August 18, 2025 • 9 mins
ESPN introduces the new original series The Kingdom premiering on ESPN, ESPN+ and Disney+ on August 14. The six-episode docuseries explores the Kansas City Chiefs’ indelible and distinctive place in the NFL’s landscape for more than six decades while offering an exclusive, revealing chronicle of the team’s extraordinary 2024 season.The Kingdom – which includes unprecedented access into the players’ lives on and off the field – details the Chiefs’ journey as they completed a franchise-record 15-win regular season, captured a third-consecutive Lamar Hunt Trophy as AFC champions, and made a third-straight Super Bowl appearance. The remarkable run builds upon nearly a decade of tremendous success, during which the team made the playoffs every year (2015-24), won the AFC West Division title nine years running (2016-24), appeared in the AFC Championship Game seven years in a row (2018-24), and ultimately made five Super Bowl appearances over the past six years, raising the hallowed Vince Lombardi Trophy three times. Featuring countless untold stories and behind-the-scenes moments and intimate interviews with players, coaches, and other key figures, The Kingdom offers a fascinating look at the team’s long path to the pinnacle of the sports world.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and good morning. How are you doing, Kristin.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hi Errow. Nice to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
I got to tell you what you're doing here with
ESPN is what helps generate the beginning opening preseason of
the NFL. Because when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs,
you can love them, you can hate them, but you
know what, though the story, you cherish it because you
know that people are going to be talking about the
Kansas City Chiefs forty years from today, I hope.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
So it was a once in a career opportunity to
direct this. So thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Well, the thing is is that you're giving us the
full picture here. It's not just the two most popular
players in the world. You're giving us the entire story
of the Chiefs. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean, we tried to tell the story dating back
to the origins, which is a fascinating, fascinating narrative. Lamar
Hunt basically the owner and original founder of the team,
who is one of the architects of the modern day NFL.
So we try to tell both the rich history of
the Chiefs as well as embedding with that current team
(01:03):
as they tried to pursue history last season and win
their third consecutive Super Bowl, So I do think it
has a little bit of everything. And of course, you know,
we try to dig deeper with some of those big
superstars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelcey and Coach Read
to give fans a deeper understanding of who they are
as people.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
You know, I've gotten in more arguments with people where
I go. The Kansas City Chiefs only became famous because
of a TV commercial where it was the Chefs, and
I always thought that's what really got people to really
start digging in and loving the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
That's very funny. I love that commercial. I think that
what's endearing about the Chiefs is like, there's such a
small market, right, It's not La or New York, and
the community and the fans and the culture there, it
all revolves around that team, and I think it creates
just a really special energy.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Are you putting focus on that stadium too, because I
believe that stadium is is so important to the Chiefs
hit history.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah. Episode five is called the Heartland, and it really
does do a deeper dive into kind of the atmosphere
and arrowhead the fan base that's been devoted to this
team during the highs, yes, but also in the low lows,
which the franchise has had over the years. It has
not been easy for this team. And so yeah, I
(02:22):
think episode five is a special one because you really
get to know the community and the stadium a little
bit better.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
There's so much emotion involved. In fact, I've seen so
many videos of how Mahomes you know, gets ready for
the game and Kelsey, But the person that I'm really
watching is coach Andy because there's just I connect with
him because he's so emotional and he isn't afraid to
cry like a man.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Coach my favorite people in all of sports. I think
he is huge heart. I think his philosophy of don't
judge is something that we should all try to live
our lives by, and I think he's helped a lot
of young men. He calls himself a teacher before a coach,
and I think he lives that.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
So what was it like for you when you got
clearance to do the story? I mean, how do you
prep for something like this or because you can't go
in there and just let things be organic.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a lot of research, it's a lot of reading,
it's a lot of conversations pre interviews off camera, trying
to understand the history, understand the team dynamics, and it's
it's going in and not you know, just just taking it,
taking it in, you know what I mean. Like we
went in without cameras in the beginning and just observed.
