Drue Tranquill, Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker

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Shop in store or visit Ashley.com today. Always enjoy when we get a few minutes to chat with my next guest, and that is Drew Tranquil. He used to play for the Chargers from 2019 to 2022 in this offseason. I'm going to stay in the AFC West, but I'm going to join the defending Super Bowl champions with the Kansas City Chiefs, and Drew is kind enough to join us right now. Drew, I always appreciate the time.

Thanks for it. How are you? Hey Zach, doing well.

Always a pleasure to speak with you as well. Yeah, I appreciate you saying that. Let me start you off with last week up against the Jaguars. We know how good that offense can be.

To hold them to three field goals and keep them out of the end zone, just kind of look back at the successful day that your defense did have. Yeah, I thought we played really complimentary good defense. I thought we covered well in the back end. I thought we rushed the passer well, and I think whenever you can kind of have that formula, you can find success. I thought we did a tremendous job in sudden change scenarios. You know, when we were put in a bad position down deep in their own territory, we were able to force them to three and played solid defense that way. So really excited about the way we played.

We just got to keep stacking days and they can get better from afar. I thought it was so awkward. The Chris Jones situation week one, right? He's in the building, but he's not playing. And then he comes back in week two and they get the contract figured out. We all know his importance to the team. Just how about what Chris was able to give you guys on Sunday and the importance of it coming back and playing for the squad. Yeah, I mean, being new to the team, it was my first time getting to see Chris play and being on the same side of the ball. And obviously we know how tremendous of a player he is and kind of what he can bring to a team. And, you know, you saw that on that critical fourth down. You really saw it throughout the game. And so, you know, we're really excited to have him back and with us moving forward.

You being a defensive player in this league, you know how great of a player he is, but first time being able to play on the same defense as him. Just what jumped out to you the most? Did anything surprise you?

Maybe a little bit better advertised than what you were hearing and seeing in the last few years. Yeah, I've never seen him in person. And when I first did, I'm like, he is, he's a lot bigger than I remember. He's massive and, you know, rushes with a lot of power and it has a lot of quickness for a guy, you know, his size. And so I'm really impressed with his game and, you know, kind of what he brings to the defense overall. Drew Tranquil here with us.

You know this and I know this. When you have a team like the Chiefs, everyone's going to talk about Patrick Mahomes, how can't you, Andy Reid, and then also Travis Kelce. But your defense has started out this year, even up against Detroit. I thought you guys had a good defensive performance and you held Trevor Lawrence out of the end zone last week. Do you feel like this defense gets disrespected nationally and is there a little chip on the shoulder of this defense?

I don't know that we get disrespected defensively, but there's definitely a chip on your shoulder. And when you go against an offense, you know, as good as we have each and every day in practice and in training camp, you know, you build up a tolerance and a resiliency, you know, to tough situations and tough things schematically that an offense is going to challenge you with. And so, you know, we're thankful we get to see that each and every day and throughout training camp and it really, I think, prepares us for the, you know, the long haul of the season.

So, yeah, really excited, you know, and how we started and we just got to keep it rolling here. We'll talk about the Bears matchup in just a bit. I have a lot of respect for Steve Spagnola, phenomenal defensive mind and the championship speak for themselves. But now being able to be a part of this, Spags defense, just what stands out to you the most about his coaching style?

I mean, Spags is really kind of the ultimate competitor. I think, you know, an example from from practice the other day is, you know, we're doing a situation, you know, we beat the offense in on earlier in the week and then we come back to practice the same situation again because, you know, Andy wants to try a different thing. And Spags is just is processing through what he thinks Andy is going to try to do. And I think, you know, the way his mind works, always thinking what's the opponent going to try to do to attack us, you know, has really played out in his resume and what he's been able to accomplish. He's constantly competing, constantly trying to find an edge and does a really good job of utilizing all his personnel and playing to his guy's strengths. And, you know, I think the guys, you know, respect him for it and does a really good job. I've really enjoyed getting to know him the past couple months. What they've been able to build, it probably speaks for itself when the Chiefs come calling, right?

Why wouldn't you go? But when you went through this process, what really led you to Kansas City? Yeah, I mean, there were, you know, a number of teams there at the end. And I think, you know, the biggest thing that stood out to me was just how hard Coach Reed, Brett Veach, Spags, you know, our linebacker coach, Brennan Daley, how hard they pursued me and how badly I felt like they wanted me. I felt like I really had a place and a home here, felt valued as a player. And, you know, they saw a lot of aspects of my game that they respected and admired and felt like I'd get used, you know, really well here. And so it was kind of a nice little fit.

And, you know, my family, we're really excited to be here in Kansas City. Is it at all awkward? I know it's a business, but when you first walk in playing the Chargers with the Chargers for all those years going up against the Chiefs, is it a little bit of an adjustment period? It was. My wife, Jackie, and I joked about it kind of the first day after being in the building for OTAs. And I was like, it just, it was strange. It was a strange first day. You know, as a competitor, you know, they've been maybe our biggest individual rival, you know, the past four years.

