"Those guys have your back 100 percent. They know how to motivate me. They were checking in on me, calling me every day when I wasn't there, making sure that I'm feeling good. They still check in with me all the time.

"The program that they've built for me has gotten me back better than I've ever been."

For DeVito, the road to recovery from his torn Achilles wasn't one he had to go through alone, as perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson also suffered a torn Achilles in that dreadful Week 1 loss to the Titans.

While it can never be seen as a positive for two of your leaders on defense to be injured, the fact that they were able to go through the rehab process together might have benefitted them both.

"With the type of leader that [Derrick Johnson] is and the example that he sets, I was able to try to compete with him and catch up to him in these drills, which is difficult to do," DeVito explained. "This is one of the most athletic, competitive guys in the NFL and I get to train with him and compete with him every day to get back, so man—that was incredible.

"If I had gone through this process without him, I'd be in a totally different place."

One thing is for certain; the Chiefs are in a better place because DeVito and his family wanted to stay a part of the Kansas City community. Not just because of what he's able to contribute on the field, but because of the example he sets and leadership he provides to a young football team.

Mutual respect between a player and the organization, combined with the support of a community has put the Chiefs in a better position than they would have been if that weren't the case. It's truly a synergy that manifests itself on Sundays in the fall at Arrowhead, a time DeVito is excited to experience in uniform once again.