(03:37):
He observed the culture, We observed.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
The you know, the practices. We tried to get them
used to.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Having us around. I mean, they regarded at first, like
Andy Reid his old school, he didn't want cameras in
his locker room and around his organization. And I think
we've proved over time that you know, we could be
there but not be invasive or obtrusive. And I think
that you know, coach and the entire organization appreciated that
(04:04):
aspect of the filmmaking, that we weren't an interruption to
what their goal was, which was to win a third
straight Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Don't move. There's more with Kristin Lapis coming up next
on ESPN. It's called The Kingdom. Let's get back with
Kristin Lapis. There's a sense of confidence with this team,
a confidence as a team. It's not just one superstar player,
but when they're out there on that field together as
a team, you believe in it. I mean, I'm a
Panther fan, but when Kansas City is playing, I'm sorry,
(04:32):
I'm going to KC.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
I love that, and it's so true and honestly, you
don't win for as many years in a row as
they've won without an amazing team chemistry. And like as
a filmmaker, you go in and you're looking for, oh,
where's the conflict here? Like who you know, where's the
tension in the locker room? Who doesn't get along? And
I'm being serious when I say that there was none
of that. They all love each other and it's why
(04:58):
they win. And the leaders are very clear in the
locker room. It's Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelcey and all
the young guys look up to them and defer to them,
and they just have a really good thing going there.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
One of the things that I love about Kansas City
is the fact that they love their fans, and I
mean they really embrace those fans in a way. And
there's got to be other football cities that sit there
and say, what can we do that Kansas City is doing? Right?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, I mean it's a really special fan base. You know,
we would capture the town leading up to a big kickoff,
and they would actually close their stores because Kansas City
was playing. It almost feels like a like a college,
small town atmosphere as opposed to like a major professional
sports team. You know, it is a small market, and
(05:44):
I think that there is this really endearing, lovable quality
about the city and its fan base, and I think
the players also embrace that. Like you could catch you know,
Patrick Mahomes in a coffee shop just hanging out and
people don't bother them, like he's a part of the
community there, and he says he's like I grew up
in White House, Texas small town and Kansas City in
(06:07):
many ways is a lot like that, and it makes
me feel at ease.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Do you think that when they get into that new
stadium it's going to change the vibe, because I mean,
it just seems to be that one place everybody says
is going to be the mecca of football stadiums. Yeah,
I mean, it's it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I think that you know, anytime there's a change, there's
going to be some nostalgia for Arrowhead and what was.
But I think that it's an amazing, amazing piece of
news and it's going to really bring the fan base
and the experience there to a whole different level when.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
You take your stories and you put it into the
open fields of real life. In other words, you took
it off the field and you're showing us the real person.
I love that kind of stuff because we need to
humanize this sport.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I agree with you. I think that the places where
this series is the most magical and has the most
heart and soul are in the scene and the moments
away from the football field, and I think understanding that
these guys are just people who have families. I mean,
there's a scene in episode five where Patrick is you know,
training at his house and you know, stops down to
(07:15):
give his three week old baby a hug and a kiss.
Justin Reid Safety is trying to put together a pack
and play crib for his baby that he and his
partner are expecting. So there's relatable moments, you know that
you feel like these guys are trying to figure it out.
They're you know, in their twenties and they're starting to
(07:36):
build families and they have to navigate that in addition
to football and fame, and you know, hopefully you see
a different side of these players.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
One of the things, and only because I'm such an
Internet freak because I'm always digging for information, and I'm
sure this is clickbait. But what about this story that
seems to be bubbling up that Taylor Swift is going
to buy the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Oh my gosh, I don't I don't even know what
to say about that.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That is I'm so stuck, But yet it's starting to
bubble up and say, oh, please, don't get this rumor going.
Don't do it. Don't do it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, I think that you know what I pride myself
on with this series, and I think you know, there
was a team of forty people working on this thing.
It was a true team effort. I think we focused
on the people in and around that organization that make
it special. And you know, Taylor makes it appear in
cent episode three and we talk about her impact on
the fan base, bringing you know, young girls and women
(08:29):
to the game. But overall, we tried to focus on
the amazing, amazing historical journey of that team and those athletes.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
You know, they've always said that the NFL actually stands
for not for long. The Chiefs are proving that statement
absolutely wrong. I mean come on nine Division titles.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Oh it's it's insane, But that's Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Anytime those two are together, don't count them out.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Where can people go to find out more about you, Christin,
because you really do have a pa for storytelling, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
I'm on social media, lapis k. I work for a
company called Words and Pictures. We're an unscripted production studio
based out of New York, and I would encourage people
to go and check out some of the other work
that Words and Pictures is doing. I work with a
ton of talented colleagues that are doing amazing work in
the sports space and beyond. So definitely encourage people to
(09:26):
go and check out Words and Pictures dot com so
they can find out a little bit more about what
we do.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Well, please come back to this show anytime in the future.
