Nothing beats that first "Touchdown, Kan-zas City!" call from Mitch Holthus. If you’ve spent any time in mid-Missouri or out near the Kansas border, you know that voice is the literal soundtrack of Sunday. Sometimes you're stuck in the car. Maybe you're at the grocery store or just out in the backyard grilling and don't want to be tethered to a TV screen. Finding a reliable way to listen to KC Chiefs game broadcasts shouldn't feel like a chore, but with all the streaming blackouts and regional radio rules, it kinda is.
The Chiefs Kingdom is massive. It isn't just a Kansas City thing anymore; it's a global thing. But the radio rights are still surprisingly old-school.
The Home of the Chiefs: 106.5 The Wolf
For decades, the flagship station was 101 The Fox. That changed a few years back. Now, if you are physically in the Kansas City metro area, you’re tuning your dial to 106.5 The Wolf (WDAF-FM). This is the heart of the Chiefs Radio Network. They start the pre-game coverage hours before kickoff, and honestly, the pre-game analysis from Danan Hughes is often more insightful than what you'll get on the national TV broadcasts.
Hughes and Holthus have a chemistry that works because they aren't trying to be "corporate." They sound like fans who happen to have the best seats in Arrowhead. If you are a bit further out, maybe toward Topeka or down in Springfield, the "Chiefs Radio Network" consists of over 70 affiliate stations. It’s one of the largest footprints in the NFL. In Wichita, you're usually looking for KFH 1240 AM or 97.5 FM.
Digital Streaming and the Blackout Headache
This is where things get annoying. You might think, "I'll just go to the station's website and hit play."
Nope.
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Because of NFL broadcasting contracts, most local radio station websites have to "black out" the game stream if you are trying to listen via a mobile browser or a desktop from outside their specific geographic zone. It’s all about protecting the value of the NFL’s own digital packages. If you try to use a standard radio app like TuneIn, you might just get a loop of talk show reruns or music instead of the live play-by-play.
To bypass this legally, you’ve basically got two real choices for digital audio.
- The Chiefs Mobile App: If you are within the primary broadcasting territory (roughly a 100-mile radius of KC), the official Kansas City Chiefs app often allows you to stream the radio call. It uses your phone's GPS to verify where you are. If you’re in New York or California, this probably won't work for you.
- NFL+: This is the league's subscription service. It’s a paid deal. However, if you are a die-hard who lives out of state, it’s the most reliable way to get the home radio feed without static.
Why the Radio Call is Better Than TV
TV announcers have to be neutral. They just do. They are talking to a national audience, half of whom probably want the Chiefs to lose. When you listen to KC Chiefs game coverage on the radio, you are getting a broadcast designed for the Kingdom.
Mitch Holthus is famous for his "Chiefs Kingdom" moniker. He’s been the voice since 1994. Think about that. He’s called the dark years of the 2-14 seasons and the glory of the Mahomes era. When he yells "You can't sprint with the Cheetah" (back in the day) or celebrates a Kelce touchdown, it’s pure adrenaline.
Also, the radio broadcast is actually faster. If you’ve ever noticed your neighbor cheering 10 seconds before you see a play on your streaming TV app, it’s because digital video lag is real. Radio, especially terrestrial FM, is almost instantaneous.
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Keeping it Old School: The Transistor Radio
Don't laugh. If you are actually at the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead, there is a delay on the stadium's internal speakers. If you want to hear the commentary while watching the play develop in front of you, a small pocket radio with earbuds is the move. Just make sure it’s an FM/AM analog tuner. Digital tuners sometimes have a slight processing delay that ruins the effect.
Catching the National Feed
Sometimes you just want a neutral perspective, or maybe the local affiliate is fuzzy. Westwood One handles the national radio broadcasts for big games—think Monday Night Football, Thursday Night, or the Playoffs. You can find these on SiriusXM.
- SiriusXM Channel 226: This is usually the dedicated Chiefs channel for home games.
- SiriusXM Channel 815: Usually the secondary or Spanish language feed.
Speaking of which, the Chiefs have a dedicated Spanish-language broadcast. Enrique Morales and Oscar Monterroso handle the calls. The energy in the Spanish broadcast is arguably even higher than the English one. It’s a fantastic way to experience the game if you want to hear pure, unadulterated passion.
Finding the Right Frequency Near You
If you're road-tripping through the Midwest on a Sunday, you'll need to jump between stations. The signal on 106.5 is strong, but once you hit those rolling hills in North Missouri or the plains of Western Kansas, it starts to crackle.
In St. Joseph, you're looking for KFEQ 680 AM. Over in Emporia, it’s KVOE. If you are heading south toward Arkansas, keep an eye on KICK 1340 AM in Springfield. The network is designed so that as one signal fades, you can scan the dial and find the next one within a few clicks. It’s a bit like a scavenger hunt, but it’s part of the tradition.
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What About Technical Issues?
Sometimes the stream dies. It happens to the best of us. If you're using the Chiefs app and it cuts out, the first thing to check isn't your internet; it's your location services. If your phone can't ping a GPS tower to prove you're in the "home market," the NFL's digital rights management (DRM) will kill the audio immediately.
Another tip: if you're listening through a smart speaker like an Alexa or Google Home, don't just say "Play 106.5 The Wolf." Often, it will play the music feed. Instead, try saying "Play Kansas City Chiefs game on Audacy." Audacy is the parent company and often has the specific sports stream rights for smart devices.
The Post-Game "Sixth Quarter"
The game doesn't end when the clock hits zero. The post-game show on the Chiefs Radio Network is where you get the raw locker room interviews. You hear from Andy Reid before he goes to the formal press conference. You get the player reactions while they are still catching their breath. For real fans, this is arguably the best part of the radio experience.
It’s less polished. It’s more honest. You get the real dirt on why a certain play failed or how a defensive adjustment changed the second half.
Actionable Steps for Next Game Day
To ensure you aren't scrambling five minutes after kickoff, do this:
- Identify your "Zone": If you are within 100 miles of KC, download the Chiefs Mobile App now and enable location services. Test it with a pre-game show.
- Save the Frequency: If you’re driving, bookmark the Chiefs Radio Network affiliate list on your phone's browser so you can quickly find the next station as you cross county lines.
- Check your Subs: If you are out of market, verify your NFL+ or SiriusXM login credentials on Saturday. Don't wait until Sunday afternoon when everyone is hitting the servers.
- Hardware Check: If you're going to the stadium, buy a cheap analog FM pocket radio. It’s the only way to hear Mitch Holthus in real-time without the 15-second "broadcast delay."
- Alternative Audio: If the English stream is lagging, try the Spanish broadcast on KREY 1440 AM or via the app; sometimes the routing for that stream is less congested.
Listening to the game is a different kind of fandom. It forces you to visualize the field. It makes the game feel more intimate. Whether you're in a tractor in Salina or a high-rise in Overland Park, the voice of the Chiefs is what ties the whole Kingdom together. Turn it up.