Finally healthy, Chiefs DB Juan Thornhill relishes opportunity to play in Super Bowl
During the 2019 NFL season, Juan Thornhill was one of the standout rookies for the Kansas City Chiefs. His play on the back end helped make the Chiefs’ rebuilt defense a formidable opponent for the most talented of passers right away. But suddenly, a non-contact knee injury in Week 17 cut his standout rookie season short. Thornhill had torn his ACL just three games prior to the Chiefs’ appearance in Super Bowl LIV.
“With this ACL injury, it just like— it can really knock you down,” Thornhill told reporters on Tuesday. “Because a lot of guys don’t really know how hard it is on the body and on the mind. The biggest thing for me, I was trying to keep a positive mentality.”
Thornhill has kept that positive mentality throughout the recovery process and it’s been a tough road back. Beyond the grueling physical rehabilitation, Thornhill had to cope with the reality that he wouldn’t be suiting up and playing with his teammates last year. He could only watch from the crowd as they faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
“The part that hit me the most was when they ran out of the tunnel,” Thornhill said. “When they ran out of the tunnel I was standing in the front row screaming for them and then after that, it just like hit me super hard and I shut down. Like, mentally, I just really wanted to be there on the field. I think that’s what drove me throughout this whole year. Like, ‘I’m going to get back to that game.’ I had to get back. That’s all I can say about that.”
That game did act as a big motivator for Thornhill, as he said. He was able to work his way back onto the field and play in Week 1 of the 2020 season, but the impact of the injury was apparent. He struggled at times throughout the year and had to learn to trust his knee and have faith in his abilities in the return from injury.
“It’s not really more about the physical capability. It’s more about my mind,” Thornhill said. “I feel like my mind was the one that was holding me back. And once we hit the playoffs, it was just— I made up my mind, just like, ‘Listen, you have a couple more games. Go as hard as you can, and everything will fall into place.’ Then like, last game I had a different mindset. Just like, if the ball comes to you, one, you’re going to make the play. It was just me talking to myself that lifted me up.”
As it became more apparent that the Chiefs could return to the Super Bowl, something clicked for Thornhill. He was finally physically and mentally healthy. It led him to a monster AFC title game against the Buffalo Bills, during which he recorded four passes defended. It was perhaps the first time that he truly looked and felt like his old self.
“I can definitely say I’m back to 100%,” Thornhill said. “I’m really confident in myself. I feel like I’m back to where I was last year, and I’m ready to go.”
All the hard work that it took to get back to this point was not in vain. Now he gets to experience all of those moments that he missed out on a year ago. With some more hard work and a little luck, he could be playing for the winning team in Super Bowl LV.
“It definitely means a lot to me, just being able to actually step out there, play in the Super Bowl,” Thornhill said. “This is like your childhood dream to go out there and play in one of the biggest games ever, so I’m really excited.”
