KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Growing up in Kansas City, Texans rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel regularly attended Chiefs football games.
Now, Noel and rookie offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery are experiencing a full-circle, emotional moment as they’ll compete against their hometown NFL team Sunday night against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
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Noel’s mother, his fiancee, grandmother, even relatives from Ireland will be there that flew in specifically to attend this game.
“Very exciting moment for me, surreal to be able to play to play in a stadium I grew up going to games too, and just knowing that I’ll have family there cheering me on,” Noel said. “It’s gonna be a very cool moment. Pretty much anybody that’s in my close circle are going to be there.”
To play in a significant game like this one for the 7-5 Texans against the 6-6 Chiefs, winners of three of the previous six Super Bowl games, is extremely meaningful for Noel.
Noel has caught 20 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. He’s averaging 10.9 yards per punt return and 25.8 yards per kickoff return.
“We know we have to win this game with our backs against the wall,” Noel said. “They’re gonna come in and be prepared, know every detail that they got to stay on. And that’s the same thing for us. We gotta be on every detail and be ready for the moment.”
A third-round draft pick from Iowa State, Noel played at Arrowhead Stadium while playing against the University of Kansas. He attended three or four games there growing up. He played high school football at Park Hill and chose Iowa State over Nebraska, Kansas State and Wisconsin.
“The atmosphere there is crazy,” Noel said. “It’ll be fun to play in. It’s great. I’m going back home. Anytime I’m able to make an impact on the game, it’s special.”
A second-round draft pick from Minnesota and a former Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, Ersery has started every game this season for the defending AFC South champions.
Ersery grew up in Ruskin Heights and was raised by a single mother, Takita Charles, along with five siblings. His mother worked three jobs to support the family.
At Ruskin High School after originally planning to play basketball, Ersery developed as a football player and earned a scholarship.
He plans to have roughly 30 tickets for family and friends to attend this game.
He has never played a game at Arrowhead Stadium. a historic venue.
“I know it’s going to be loud,” he said. “Get mentally ready for that. It’s pretty cool, man. I’ve never actually been to a Chiefs game in-person. I’ve always watched them on TV. To go there and be in the stadium and play in the stadium, it’s a full-circle moment.”
He has no plans to wear sleeves. For Ersery, it’ll be guns out.
“My old line coach was like you were sleeves, you’re soft,” he said. “I’ve always lived by that, so you won’t catch me wearing no sleeves.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com