Chiefs Kingdom quickly gave a thumbs-up to Super Bowl champion Kansas City’s selection of former Central High School standout Xavier Worthy in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

“The moment @worthyyy became a Kansas City Chief 💛,” the Chiefs captioned the Instagram video, which was then liked by pop superstar Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid sang Worthy’s praises in a news conference after the first round. Kansas City selected the electrifyingly fast wide receiver with the 28th overall pick after moving up four spots via a trade with the Buffalo Bills.

Worthy captured the team’s attention because of his NFL Combine record-setting time of 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash and because he’s a savvy, versatile player “who can go all day and loves football,” Reid said.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame requested Xavier Worthy’s cleats and jersey from his record setting 4.21 second 40 time at the NFL Combine and Worthy obliged. Worthy’s Combine moment now will be memorialized in Canton, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/WcMWY0Srb1

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024

Chiefs Trade up to Select Worthy

“We had this kid marked and (we were afraid) somebody might jump us” in the first round, Reid said of the 6-foot, 173-pounder who has yet to turn 21 years old. “To add somebody of this quality is important. For us to get him down there with the trade was well worth it.

“He’s a good route runner … and I think you’ll see the toughness that he’s got.”

The Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl last season and third in five seasons behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes despite leading the NFL in dropped passes in 2023. In addition, wide receiver Rashee Rice faces a likely suspension for leaving the scene of an injury auto accident before police arrived.

“We glad to have him on board,” Reid said of Worthy. “We think he’s a heckuva football player. He’s a good wide receiver and also a good special teams returner. He’ll end up doing both to start things off with. He should give Pat another weapon there to use.

Mahomes later retweeted a comical post by Pro Bowl Chiefs offensive lineman Creed Humphrey that referenced Worthy’s speed.

Me trying to keep up on WR screens this year. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/JZpzwN1L6x

— Creed Humphrey (@creed_humphrey) April 26, 2024

Worthy’s Standout Career at Texas

Worthy, who earned All-America honors at Central High, initially committed to Michigan but then signed with Texas. With the Longhorns, he was a Freshman All-American and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2021. He also was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection.

Reid said that the Chiefs consulted with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian about Worthy during the pre-draft process.

“Sarkisian kept talking about how he smart he was … good instincts, he’s a tremendous worker,” Reid said.