And they've played them eight times, had a lot of close games. It was weird at first, but, you know, things have quickly turned and have built a lot of friendships and really excited for, you know, what we're building this season. Nice to not have to go up against Mahomes, though, anymore, right? It's nice. It's nice.

He's as advertised, you know, even in practice. What was the first interaction like? When you guys see each other in the locker room after going up against one another for all those years, what's the interaction like with Patrick Mahomes, Drew Tranquil? I mean, it's like, yeah, I know you.

I've seen you on the field quite a few times. It's cool to be on the same side now. You know, we got a lot in common with, you know, two young children, two young married guys, just trying to figure out, you know, their path in life and figure out how to be a dad and a husband and do this football thing at the same time.

So it's cool sharing a lot of commonalities on that front, but kind of a mutual respect and, you know, excited to kind of be on the same team with one another now. We know you guys are talked about all throughout the year because of the Kansas City Chiefs, but really the last week or two with the dating life potentially of Travis Kelce, is he dating Taylor Swift or not? I know he commented on it today and they've been exchanging some messages back and forth. What has the locker room been like on the whole Taylor Swift situation? So I got enlightened on the fact through my wife, actually, and I started approaching guys in the locker room to find out on her behalf for her insight. And there's rumors out there. Nobody's really sure. He's kind of keeping a closed door on it, but he seems to want to have her join him at Arrowhead to see if he can rock it out harder than she did.

It sounds like it might be pretty hard, though. It sounds like she does a really good concert for two or three hours. But Travis is a future Hall of Famer and does his thing, so who knows? Yeah, if you had to advocate on the behalf of Travis Kelce, if Taylor Swift calls up Drew Tranquil and says, why should I come to a Chiefs game to see Travis play, what would you say? I'd say, well, you're going to witness probably the best tight end in NFL history, and I'd imagine he's going to get in the end zone, and you never know what Travis is going to do after he scores.

So I'd come just for that celebration alone. Wrapping up with Drew Tranquil, the matchup this weekend up against the Chicago Bears. I know that they're going through a bunch of messy things right now with Justin Fields' comments about the coaching staff.

And then he had to walk them back and clarify them. Their offense has been all out of sync, so I'm sure you guys are licking your chops. But when you look at this offense, when you're studying them throughout the week, just what jumps out to you about the Bears?

Well, it's an interesting situation. I feel like whenever there's distracting stuff in the media or even internally within a team, those teams typically come to fire out the next day. I came back on my time at Notre Dame when we fired our defensive coordinator and came out and just guns a-blazing the next game and kind of were united in this all-out pursuit of just winning and competing. So we anticipate them to come out and play really hard, do what they do and run the ball and try to get them outside the pocket. He's a threat with his legs.

He extends plays with the best of them in the NFL. So we're going to have to be on our rush lanes. We're going to have to make sure we don't get too high in our rush lanes, too inside and allow them to get out. But they've got a good football team, they've got a lot of good players, and we anticipate them to come out and play hard.

So we're going to have to be focused on us, focused on our game plan, and really on top of things. By the way, when you look at your old football team in the Chargers, Drew Tranquil, how would you describe your time the last two years playing for Brandon Staley? Yeah, there were ups and there were downs. I look at that stretch when we were really down, kind of two years ago back in 2022. We won, I think, five out of the last six games to really give us a position.

I ended up losing to the Raiders last game. We made the playoffs last year and then just blew a 27-point lead to Jacksonville. There were some ups and there were some downs. I think they've got a lot of good players, they've got good coaches, and I think they're going to figure things out. They're certainly going to play us tough, and we know those games are always tough.

Yeah, I'd just say there were ups and there were downs. I know at the end of October you're going to get your first opportunity to go up against your old team. If you could look ahead a little bit, Drew Tranquil, what do you think the emotions are going to be heading into that game? They're going to be high and I'm going to be very, very excited.

Alright, last thing I'll ask you. Notre Dame this weekend, I'm sure you want to talk about them. Big matchup against Ohio State.

I can't wait to see how this one unfolds. I'm actually optimistic about your fighting Irish. I think they're going to be able to run the football. The quarterback looks really good in Sam Hartman and they have a really good offensive line. I had Brady quit on yesterday. He was fully confident with Notre Dame, taking down Ohio State.

Where's your confidence level? I'm picking Notre Dame this weekend at home. Coach Freeman, I really like what he's doing. I like the identity of the team. I like the way Al Golden's using his pieces defensively. I think they play strong defensively. I think they struggled last week against an opponent they felt like they really should have played better against. I think they come out and play solid defensively. I think they run the football with Autry Gaston May. I think Sam Hartman doesn't turn the ball over and I think they win.

I think the defense comes up with a few key turnovers and I think they get it done. We'll always enjoy it when you join us. Good luck the rest of the way with your new home in Kansas City and we appreciate the time, Drew Tranquil. Yes sir, Zach.

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