The door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
You're the best ero.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Thank you will you'd be brilliant today. Okay, thank you, goodbye.
Ye
Hello and good morning. How are you doing, Kristin.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hi Errow. Nice to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
I got to tell you what you're doing here with
ESPN is what helps generate the beginning opening preseason of
the NFL. Because when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs,
you can love them, you can hate them, but you
know what, though the story, you cherish it because you
know that people are going to be talking about the
Kansas City Chiefs forty years from today, I hope.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
So it was a once in a career opportunity to
direct this. So thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Well, the thing is is that you're giving us the
full picture here. It's not just the two most popular
players in the world. You're giving us the entire story
of the Chiefs. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean, we tried to tell the story dating back
to the origins, which is a fascinating, fascinating narrative. Lamar
Hunt basically the owner and original founder of the team,
who is one of the architects of the modern day NFL.
So we try to tell both the rich history of
the Chiefs as well as embedding with that current team
(01:03):
as they tried to pursue history last season and win
their third consecutive Super Bowl, So I do think it
has a little bit of everything. And of course, you know,
we try to dig deeper with some of those big
superstars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelcey and Coach Read
to give fans a deeper understanding of who they are
as people.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
You know, I've gotten in more arguments with people where
I go. The Kansas City Chiefs only became famous because
of a TV commercial where it was the Chefs, and
I always thought that's what really got people to really
start digging in and loving the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
That's very funny. I love that commercial. I think that
what's endearing about the Chiefs is like, there's such a
small market, right, It's not La or New York, and
the community and the fans and the culture there, it
all revolves around that team, and I think it creates
just a really special energy.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Are you putting focus on that stadium too, because I
believe that stadium is is so important to the Chiefs
hit history.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah. Episode five is called the Heartland, and it really
does do a deeper dive into kind of the atmosphere
and arrowhead the fan base that's been devoted to this
team during the highs, yes, but also in the low lows,
which the franchise has had over the years. It has
not been easy for this team. And so yeah, I
(02:22):
think episode five is a special one because you really
get to know the community and the stadium a little
bit better.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
There's so much emotion involved. In fact, I've seen so
many videos of how Mahomes you know, gets ready for
the game and Kelsey, But the person that I'm really
watching is coach Andy because there's just I connect with
him because he's so emotional and he isn't afraid to
cry like a man.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Coach my favorite people in all of sports. I think
he is huge heart. I think his philosophy of don't
judge is something that we should all try to live
our lives by, and I think he's helped a lot
of young men. He calls himself a teacher before a coach,
and I think he lives that.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
So what was it like for you when you got
clearance to do the story? I mean, how do you
prep for something like this or because you can't go
in there and just let things be organic.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It's a lot of research, it's a lot of reading,
it's a lot of conversations pre interviews off camera, trying
to understand the history, understand the team dynamics, and it's
it's going in and not you know, just just taking it,
taking it in, you know what I mean. Like we
went in without cameras in the beginning and just observed.
