Chiefs icon stuns Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid by abruptly retiring after 16 years due to team ‘crossing lines’

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The Kansas City Chiefs were without an integral member of their organization on Sunday as they hosted their first game of the 2025 NFL season at Arrowhead Stadium. Welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to their iconic stadium in a rematch of Super Bowl LIX, Chiefs Kingdom were without team announcer Dale Carter for the first time in 16 years. The Chiefs were without long-time Arrowhead announcer Dale Carter in their Super Bowl rematch against the EaglesGettyThis came as the long-time Chiefs announcer announced his shocking departure from the franchise with immediate effect in a lengthy statement posted to Facebook on Friday – just two days before the Chiefs’ home opener. What did Dale Carter say? “Today, I feel like an enormous weight has been lifted from me,” he wrote. “I have informed the Kansas City Chiefs that I am resigning, effective immediately, as Stadium PA Voice of the Chiefs.“I have had an incredible 16+ year run that included 6 AFC Championship games at Arrowhead. A record 5 in a row! I truly enjoyed being the ‘Audio Propagandist’ for the team I love. Doing everything I could (within the rules) to give our guys an advantage!!”Carter explained that the production team had asked him to change the way in which he called certain on-field plays, and despite adapting accordingly, he felt they crossed a line when they continued to ask him to stray away from what he had done for almost two decades. “Over the last few years, the team has made changes to what I do,” he continued. “Going into the playoffs last year, they asked me to make a significant change to how I’ve called the games (which I have tried to do, even though I disagreed with it).“Going into the season, they wanted a further adjustment that crosses my red line. Frankly, it just hasn’t been as fun as it was. It takes a lot of time away from my family, especially around the holidays.“This just feels like the right time. I have tremendous respect for the organization and am thankful I got to do this!”Carter later wrote a separate post, providing additional context and insight as to why he left so abruptly, detailing that it was due to an issue they had with his iconic third down call. “The red line for me related to my third down call,” he added. “For over a decade the 3rd down call I started doing (as an answer to the league warning me about “cheerleading) became a signature of game day. Many of you referred to me as “the 3rd down guy.”“Last season, as we were heading into the playoffs, the people I work for (65 TPT Productions) told me they were hearing from “a high level” that someone had heard another PA guy at another stadium really amp it up on 3rd down and they wanted me to experiment with different calls…NFL's Greatest......Ranking the top 10......Quarterbacks of all-time – Can anyone better Tom Brady?Wide receivers of all-time – Does Randy Moss or Jerry Rice come out on top?Running backs of all-time – Stacking Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith and moreTight ends of all-time – How does Travis Kelce compare?“I didn’t agree with what they wanted me to do but I’ve always been a team player and tried to do whatever they wanted me to try. Until this week.“On Tuesday my 65 TPT contact called to say they wanted the other PA guy (the one who does pre-game activities and reads the commercials in game) to start doing the 3rd down call to shake things up. That was my red line. I wish them the best of luck.”Upon being notified of his replacement, – his friend Nate Rohr – Carter took to Facebook once more to congratulate him.“I just saw that my friend Nate Rohr will succeed me as stadium voice of the Chiefs,” Carter shared on Sunday. “Great choice! Go get ’em Nate!!”Mahomes and co in unprecedented territory Carter’s departure isn’t the only shocking part of Kansas City’s 2025 NFL regular season campaign so far, with the team also mightily struggling on the field. After losing 27-21 to a fired up Los Angeles Chargers in their season opener held in São Paulo, Brazil, the Chiefs were defeated 20-1 7 by the Eagles, with the team looking fairly unconvincing out on the field. This comes as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has registered 445 yards across the two outings having completed 40 of his 68 pass attempts for two touchdowns and one interception. Mahomes has been unable to lead his team to victory so far through the early stages of the 2025 campaignGettyTravis Kelce hasn’t been as effective on the field as he once wasGettyOf course it can be argued that the two-time NFL MVP has a significant lack of offensive weapons to target with Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals both currently out injured, and the absence of Rashee Rice for the first six weeks of the season due to suspension.All-time great tight end Travis Kelce also had a crucial fumble late on in the contest against Philadelphia, which would have likely been a go-ahead touchdown pass had he just managed to keep hold of it, and was fired up with anger.Thus, Andy Reid‘s offense currently ranks 24th in the league in points scored and 17th overall in yards gained.The defense coordinated by Steve Spagnuolo, which has been unstoppable at times over the last few years, has also looked somewhat shaky through these early stages of the new season. As a result, they rank 19th in the league for points allowed and 13th in yards allowed. With the Chiefs in an 0-2 hole for the very first time in the Mahomes era, and the first time since 2014, history is not supposedly on their side. This comes as the last six times which the franchise has started their season in this fashion, the Chiefs have gone on to miss the playoffs. This is also the first time ever in Mahomes’ career that he has lost three straight games if the Super Bowl loss from last season is included.But it would be foolish to write Mahomes, Kelce and Reid off so early into the 2025 campaign.Next up for them is a trip to East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the 0-2 New York Giants, who were involved in one of the games of the season so far against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, await them. There has never been a more apt time for the Chiefs to snap their losing streak then doing so under the bright lights at Met Life Stadium. 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