KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jon McGraw has already lived the dream several times over.
Here’s a guy from Riley County, a tiny Class 3A high school, located just down the road from Manhattan, a former walk-on at Kansas State. He later became an All-Big 12 free safety for the Wildcats in 2001 and was chosen in the second round of the NFL draft by the New York Jets, playing there for three years before leaving for the Detroit Lions for two seasons. He has been with the Kansas City Chiefs the last five.
In 10 NFL seasons, McGraw has evolved from a free safety into a strong safety, where he plays for a Kansas City team he grew up rooting for as a youngster.
“I haven’t taken time to sit back and really reflect over the last 10 or 15 years,” McGraw said Monday night after the Chiefs defeated the San Diego Chargers 23-20 in overtime at Arrowhead Stadium. “All I can say is that I’m a very blessed man and the Lord has taken care of me every step of the way. There’s been people that he’s placed in my life every step of the way, whether it be parents or coaches or friends that have helped support me and my wife, to get to this point in my career.
“I got to play for my hometown at Kansas State in college and to get to play for the hometown Kansas City Chiefs, I couldn’t be more thankful and I’m definitely enjoying the ride.”
McGraw shares a common bond with Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson as both are living the dream of making it to the NFL after starring at Riley County and walking on at Kansas State, where they earned starting berths, scholarships and postseason mention. Nelson was an All-American for the Wildcats in 2007.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound McGraw, who says he is within five pounds of his playing weight at Kansas State, acknowledges that he’s living proof that any kid can dream big.
“Absolutely,” McGraw said. “I was pushed by my parents at a young age to follow my dreams and you always want to have a backup plan. I wanted to make sure that I got a good education, but I never gave up on that dream, and I think Jordy would say the same thing.
“We had a great talk when he decided to walk on at Kansas State, and it’s been fun and a joy watching him play so well this year and getting a Super Bowl ring last year. We’re good friends and try to talk to each other throughout the season.”

Renaissance Man
The musically cultural McGraw, an honor student, learned to play the violin at a young age, long before his playing days at Kansas State. He has since added the acoustic guitar to his musical interests.
“It’s been all my right hand here, knock on wood,” McGraw said. “My left hand, my finger-hand, has been well-protected, so I can still play a little bit. I grew up playing classical and throughout my life, it’s been a great outlet for me.
“When football or stress or whatever gets to be too much, music is a great way to release some of that stuff and get re-centered. I play the guitar more than I play the violin now, but music was a big part of my family growing up. All of my family can play instruments and sing really well, so that’s something we always did together.”

McGraw makes impact
During the win over San Diego, McGraw made some impact plays, drawing a offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Antonio Gates to negate his 17-yard scoring catch from Philip Rivers, along with causing a fumble by Chargers running back Ryan Mathews to curtail another drive.
Kansas City led 10-3 when the Chargers drove to the Chiefs 25 for first-and-10, but McGraw was able to knock the ball from Mathews’ grasp and Kendrick Lewis recovered.
“I was in coverage on Gates again and he stayed in and blocked,” McGraw said. “I was able to kind of cheat a little bit and sneaked over and I saw Mathews break to the line and he didn’t see me. I was able to get a good swipe at the ball without him seeing me coming.”
After Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel fumbled the ball away on the ensuing possession at the Kansas City 22, the Chargers had their TD catch wiped out.
“They just tried to run a wheel route with him,” McGraw said of the play on Gates. “I was in man coverage on him and I just tried to get in his hip and get as close as I could.
“Phil threw a great ball, a back-shoulder fade route right before, and Gates is really good at that. He gets away with that (offensive pass interference) a lot, and we were very fortunate to get the call on that play.”
McGraw left the game in the second half of the San Diego game with a shoulder injury, but it is not believed to be serious. The Chiefs entertain the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at noon at Arrowhead.
McGraw has 33 tackles on the season, including 10 solo stops. He also has four pass deflections and two interceptions, along with his three forced fumbles.