The stakes were high. The Buffalo Bills faced the Kansas City Chiefs in a decisive AFC Championship battle. Nikko Remigio stepped onto the field as an underdog rookie wide receiver taking part in his first major game. Early on, Remigio played it safe, fair-catching his first punt return. But then came the words that would change everything: “That’s not being great, bro.” Yes, those five words came from none other than Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ star tight end, and he wasn’t holding back.

When asked about it later on the Up & Adams Show, Remigio shared: “Yeah. I mean, you know, Trav had came up to me early in the game and, you know, I had fair caught that first punt coming out the gates, and he was like, that’s not being great, bro. And so I knew going into this next opportunity that I had, I’m like, I gotta make something happen.”

With the next punt return, Remigio didn’t just catch the ball; he owned it, taking it 41 yards and flipping the field for the Chiefs against a Bills defense that was chomping at the bit. Kelce, ever the mentor, was there to greet him on the sidelines with a hearty, “That’s how you be great, dawg.” Cue the chills.

That one moment of tough love set Remigio on fire. The Chiefs went on to win the game 32-29, advancing to their three-peat. And Kelce? Well, even with his quiet game (two catches for 19 yards), his leadership was undeniable. And for Remigio, it was a full-circle moment—his idol, his teammate, his motivator all rolled into one. “I was like, oh man. This is a dream,” he said. A dream indeed.

The NFL rookie living his dream

Prior to becoming well-known for his dynamic plays on the field, Nikko Remigio was simply an NFL hopeful like many others. The Orange, California native, born on November 4, 1999, distinguished himself at Mater Dei High School by recording 111 receptions for 1,695 yards and achieving 19 touchdowns. Remigio chose California over the dominant programs at USC and Wisconsin after high school and quickly established his presence. Playing for California he produced remarkable statistics with 97 catches for 903 yards and 13 touchdowns. Remigio showed versatility beyond receiving duties by accumulating 983 return yards and scoring one kickoff return touchdown.

In 2022, Remigio moved to Fresno State to continue improving his football skills. He received second-team All-Mountain West honors that season when he recorded 74 receptions for 852 yards and six touchdowns. Despite his undeniable performance, Remigio did not get drafted in 2023 but remained committed to his NFL goals.

The Kansas City Chiefs took a risk by signing him as an undrafted free agent. Remigio could see his dream becoming reality but faced many obstacles along the way. In August 2023, he was waived by the team and subsequently placed on injured reserve. Remigio rejoined the active roster in December 2024 and played a key role when the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game.

Remigio entered the league as an undrafted rookie yet delivered an extraordinary performance. For a player with a brief tenure in the league, he achieved remarkable statistics at the close of the 2024 regular season with 2 Receptions totaling 48 Receiving Yards.

Remigio accomplished a significant milestone despite never being drafted but this represents only his starting point. From Mater Dei to California to Fresno State, and now, with the Kansas City Chiefs, Remigio is earning his spot, one play at a time. And with his AFC Championship Game performance and his rising status as a versatile weapon, the future is looking bright for this undrafted rookie.

Who knows where his journey will take him next? Super Bowl? The sky’s the limit for Nikko Remigio.