On Wednesday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a blockbuster trade, sending All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the Rams’ 29th pick and three selections over the next two years.
McDuffie was looking for a well-deserved contract extension this offseason, which presumably will make him one of the top-paid cornerbacks in the game — but due to salary cap limitations, the Chiefs aren’t in a place where the front office can afford to pay McDuffie the amount of money he can demand.
So, as we say goodbye, I thought it might be fun to compile a playlist of our favorite McDuffie moments in Kansas City:
5. Stealing Tyreek Hill’s lunch in Frankfurt
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 5: Tyreek Hill of Miami Dolphins and Trent McDuffie of Kansas City Chiefs battle for the ball during the NFL match between Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs at Deutsche Bank Park on November 5, 2023 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 5: Tyreek Hill of Miami Dolphins and Trent McDuffie of Kansas City Chiefs battle for the ball during the NFL match between Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs at Deutsche Bank Park on November 5, 2023 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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In 2023, the Chiefs traveled to Germany to take on the Miami Dolphins. With under a minute left in the first half, the Chiefs were sitting on a 14-0 lead, but the Dolphins had the ball on the Chiefs’ 30-yard line in position to score before the intermission.
It was second-and-6. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a quick screen pass to former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and by the time the ball was released, McDuffie was already driving downhill to rip the ball out of Hill’s arms, like Deebo snatching Red’s chain in the movie “Friday.”
Chiefs safety Chimarri Conner recovered the fumble and pitched the ball back to fellow safety Bryan Cook, who took the ball the remaining 59 yards for a touchdown.
4. Causing JaMarr Chase to completely crash out
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 15: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals holds back JaMarr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals from arguing in the fourth quarter with Trent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 15: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals holds back JaMarr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals from arguing in the fourth quarter with Trent McDuffie #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
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If you’ve heard me talk about Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the past, then you’ll know that he is an extremely talented player — but he’s a spoiled punk to me, one who struggles against premier corners in this league. This has especially been true any time Chase has been forced to line up against McDuffie.
McDuffie and Chase’s best interaction came during the Chiefs’ Week 2 matchup in 2024 against the Bengals, where McDuffie frustrated Chase to the point of throwing a tantrum, drawing a 15-yard unsportmanlike conduct penalty.
3. McDuffie’s first career interception
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: George Karlaftis #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs congratulates teammate Trent McDuffie #22 on an interception during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: George Karlaftis #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs congratulates teammate Trent McDuffie #22 on an interception during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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Despite being one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, there was one thing that eluding McDuffie for the majority of his first three seasons. He was an All-Pro, but he still hadn’t recorded an interception yet.
Enter quarterback Jameis Winston and the Cleveland Browns. AKA the Oprah Winfrey of giving out interceptions.
It was Week 15 of the 2024 season. The Chiefs were up by 14 late in the fourth quarter when Winston threw a pass into the corner of the endzone, attempting to throw a score-tightening touchdown, but at the last moment, McDuffie dove in front of the ball and picked off a pass to break the streak.
2. McDuffie recovers Zay Flowers’ fumble
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: L’Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs forces Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens to fumble at the goal line during the AFC Championship NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 28: L’Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs forces Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens to fumble at the goal line during the AFC Championship NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
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It was the 2023 AFC Championship game, and the Chiefs were in a heated contest against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were down by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter and were knocking on the door of Kansas City’s end zone from the nine-yard line.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson connected with receiver Zay Flower, who was having a big day against Kansas City, but as he turned upfield and dove for the goal line, former Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed reached in and punched out the ball. As the pigskin rolled near the goal line, McDuffie pounced on it and ensured the massive play finished as a game-changing turnover.
1. McDuffie saves the SB LVIII
LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 11: Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) celebrates a defensive stop after knocking down San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday February 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 11: Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) celebrates a defensive stop after knocking down San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday February 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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With less than two minutes left in Super Bowl LVIII, the game was tied. The San Francisco 49ers were in field goal range.
It was third-and-4. All the 49ers had to do was pick up the first down and run out the game clock to be in position to kick a game-winning field goal.
But defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Trent McDuffie had other ideas.
The defense huddled up. The call came in from the sideline. Middle linebacker Nick Bolton relayed the play to the team, “Cyclone.”
Spagnulo was blitzing McDuffie from the slot. The entire season came down to him getting to the quarterback. Bolton looked McDuffie in the eye, “Don’t [expletive] run into a tight end or wide receiver.”
The huddle broke. McDuffie walked up to the line of scrimmage, but not close enough to tip his plan.
This was it—the moment that decides whether you are remembered as a legend, or the guy who came up short.
You know how the rest of the story goes.
He blocked the pass.
Of course he did.
Because Trent McDuffie is a [expletive] legend.
Thank you, Mr. McDuffie, for giving this team and this fan base everything you had both on and off the field. The business side of football is a dirty game, but you have earned every single dollar you are about to receive.
Go get the bag, and hopefully we won’t have to see you in the Super Bowl again, lined up for the other team—because if we do, I have no doubt you could break our hearts just as easily as you hurt 49ers’ fans.
Congratulations on getting to go back to the city that raised you. What an awesome opportunity to get to live out your childhood dream in your own hometown. I hope you enjoy every moment of it.
Good luck! You will be missed and forever loved by Chiefs Kingdom.