Kadarius Toney explains the special reason why he chose to wear No. 19 with the Chiefs

When he joined the Chiefs, the color of wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s jersey turned from blue to red, and his number switched from 89 to 19.

Toney was acquired in a trade last month with the Giants, the team with which he had worn No. 89 since being a first-round draft pick in 2021.

There’s nothing Toney could do about the hue of his jersey. But he did pick jersey No. 19, and it was in tribute to his late friend, Ja’Christopher McCants.

Last week’s episode of “The Franchise” showed Toney’s arrival in Kansas City and his first discussions with coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach.

“I really feel ecstatic right now,” Toney said. “You all, I don’t know. There’s just too much behind it right now. Like too much behind the number, too much behind the team. I’m just ready to really take off and do what I’ve got to do right now.”

The cameras showed a Chiefs equipment manager making Toney’s No. 19 jersey.

“(Number) 19 really means a lot to me,” Toney said. “My partner died like shortly after high school when he got in an accident. He didn’t make it, but 19 is really to signify him.”

Toney told the New York Post in 2021 that he’d been friends since he was 5 years old with McCants, who died in a 2018 auto accident. The two also had been teammates in high school.

At Mattie T. Blount High School in Alabama, McCants wore jersey No. 19. He died at the age of 19.

“I’ll always remember for my life,” Toney said in the Chiefs video. “I’ll always be thankful for New York and the opportunity, what was offered. I’m just ready for a new start right now. I’m not going to lie. Just ready for a new start.”

Here is Toney on why he wears No. 19.