KC Chiefs star scores big off the field for homeless pets
On the field, Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Nnadi is intimidating. But at home, his dogs Rocky and Saint turn him into a marshmallow.
“When I come home, Rocky acts like I haven’t been there in 20 years,” says the three-time Super Bowl champion. “It is a breath of fresh air, coming back after a long day. Whether it’s a big win or a bad loss — whatever type of day I’ve had — I come home and they’re just happy to see me.”
Derrick has played seven seasons in the NFL, staring down opposing quarterbacks, and each time he wins the dogs of Kansas City win too, thanks to his longstanding promise to cover the adoption fee of a specially chosen “Nnadi dog” (pronounced like “naughty dog”) at local animal shelter Kansas City Pet Project. Derrick has a soft spot for animals who have been overlooked or misunderstood.
He says with a laugh, “A Nnadi dog is a dog with just a bunch of energy and a bunch of love and could be a little wacky. Emphasis on a little wacky.”
Wearing his passion on his feet
Now Derrick is taking his love for dogs to a bigger stage, thanks to the league’s My Cause My Cleats program, where players reveal their passions beyond the game and wear their hearts on their feet. He’s chosen Best Friends Animal Society as his beneficiary in honor of his own beloved dogs and all the work he’s already done to save pets in shelters.
“Honestly, I really just love the mission you stand for,” he explains. “Every dog should have a chance.”
Derrick will wear the cleats at Arrowhead Stadium during the league’s Black Friday game when the Chiefs host rival Las Vegas Raiders (streaming on Amazon Prime) and again on NBC’s Sunday Night Football on December 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The cleats will then be auctioned off to benefit the Derrick Nnadi Foundation, but fans can also show their support with an online donation earmarked for Best Friends.
Winning on and off the field
Derrick hopes to continue saving lives and helping his community even beyond his playing career. His longtime girlfriend, Nani, is also a huge animal lover. During her recent visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, she played with dogs, cuddled cats, and fell in love with the pigs. “I was told I better not adopt a dog, but Derrick didn’t say anything about a pig!” Nani jokes.
“She wants to have like 15 other dogs ... and a partridge in a pear tree,” Derrick laughs.
With the Chiefs rolling toward a potential historic third Super Bowl win in a row, Derrick isn’t sure yet what he might do for the animals to celebrate if they pull it off. “Something might happen,” he says. “Something spectacular!”
Win or lose, Derrick’s passion for the animals is proof that big victories often happen off the field, too.
Let's make every shelter and every community no-kill in 2025
Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets.
Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.
You can help save homeless pets
You can help end the killing in shelters and save the lives of homeless pets when you foster, adopt, and advocate for the dogs and cats who need it most.
Saving lives around the country
Together, we're creating compassionate no-kill communities nationwide for pets and the people who care for them.
Let’s be friends!
Connect with us on social media to stay in the loop about the lifesaving progress we’re making together.
