Unless you grew up in the Midwest listening to Kansas City Chiefs games on the radio, you probably don’t know Mitch Holthus by name — though you’ve probably heard his voice at some point. For 26 years, Holthus, the play-by-play personality of the Chiefs Radio Network, has been announcing touchdowns the exact same way, his gravelly voice announcing, “Touchdown! Kansas City!”
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
“It’s like four staccato notes,” Holthus explains. “It’s like taking a snare drum, and hitting three beats: ‘KAN-SAS-CITY.’”
"THE TEAM THAT LAMAR HUNT FOUNDED HAS JUST WON LAMAR HUNT'S TROPHY IN THE STADIUM THAT WAS LAMAR HUNT'S DREAM." @mitchholthus pic.twitter.com/GRDEi01dJD
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/MattFlenerKMBC/status/1221983950723321856
Holthus’ signature call has gotten a lot of work in the past two seasons, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs offense have racked up 121 touchdowns, 24 regular-season wins, and now their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years.
Holthus discusses this achievement, and the long drought behind it, as part of a divine providence. Holthus believes he senses God’s work in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run.
“What it has meant to me, what I’m learning, is seeing God’s favor,” Holthus told Sports Spectrum this week. “I had a couple texts from brothers in the Lord who have said exactly that. Now, God doesn’t care who wins and God is a God of waiting, and we’re blessed in waiting, but it has been waiting. But now I see His hand in a lot of things, whether we win this thing or not.”
Holthus grew up in rural Kansas, was raised in a faith-based home, but like most followers of Jesus who grow up Christian, Holthus had to learn what a personal relationship with Christ truly means.
“Near the end of my undergraduate days (at Kansas State), I was trying to decide what’s next,” Holthus said. “I’d been distracted with a lot of things, and came to the point of realizing, ‘No, I want my life to count for the Lord, to use it and the blessings He’s given me, to make an eternal impact and have an eternal perspective.’”
Holthus is on the elder board for Christ Community Church in Kansas City, a position he felt deeply called to make time for, despite his announcing job and other gigs often taking 60-70 hours of his week.
“It’s not always a lot of fun,” Holthus said, “but it’s made me look at Titus, what is an elder supposed to do, and realizing how the Church needs people to invest in it. So I’m learning something new every day.”
Like always, Holthus will be behind the mic for the Chiefs Radio Network when K.C. faces the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Super Bowl LIV in Miami, and he feels optimistic he’ll have a lot of staccato drumbeat touchdown calls for a game he is confident the Chiefs will win. But in that, Holthus is conscious of the bigger calling he has as a follower of Jesus.
Holthus quotes activist and evangelist Christine Caine when describing his mindset heading in to this Sunday, saying, “Make sure the light shining in you is brighter than the light that shines on you.”
“We live in challenging times and times where a lot of faith messages are misunderstood or ignored,” Holthus says. “We’re entering a new realm that’s going to require courage, discernment and wisdom. To anyone who reads this, I need your prayers.”
RELATED STORIES:
— Chiefs’ Christ-following culture starts at the top with CEO/owner Clark Hunt
— THE INCREASE: A Victory that Satisfies – 49ers WR Jordan Matthews
— 49ers center Ben Garland thrust into starting role, centers himself on gratitude for God
— Chiefs’ Stefen Wisniewski on trying season: ‘God allowed it to test me, to bring Him glory’
— Chiefs’ Darwin Thompson aims to be ‘identified as follower of Christ before football player’
— Former Chiefs RB Larry Johnson grateful for the ‘new heart’ God gave him
— 49ers RB Raheem Mostert describes Bible verse tattooed on his chest
— Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman aims to ‘be His light’ in 1st Super Bowl appearance
— NEW PODCAST: Earl Smith – San Francisco 49ers Team Chaplain
— Former 49ers TE Brent Jones reminisces on the first-ever postgame prayer huddle
— NEW PODCAST: Marcellus Casey – Kansas City Chiefs Team Chaplain
— 49ers RB Raheem Mostert thanks God after big rushing day lifts S.F. to Super Bowl
— Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes leads Kansas City to Super Bowl as he leans on faith
— Kansas City Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt sees God at work ‘in all aspects’ of his life
— ‘Death Row Chaplain’ Earl Smith a source of inspiration as he ministers to 49ers, Warriors
— Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt: ‘My identity is my faith in Christ’
