Kansas City, MO – November 22, 2025

Kansas City fans were left rattled on Friday after a dangerous, unexpected roadside incident nearly turned into a nightmare for the Chiefs. Traffic along Interstate 435 exploded into panic as a sudden impact shattered the windshield of a moving SUV, sending glass flying across the cabin and forcing nearby drivers to brake in a frenzy. For several minutes, uncertainty gripped everyone — no one knew whether one of the Chiefs’ rising stars had been seriously injured.

The incident took place near the Bannister Road exit, a common route for players heading home from the Chiefs’ practice facility. Witnesses reported seeing a large shape falling rapidly from the sky just before the collision. Moments later, it slammed into the windshield with violent force, startling commuters and prompting immediate 911 calls. The scene felt surreal, chaotic and dangerously close to tragedy.

Authorities later confirmed that Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ young and ascending offensive lineman, had been behind the wheel of the damaged vehicle. Simmons was driving home after a routine end-of-week session when the object tore through the front of his windshield. According to emergency recordings, he told dispatchers he believed a bald eagle had dropped a cat mid-flight — leading to the freak accident that left the vehicle mangled.

Shaken but thinking clearly, Simmons pulled the SUV to the shoulder and waited for help. “Something fell straight out of the sky — it smashed through my windshield like a missile,”

he said during the 911 call, still trying to process the shock. Officials later confirmed the animal did not survive the fall, and Simmons miraculously escaped without injury despite the violent burst of glass inside the cabin.

Wildlife specialists from the Missouri Department of Conservation reviewed photos from the scene and confirmed that the explanation, while bizarre, was very possible. Bald eagles often carry prey long distances and may drop it suddenly if startled or unbalanced. With eagle activity rising around nearby lakes and wooded corridors, the circumstances fit an extremely rare but plausible scenario.

Inside the Chiefs organization, anxiety quickly shifted to relief. Simmons has become one of the franchise’s most promising young linemen, a player whose development has energized the offensive front. Losing him — especially in such a freak accident — would have been a massive blow to a team already working to regain its dominant form. He was immediately evaluated and fully cleared with no injuries.

Teammates reacted with disbelief, some thinking the story was a joke until photos confirmed otherwise. The locker room described it as “the craziest thing they’ve ever heard,” with several players expressing gratitude that Simmons walked away unhurt. Police described the event as “a one-in-a-million collision of timing and nature,” emphasizing how close the accident came to becoming far more serious.

For Chiefs fans, the overwhelming emotion is relief. Their young offensive cornerstone escaped what could have been a devastating tragedy. And during a season filled with pressure, scrutiny and hard-earned battles, this bizarre highway incident serves as a powerful reminder of how fragile everything can be — and how fortunate Kansas City is that its rising star is safe.

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