CHIEFS ROOKIES REIGNITE COLLEGE RIVALRY IN TRAINING CAMP HIT

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Emmett Johnson took a heavy hit during a 7-on-7 training session on Monday, delivered by fellow rookie safety Xavier Nwankpa. The collision sent Johnson horizontal before he fell hard onto his back, requiring assistance from teammates to stand. Johnson later told people the hit "felt personal" and that he "didn't like it". The incident occurred during the Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph as the team prepared for the 2026 NFL season.

Nwankpa and Johnson carried a college rivalry into the professional setting: Nwankpa played safety for Iowa whilst Johnson played running back for Nebraska. The two schools compete annually in the Heroes Game, with their most recent matchup being the 56th meeting between the programmes. Johnson lost to Nwankpa's Hawkeyes three times during his college career, though he also recorded notable performances against Iowa, including a 217-yard rushing display last season in which Nwankpa tallied five tackles. Johnson earned Big Ten Running Back of the Year honours before the Chiefs selected him in the fifth round of the draft; Nwankpa went undrafted before joining the team.

The hit drew significant attention on social media, with users posting video and commentary about the revival of the Nebraska-Iowa rivalry within the Chiefs locker room. Some social media users called for disciplinary action against Nwankpa for the play, though no official response from the Chiefs or head coach Andy Reid was reported. Both players are competing for roster spots and playing time as rookies on the same defence.