-high.
