Why a return to Chiefs was always on Hollywood Brown's mind
Brown eyes taking care of 'unfinished business'
Seeing wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown back in Kansas City isn’t a big surprise.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach indicated when discussing the wide receiver position group during the NFL Scouting Combine that Brown was on the radar, after all.
“The last two years, we’ve had two great receivers,” Veach said then. “It’s a shame Rashee (Rice) got hurt because I think he had a chance to be a Top 10 receiver, and then the progress (Xavier) Worthy made last year. I think those guys will be a dynamic combination, and we’ll see if we can get Hollywood back.”
Consider the mission accomplished after the Chiefs signed Brown on a one-year deal worth up to $11 million before he was eligible to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
Brown wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I knew all along I wanted to be back,” Brown said during a recent Zoom teleconference media availability. “They voiced their opinions of wanting me back and we had some unfinished business. I know – had a great start to my camp and getting hurt – we all wanted to see it come together, so glad we got it done.”
The Chiefs originally brought in Brown on a one-year deal last offseason with hopes the speedster, who possesses a 4.27 clocked time in the 40-yard dash, would help open the offense with intermediate and deep routes.
Brown, however, suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury during the preseason and eventually underwent surgery, which required an extended recovery.
He didn’t play a regular-season game until Week 16, and he finished the season with nine catches for 91 yards on 15 targets in two games. Brown added five catches for 50 yards on 13 targets in the Chiefs’ three postseason games, which included Super Bowl LIX.
His overall production offered a small sample size, which Brown doesn’t believe showcased what he can do on the field when fully healthy.
“I didn’t really,” he said. “I mean, except the people in the building, my teammates, my coaches, and you know it carried me a long way. They know the type of guy I am, the type of work I put in.
“And essentially that’s one of the reasons I got brought back because the few games I played, I was there, and I was able to open the offense up a lot but wasn’t really involved that much. I just know that impression that I left is something that I want to show the whole Chiefs Kingdom and really show what I can do.”
Brown’s outlook should bode well for the Chiefs’ passing game in the upcoming season.
Last year’s vision of having Brown, Rice and Worthy on the field at the same time to torment an opposing defense never came to fruition because of injuries.
Brown, though, sees a high ceiling for the trio in 2025, provided everyone is healthy.
“Those are my guys,” Brown said. “The sky’s the limit.”
