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The Errand Boy
He went from fetching cheeseburgers at 2 AM to building an NFL dynasty.
Tyler O'Shea
February 09, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
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In today’s edition…
He used to run to McDonald’s to fetch Andy Reid cheeseburgers at 2 a.m.
His high school coach laughed when he predicted where that unpaid internship would take him.
But no one’s laughing now as he prepares for another year in the Super Bowl.
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He Went From Unpaid Errand Boy to Building an NFL Dynasty
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“Are you gonna be his gofer your whole life?”, asked the high school football coach.
Brett replied without hesitation.
“Coach, some day I’m gonna be a GM.”
Brett Veach was used to being overlooked.
No one, even his beloved high school football coach, could’ve charted his path.
He went from a small-town kid with distant dreams of a career in football to helping craft an NFL dynasty as GM of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brett grew up in Mount Carmel, PA, a town of less than 6,000 people that's known more for its churches and coal mines than football.
But Veach was a gifted athlete with a razor-sharp mind focused on nothing else but the sport he loved.
"I remember being as young as four or five years old and going to games with my dad and that's all I've ever wanted to do," he said.
"When you're in a community that values hard work and values the game of football, you can't help but give that credit for molding you at a young age."
Brett wasn’t just an outside observer obsessed with the X’s and O’s of football. He was a standout player.
As a running back for Mount Carmel High School, Veach racked up over 5,000 rushing yards, setting the school record before his younger brother broke it years later.
Brett led the Red Tornadoes to two state championships, was a two-time all-state selection, and was selected to play in the Big 33 game featuring top high school players from Pennsylvania and Ohio.
His hometown even named a street after him: Brett Veach Way by Jazz Dimnick Field.
But at 5’9” and 180 pounds soaking wet, most colleges weren’t interested.
Growing up Catholic, Veach had dreams of playing for Notre Dame. But they sent their receivers coach at the time, Urban Meyer, to deliver disappointing news: not interested.
If given the chance, Veach knew he had the talent to play on the big stage.
Instead, he headed to Delaware – a Division I-AA school – after receiving zero offers from major programs.
The always-adaptable Veach moved to wide receiver at Delaware, and spent much of his time hauling in passes from future NFL coach, Matt Nagy.
Veach was a four-year starter and became the school’s all-time leader in kick return yards.
He continued the winning habits he brought from high school, finishing 30-16 in his career including a trip to the NCAA FCS national semifinals in 2000.
After graduating, he knew he wanted to stay connected to football, but he also knew he wouldn’t be invited to the NFL Combine.
So he stayed at his alma mater to pursue a graduate degree, unsure where it would lead him.
A connection from the school helped him land an internship close by.
Officially, he was a "training camp intern" with the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles.
That summer experience changed his life when Veach met then-Eagles head coach Andy Reid.
"It just so happened a coaching assistant position opened up," Veach told Rich Eisen. "So I started my career as [Andy's] personal assistant."
For three years, Brett did whatever was asked of him.
He did everything from picking up laundry to delivering food and finding beds for players at training camp.
"You're doing some scouting, you're doing some help with some film breakdowns, and then you're doing some McDonald's runs at 2 AM...all kinds of stuff. I mean, you know how it is, you've gotta earn your stripes."
Working on Reid's clock meant late nights and early mornings.
16-hour days were standard.
"I just think over the years he realized that not a lot of guys can keep up with him...I tried to hang in there in regards to his work ethic and just how detailed he is in everything he does."
It was a long, slow journey to move up the ranks, as the ‘gofer’ conversation with his high school football coach showed.
But despite the lack of promise at times, he remained confident in his dreams.
Unafraid to share his opinions, Veach showed a knack for scouting early on. In 2009, he finally got a chance to prove himself in a meaningful way.
Before the NFL Draft, he pleaded with the Eagles to draft a running back who grew up an hour away from his hometown.
The Eagles listened to him and drafted LeSean McCoy in the second round.
“Shady” ended up earning three Pro Bowl selections and became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
Showing appreciation for Brett's analytical abilities and intuition, Andy Reid promoted him to a full-time scout in 2010.
After he was fired by the Eagles and hired by the Chiefs in 2013, Reid brought Veach with him.
“He just was very, very good with his evaluations,” Reid said. “I felt like he had a pretty good grasp on the personnel thing. That’s the direction he chose.”