(03:37):
He observed the culture, We observed.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
The you know, the practices. We tried to get them
used to.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Having us around. I mean, they regarded at first, like
Andy Reid his old school, he didn't want cameras in
his locker room and around his organization. And I think
we've proved over time that you know, we could be
there but not be invasive or obtrusive. And I think
that you know, coach and the entire organization appreciated that
(04:04):
aspect of the filmmaking, that we weren't an interruption to
what their goal was, which was to win a third
straight Super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Don't move. There's more with Kristin Lapis coming up next
on ESPN. It's called The Kingdom. Let's get back with
Kristin Lapis. There's a sense of confidence with this team,
a confidence as a team. It's not just one superstar player,
but when they're out there on that field together as
a team, you believe in it. I mean, I'm a
Panther fan, but when Kansas City is playing, I'm sorry,
(04:32):
I'm going to KC.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
I love that, and it's so true and honestly, you
don't win for as many years in a row as
they've won without an amazing team chemistry. And like as
a filmmaker, you go in and you're looking for, oh,
where's the conflict here? Like who you know, where's the
tension in the locker room? Who doesn't get along? And
I'm being serious when I say that there was none
of that. They all love each other and it's why
(04:58):
they win. And the leaders are very clear in the
locker room. It's Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelcey and all
the young guys look up to them and defer to them,
and they just have a really good thing going there.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
One of the things that I love about Kansas City
is the fact that they love their fans, and I
mean they really embrace those fans in a way. And
there's got to be other football cities that sit there
and say, what can we do that Kansas City is doing? Right?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, I mean it's a really special fan base. You know,
we would capture the town leading up to a big kickoff,
and they would actually close their stores because Kansas City
was playing. It almost feels like a like a college,
small town atmosphere as opposed to like a major professional
sports team. You know, it is a small market, and
(05:44):
I think that there is this really endearing, lovable quality
about the city and its fan base, and I think
the players also embrace that. Like you could catch you know,
Patrick Mahomes in a coffee shop just hanging out and
people don't bother them, like he's a part of the
community there, and he says he's like I grew up
in White House, Texas small town and Kansas City in
(06:07):
many ways is a lot like that, and it makes
me feel at ease.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Do you think that when they get into that new
stadium it's going to change the vibe, because I mean,
it just seems to be that one place everybody says
is going to be the mecca of football stadiums. Yeah,
I mean, it's it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I think that you know, anytime there's a change, there's
going to be some nostalgia for Arrowhead and what was.
But I think that it's an amazing, amazing piece of
news and it's going to really bring the fan base
and the experience there to a whole different level when.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
You take your stories and you put it into the
open fields of real life. In other words, you took
it off the field and you're showing us the real person.
I love that kind of stuff because we need to
humanize this sport.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I agree with you. I think that the places where
this series is the most magical and has the most
heart and soul are in the scene and the moments
away from the football field, and I think understanding that
these guys are just people who have families. I mean,
there's a scene in episode five where Patrick is you know,
training at his house and you know, stops down to
(07:15):
give his three week old baby a hug and a kiss.
Justin Reid Safety is trying to put together a pack
and play crib for his baby that he and his
partner are expecting. So there's relatable moments, you know that
you feel like these guys are trying to figure it out.
They're you know, in their twenties and they're starting to
(07:36):
build families and they have to navigate that in addition
to football and fame, and you know, hopefully you see
a different side of these players.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
One of the things, and only because I'm such an
Internet freak because I'm always digging for information, and I'm
sure this is clickbait. But what about this story that
seems to be bubbling up that Taylor Swift is going
to buy the Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Oh my gosh, I don't I don't even know what
to say about that.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That is I'm so stuck, But yet it's starting to
bubble up and say, oh, please, don't get this rumor going.
Don't do it. Don't do it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, I think that you know what I pride myself
on with this series, and I think you know, there
was a team of forty people working on this thing.
It was a true team effort. I think we focused
on the people in and around that organization that make
it special. And you know, Taylor makes it appear in
cent episode three and we talk about her impact on
the fan base, bringing you know, young girls and women
(08:29):
to the game. But overall, we tried to focus on
the amazing, amazing historical journey of that team and those athletes.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
You know, they've always said that the NFL actually stands
for not for long. The Chiefs are proving that statement
absolutely wrong. I mean come on nine Division titles.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Oh it's it's insane, But that's Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Anytime those two are together, don't count them out.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Where can people go to find out more about you, Christin,
because you really do have a pa for storytelling, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
I'm on social media, lapis k. I work for a
company called Words and Pictures. We're an unscripted production studio
based out of New York, and I would encourage people
to go and check out some of the other work
that Words and Pictures is doing. I work with a
ton of talented colleagues that are doing amazing work in
the sports space and beyond. So definitely encourage people to
(09:26):
go and check out Words and Pictures dot com so
they can find out a little bit more about what
we do.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Well, please come back to this show anytime in the future.
The door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
You're the best ero.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Thank you will you'd be brilliant today. Okay, thank you, goodbye.
Ye
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