Chiefs RB made 1st NFL start on sister’s wedding day. Here’s what she told him before

Carson Steele was one of the last to watch this replay.

The Kansas City Chiefs running back looked down at a cell phone in the locker room Sunday night, staring at video of family members and friends celebrating one of his runs while watching it on television.

The clip — from his sister Kesslar’s wedding reception in Greenwood, Indiana on Sunday — had already been seen by millions on NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast.

Now, Carson was getting to watch it for the first time.

At first, he laughed. Then he paused.

“Man, that’s just,” Steele said, holding back some emotion, “so cool.”

Steele, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA, made his first NFL start on Sunday night in the Chiefs’ 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons following an injury to starter Isiah Pacheco last week.

His biggest supporters watched it unfold some 525 miles north of Mercedez-Benz Stadium. That’s where Carson’s only sister, Kesslar, was married on Sunday afternoon in their home state of Indiana — hours before the biggest day of her brother’s football career.

Steele finished with 17 carries for 72 yards, an effort good enough to receive unprompted praise from coach Andy Reid in his post-game news conference.

“Not bad for your rookie debut,” Reid said.

Steele’s family felt the same — watching him on nine combined televisions plastered to one side of their wedding reception hall.

That wasn’t Carson’s request, by the way. He told his sister that, too.

“I was like, ‘If too many people are watching the game, go ahead and turn that TV off,’” Steele said. “But she just fell for it. She’s always there for me, too.”

That went for this week, as well.

Steele had his confidence shaken last week after losing an early fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals. He said fellow Chiefs had to help pick him up on the sideline, as he tends to overthink situations when he lets teammates down.

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When any of those lingering thoughts popped into his mind this week, he said there was one person who was most supportive.

That would be Kesslar.

“She had a crazy busy week, so we talked back and forth,” Steele said, “and she calmed me down about things.”

Steele said he wasn’t sure exactly how much he would be used against the Falcons but knew he had to be prepared. The team’s running backs — including Samaje Perine and Keaontay Ingram — all went into the contest with a “next man up” mentality.

In the end, it was Steele that the Chiefs leaned on most. He gained 4.2 yards per carry while also grinding out tough yards between the tackles.

“Super-proud of Carson,” Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice said. “He’s been balling out, showing it in practice every day, showing up to work hard.”

He also came through late on other running-back assignments that can be difficult for young players to master.

Though quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ early interception appeared rushed because Steele missed his blocking assignment, a later pass to Rice opened up because Steele effectively helped stop Falcons linebacker Lorenzo Carter from rushing off the edge.

“Honestly, my one goal is to protect that guy,” Steele said, motioning toward Mahomes across the locker room. “So being able to have that job, just having that chip off the edge and having Pat ... I don’t know, if that chip wouldn’t have happened, if we’d have been able to have get out that pass.

“So it’s really awesome to see. Yeah, I get beat up and rolled over, but I see him passing it out the sideline. So that’s a really cool thing.”

It all helped lead to the most memorable moment for Steele, which he said was being on the field as the Chiefs kneeled out the clock for their victory.

While talking with reporters, Steele said he hadn’t yet been able to check his phone to see what his family thought about his game.

“I’m excited to go back and read everything,” Steele said, “and see all the pictures and stuff.”

Steele, who was scheduled to be a groomsman had his football career not interfered, said things went so well with the Chiefs over the last few months that his family hadn’t even gotten him a suit.

They knew where his situation was heading — with Kesslar understanding his likely absence for the Sunday ceremony.

“I was like, ‘Hey, you can’t plan weddings in September when your brother plays in the NFL,’” Carson said afterward with a smile. “But obviously, she didn’t listen to me too well.”

In all seriousness ... Kesslar had scheduled her big day nearly two years earlier. At the time, Steele was still in college, not even sure whether a pro career was attainable.

It all led to a special Sunday, where Steele admitted to being nervous before his first start before reminding himself it was the same game he’s played his whole life.

And something else that helped? The support he received from his sister.

Someone who had plenty going on herself.