Veach worked as a personnel analyst initially before being promoted to co-director of player personnel in 2015.
It was in that role that he stumbled across a quarterback prospect who'd change the franchise.
Veach had been studying film on a Texas Tech offensive lineman when he discovered Patrick Mahomes.
He became obsessed with his skillset while studying the quarterback for over a year.
Even though Mahomes was projected to be a late first-round or second-round pick, Veach passionately declared to Andy Reid and then-GM John Dorsey that he'd found their next franchise QB.
He pestered Reid with clips of Mahomes so much during the 2016 season that Andy texted him in December: "Dude, cut it out. We'll talk about this after the season."
When the morning of the draft came around a few months later, Veach had his 6-year-old daughter leave a note, “Pat, no matter what”, to make sure no doubts could derail things last minute.
That night, the Chiefs traded up from the 22nd pick to the 10th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft to select Mahomes – a decision that will echo through football history.
So far, Mahomes is a two-time NFL MVP, three-time Super Bowl MVP, and the fastest player in NFL history to throw for 20,000 passing yards.
Veach saw what nine other teams did not.
"I think we all thought Pat would be good," he said, "but I mean, this is next level."
His brilliance behind the Mahomes pick catapulted him to the GM position that summer, finally fulfilling his lifelong dream.
Veach has been a mastermind since the promotion. He’s retooled the Chiefs each season to become a dominant force in the NFL.
The team has won the AFC West every year under his direction.
At just 41 years old, he became the second-youngest general manager ever to win a Super Bowl.
Veach was the same age and had a similar journey to the GM he’ll face in Super Bowl LIX, Howie Roseman of the Eagles.
He’s gained a reputation for being aggressive, both in the draft and with offseason trades.
Even though Alex Smith was the starter when the Chiefs drafted Mahomes, Veach chose to trade him in 2018 to make way for Mahomes to start.
Many questioned the decision since the Chiefs had won their division that season and Smith just had his best season as a starter in with a league-leading 104.7 passer rating.
He completely dismantled the Chiefs’ defense after losing the AFC Championship to the Patriots in 2019.
The moves were met with more criticism. But it worked out well as the Chiefs ended their 50-year drought the next year.
He later traded one of the NFL’s top receivers, Tyreek Hill, in 2022 for five draft picks.
Fans, media, and even former Chiefs players openly questioned his judgment.
But once again, Veach showed he knew what he was doing.
Out of the 12 draft picks the Chiefs had in the 2022 NFL Draft, 10 of them started at least one game that season.
Since taking over as GM, the Chiefs have a record of 100-32 in the regular season and 17-4 in the playoffs.
Despite his huge role in the Chiefs’ success, Veach never forgets his small-town roots.
His parents still live in Mount Carmel and he makes it out there at least once a year.
He also invited his high school teammate and current principal of Mt. Carmel High School, Pete Cheddar, to see their Super Bowl LVIII win over the 49ers.
Veach says he still thinks about his hometown’s high school football team every week.
He was once overlooked and doubted, looking more like an errand boy than a future GM.
But Veach never lost faith, going from fetching water on the practice field to orchestrating big-time deals in the front office.
He credits his childhood growing up in a small town for getting him to where he is now.
"They've kind of taught me in regards to the work ethic, the value of football, and what football can do for you. Just blue-collar people who do things the right way, work hard, and have a passion for what they do…If I was born in a different state, a different city, there's a good chance I wouldn't be sitting here."
🐶
This story was written by Rodney Reeves. If you enjoyed it, share it with a friend who wants to pregame the Super Bowl with a little light reading.
Here are two more stories you might also like*
*Yes, as a Philly fan, two Eagles-themed stories cancel out the one Chiefs story. Go Birds! 🦅
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Enjoy the football game today and Go Birds 🦅
Til next time,
Tyler
Extra Innings…
🏈 Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio unwillingly answered some fan questions in this entertaining segment.
🏆 “In the closet I just see this shiny football.” Check out this story about a teenager who found the 1960 Eagles NFL Championship trophy in his grandmother’s closet.
🥹 “All those nights in that 1,000-square-foot house…all those prayers.” Shannon Sharpe surprised his brother, Sterling, with the news that they will become the first brothers to both be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
🌟 Trivia Answer: B) Big Ben Roethlisberger was 23 years old when he beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. Here’s how the rest stack up.
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