Arrowhead Addict: A Kansas City Chiefs Podcast · FanSided

Chiefs Legends Dante Hall, Deron Cherry & Jayice Pearson on Arrowhead Memories, Raiders Hate & MORE

January 22, 2026·24 min·2 clips

Deron Cherry explains how he went from being drafted as a punter to becoming a Chiefs Hall of Fame safety.

This episode features three Kansas City Chiefs legends: return specialist Dante Hall, safety Deron Cherry, and cornerback Jayice Pearson. They join host Sterling Holmes to discuss their careers, the Chiefs' 2023 season, and a health awareness campaign. The conversation blends football analysis with personal stories from their playing days. The group is partnering with the NFL Alumni and the CDC on the "Gear Up Against Cancer" campaign to raise awareness about lung cancer risks and screening. Dante Hall explains they are using their voices and platforms to promote prevention and early detection. Jayice Pearson emphasizes the importance of getting this message specifically into the African-American community, where reluctance to seek medical check-ups can be an issue. Sterling Holmes shares that his Chiefs fandom began as a child watching a Dante Hall kickoff return touchdown against the Broncos. Hall expresses approval for the NFL's new kickoff rules, believing they will encourage more returns and create opportunities for players. Deron Cherry reveals he initially entered the NFL as a punter before transitioning to safety, a switch facilitated by coach Marv Levy. Jayice Pearson describes the cornerback position as being "on an island" and requiring a short memory, noting how rule changes have made it more difficult for defenders today. Cherry praises Pearson's role as a slot corner, calling it the toughest job in the league. Pearson and Cherry both highlight a specific Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills as the moment Arrowhead Stadium "came alive" and found its heartbeat. Hall's favorite memory is a playoff loss to Peyton Manning's Colts, which showcased Arrowhead's incredible playoff atmosphere. All three legends unanimously name the Raiders as their biggest rival, citing the intensity of "Raider Week" traditions started under coach Marty Schottenheimer. Analyzing the Chiefs' 2023 season, Cherry points to a rash of injuries to key starters like Trent McDuffie and Patrick Mahomes. Hall argues the team lacked a consistent commitment to the running game, which put excessive stress on the passing attack and defense. Pearson adds that coaching decisions, an underperforming return game, and a lack of defensive takeaways also contributed to the team's struggles. The episode reveals the unique path of a Hall of Fame safety who began his career as a punter. Listeners get a clear sense of how a specific era of Chiefs football cultivated a deep, ingrained hatred for the Raiders. The legends provide a blunt, player-centric diagnosis of the modern Chiefs' recent shortcomings, focusing on offensive balance and physicality. The tone is highly conversational and nostalgic, with friendly ribbing among the former teammates. The style is informal and anecdote-driven, moving fluidly between health advocacy, historical stories, and current football analysis. The host facilitates the discussion by prompting each legend with specific questions and personal connections to their careers. Chiefs historians and fans of 1980s-2000s NFL football will love the firsthand accounts and inside stories from this iconic defensive backfield and special teams star. Listeners seeking deep X's and O's schematic breakdowns of the modern game might find the analysis more broad than technical. Anyone interested in athletes' advocacy work will appreciate the opening segment on their public health campaign.

As heard by us

A Chiefs-history conversation that pairs Arrowhead nostalgia with a public-health message.

JC Pearson, Deron Cherry, and Dante Hall make the episode work as both a public-health conversation and a Chiefs-memory session. The focus stays on the NFL Alumni and CDC Gear Up Against Cancer campaign, with lung cancer awareness, screening, prevention, and early detection…

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Want Chiefs legends talking Arrowhead history with a real awareness mission?

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