KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) β Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs showed off their glitzy new Super Bowl rings that sparkled with diamonds, rubies β and βTom & Jerry.β
The championship-winning Chiefs gathered inside the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art on Thursday night to receive the flashy jewelry that celebrates their 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas in February.
The ring features 529 diamonds and 38 rubies and totals 14.8 carats. Four marquise diamonds represent the franchise’s four Lombardi Trophies, including the last two seasons. The base of the trophies are made from 19 custom-cut baguette diamonds distinguishing the Chiefs as the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 19 seasons.
And the top of the ring opens to reveal an inscription of the βTom & Jerryβ play, the nickname given to Mahomes’ 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman to win the Super Bowl. The design on the ring depicts head coach Andy Reidβs handwritten sketch of the play.
Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, who also wore the teamβs 2019 and 2022 Super Bowl rings before the ceremony, said this yearβs version told the story of last season.
βYou can think about some of the cool things that happened this year and theyβll be incorporated one way or another,” Hunt said. βAnd like last yearβs ring, itβs got some really neat surprises. And I canβt wait to see the expression on the players faces when they open the boxes.β
The inside of the ring also includes a Lombardi Trophy depending on the recipientβs time with the Chiefs. The inside band features the word βUnited,β which was the teamβs motto last season, along with the scores of Kansas City’s four playoff wins and each playerβs signature.
Other clever touches include 28 diamonds that celebrate the defense for holding every opponent to fewer than 28 points in each game, 17 miniature gold leaf confetti marking the Chiefs’ points scored in the AFC championship game to beat Baltimore and 16 custom-cut rubies that recognize the clubβs number of division titles.
One of the challenges for the team was keeping the ring design under wraps until its unveiling at the celebration that included 400 players, coaches, team employees and their guests.
βThe only thing I heard is that it’s bigger than it was last time,” said linebacker Nick Bolton, who wore last year’s ring for only the third time. “Iβve been trying to sneak a peak for about three or four days.β
The boxes in which the rings were kept included a combination to keep anyone from seeing them too early. The code 777 was revealed in a slot machine video following Huntβs address to the audience.
βWe always try to figure out a way to get the ring in the front of every single individual during dinner,β team president Mark Donovan said. βAnd then make sure they donβt open it too early, because itβs a real reveal moment.β
The Chiefs completed their mandatory minicamp this week and will resume preparations for the defense of their back-to-back Super Bowl titles next month at training camp.
βOnce you get through that parade, youβre kind of off and heading in the direction of the new season,β Reid said. βItβs a night β I donβt want to slight tonight β because thereβs a lot that goes into that and thereβs a lot of hard work thatβs gone into that and this is kind of the reward for it.
βBut I think the guys know that itβs going to be nice to get the ring, but theyβve moved on.β
And the Chiefs are already planning to be back for a third straight ring ceremony β which would be a first in NFL history.
βEvery year in this league, you have to come in with that same mentality, you have to be hungry,β Mahomes said. βItβs hard. You saw last year, youβve seen it every year that Iβve been here. You have to battle in order to win that Super Bowl. Guys have to have that mentality.β
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