UPDATE 11:42 a.m: The Chiefs gear has made it back to the stadium:
Crisis Averted! Chiefs equipment bags have arrived! pic.twitter.com/SQcwMdpH2u
— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) December 8, 2019
In one of the most bizarre NFL stories of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly forgot to unload an equipment container off the team plane, according to Adam Schefter. The container, carrying the shoulder pads and helmets of roughly 35 players along with team footballs, then mistakenly made its way to Newark, New Jersey.
Chiefs: Make sure y’all get the equipment
Chiefs equipment guy: pic.twitter.com/oPzW3Ky5do
— Stephen A. Smith and Wesson (@Kevo_Bevo) December 8, 2019
Schefter reported that the container is now being rushed back in time for the Chiefs’ 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff against the New England Patriots and is expected to arrive sometime between 3 and 3:30 p.m. ET. According to Schefter, Kansas City would have to forfeit the game if the left-behind equipment did not arrive by kickoff.
Despite the confusing mishap, Schefter made it clear that the fault lies solely on Kansas City, not the Patriots or the NFL.
”The Chiefs did not take the equipment off the plane,” Schefter said.
The gear is fortunately, likely to be returned in time for the game. Otherwise fans would have been robbed of seeing another chapter of the Patrick Mahomes-Tom Brady duel.
The Chiefs are 8-4 and sitting atop the AFC West, while the Patriots are 10-2 with a one game lead over the Buffalo Bills for first in the AFC East.
