Dustin Colquitt wants to be a Kansas City Chief forever

You may have heard the expression, “Father knows best.”

It was likely a phrase conjured up long ago by parents seeking to remind their kids that they should always heed their advice.

But for Dustin Colquitt, son of two-time Super Bowl champion Craig Colquitt, it isn’t just an expression. It’s the cold, hard truth. Craig has lived the life Dustin is living.

When Dustin was up for unrestricted free agency this offseason, who else could he turn to?

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

“I talked to my dad extensively about it since the season ended,” Colquitt said. “He just talked about legacy and staying in Kansas City.”

Craig played nearly his entire career—seven years from 1978 to 1984—as a Pittsburgh Steeler, before eventually playing one season with the Indianapolis Colts.

The two had to realize Dustin was still one of the best punters in the league and really, in the history of the game, and he could have left the Chiefs for more money. Instead, he chose to stay in Kansas City, signing a three-year contract worth up to $9 million.

“He just was adamant about [me] staying there, finishing the task,” Dustin said. “He’s always been about finishing contracts, make sure they sign up for a winner and be that, and embrace community.

“Just all the things that Kansas City preaches anyway, he wanted me to finish it out here.”

Staying in Kansas City, Colquitt is now the lone survivor of the legendary Chiefs trio that lasted a lasted on the team for more than a decade. The Chiefs drafted Colquitt in the same class as Derrick Johnson in 2005 and a year later they selected Tamba Hali.

Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs chose to move on from both Johnson and Hali. Colquitt, who explained how his relationship with Johnson and Hali extends to family gatherings and bible studies, communicated with both.

“It’s funny,” Colquitt said. “When you reach out to guys after it’s been that long with that much time, almost as high as a mountain top experience you can have to the lowest of lows when you get put out, and you experience all of these with these guys and the routines and stuff that are going to be a little bit different there.

“When you reach out, really they’re quick to say, ‘Thanks. It’s been awesome,’” Colquitt said. “But really it’s funny how they’re like, ‘Keep on doing your thing.’”

At the age of 35, Colquitt will be the oldest player on the Chiefs when the 2018 season begins. Only two other rostered Chiefs—linebacker Frank Zombo at 31 and Chad Henne at 32—are in their 30s.

To put that in greater perspective, Colquitt has played for Andy Reid, Romeo Crennel, Todd Haley, Herm Edwards and in 2005, for one season, Dick Vermeil.

Vermeil did something in 2005 that remains with Colquitt to this day.

“In 2005, when me and Derrick came in here, we all got cards, which I still have,” Colquitt said. “It’s got a picture of the Lombardi Trophy, so the main thing is the main thing. I had all intentions of, when they drafted me in the third round, of staying here until that happens.”

Watching Patrick Mahomes has made Colquitt has given him reason to believe that moment could be sooner rather than later.

“What he brings to the table is a younger generation that is just a big of a student as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Alex Smith, these guys that have had a lot of success,” he said. “I think they’ve seen that his competitiveness and some of the throws he can make ... he’s similar to Ben Roethlisberger—somebody can wrap him up and he doesn’t care. He’s going to hit an intended receiver downfield and get a first down. We saw that in Denver.”

Entering his 14th season, Colquitt feels that playing in such a younger room that includes the 22-year-old Mahomes will help keep him feeling younger, and he said he thinks he could play six or seven more seasons, hopefully as a Chief. Colquitt joked that he wants to play longer in Kansas City than George Brett, who spent 20 seasons with the Royals.

But more so than the personal goals, he just feels the Chiefs are right there.

“Sometimes in professional sports, you get that feeling when you spend enough time in it, which is what (Brett) Veach and Andy do, and all of our coaches for that matter,” he said. “All the way up to coach, they’re trying to figure out a way how to put this together so we could all have rings and make downtown red instead of blue.

“The blue is awesome, but red would be sick because it would be millions.”