Growing up in Overland Park meant Emmy Award-winning actor Jason Sudeikis had a natural interest in sports teams from the Kansas City area.
But, as Sudeikis said recently on the New Heights podcast, the Chiefs weren’t at the top of the list of teams he had supported.
Before finding incredible success as the title character on “Ted Lasso,” Sudeikis was on “Saturday Night Live,” and the crew knew he was from the Kansas City area.
Most of the people who worked behind the scenes on “Saturday Night Live” rooted for the Jets or Giants when Sudeikis was on the show from 2005-13. And they frequently asked if he cheered for the Chiefs, who weren’t very successful at that time.
“I was like, ‘No, but I love a lot of people that do.’ And that was the sincere truth,” Sudeikis said. “My family, I’d gone to prior to the last three, four years ... I think one actual Chiefs game at Arrowhead (Stadium).”
While growing up in Kansas City, Sudeikis wanted the Royals and Chiefs to win, but he also liked the Kansas City Comets, an indoor soccer team.
His biggest love was hoops.
“For us, we were a basketball family. So I’d spend more time going to KU or the Big Eight tournament, Big 12 tournament, all that stuff,” Sudeikis noted.
However, Sudeikis’ Chiefs fandom has blossomed over the past few years. And it wasn’t simply because Patrick Mahomes became the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.
No, it started because of Sudeikis’ kids and his work on “Big Slick.” He has a son Otis, 9, and daughter Daisy, 7.
“But then with having kids, obviously the success of the team, getting to know you and Patrick through Big Slick and the charity stuff we do back home, then it becomes like this personal thing,” Sudeikis told podcast co-host Travis Kelce, the Chiefs tight end. “And then what’s even more fun is getting to play this fake coach (Ted Lasso), and then you have real coaches and real organizations that give you this beautiful treatment.
“We get to bring my good friends, those people that do love the Chiefs, like my friend Terry and his kids, who you’ve met, my friend Billy and his children, that you guys have been so kind to. And the Hunts let me roll deep. Can I bring in plus 12 (to a game)? They’re like, ‘Yeah.’ It was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ And it’s just been a joy to watch. So now Otis and Daisy we’re watching every week.”