Inside the Lock family's trip to Arrowhead Stadium as Drew returns home

[Miles]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The drum thunders.


In the swirling snow, a red-blanketed crowd chants in unison.


And in a sea of tomahawks, the Lock family stands perfectly still.


Andy and Laura — the parents of Denver’s rookie quarterback, Drew Lock — have been to Arrowhead before. In previous visits, they too would’ve been decked out in red and gold and likely chanted along with the tens of thousands of Chiefs fans.


For the Lee’s Summit, Missouri natives, that was their reality.


But that was before Drew was drafted by the Broncos in April, and their allegiances changed.


During the Broncos’ trip to Arrowhead on Sunday, there is no doubt: Blood is thicker.


Andy has exchanged Chiefs gear for a black Missouri Tigers parka — his and Drew’s alma mater — and an orange Broncos knit cap.


It’s the first time that he and Laura, who dons a Broncos beanie, have worn orange in this stadium.


“I had to call up to Denver and have some more orange brought to me,” Andy says.


There’s a reason for that. Andy and Laura are hardly alone. Drew’s sister, Claire, stands alongside the couple. His aunts and uncles and at least one cousin are in the rows around his immediate family. His private quarterback coach is here, as is Drew’s girlfriend and a number of high school and college teammates.


They tailgated before the game, and now they’ve moved into section 107. More Lock fans are peppered throughout the stadium, but there are close to 50 friends and family members in this pocket of Arrowhead.


Of course they’re here. They wouldn’t have missed Lock’s first appearance at Arrowhead. He’s played here before, a 2015 Missouri win over BYU. This is different, though.


“Arrowhead’s a special place,” Andy says. “It’s an iconic stadium in the NFL. To couple that stadium experience with our family and friends and Drew, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be here for his first time. Hopefully, there’s a lot of them.”