Nov. 18, 2025
Contact: Eric Stann, StannE@missouri.edu
Photos courtesy Callee Curtis
At Arrowhead Stadium, the roar of more than 76,000 fans meets the thunder of Chiefs Rumble, the team’s official drumline and the heartbeat of NFL football in Kansas City. Before, during and after every home game, this powerhouse percussion group fuels the crowd with electrifying energy, booming rhythms and undeniable passion.
From the stands, their performances look effortless. But behind the scenes, the 31 members of the Rumble are experts at more than just timing and rhythm — they’re masters of balance. Each performer juggles a full-time career beyond their duties with the drumline, fitting in rehearsals, community performances and marathon game days around family life and work schedules.
Among the five University of Missouri alumni who perform with the Rumble is Callee Curtis, BSBA ’16.
Now in her fifth season with the group, Curtis demonstrates how passion and profession can go hand in hand. During the week, the Kansas City native manages client relationships across the Midwest as a sales account manager for Lactalis Heritage Dairy, a global food company. When fall weekends roll around, she swaps her laptop and home office for Arrowhead Stadium, where her cymbals and musical passion contribute to the rhythm and excitement of every Rumble performance.
“It’s a huge time commitment, but it gives me so much mental energy,” Curtis said. “Playing with the Rumble doesn’t drain me — it actually makes me better at my job, a better family member and a better friend.”
Finding her rhythm
At Mizzou, Curtis found her life’s rhythm.
“I learned how to understand people — what they need, what they respond to — and that’s really the heart of both sales and performance,” she said. “Whether you’re managing clients or entertaining fans, it’s all about connection.”
Beyond her business classes in Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business, Curtis spent four years performing with Marching Mizzou’s drumline — a balancing act that demanded focus and discipline, but one she mastered with ease.
“It taught me early on how to manage time and energy,” she said. “That’s the same skill I use now to balance my full-time job in sales and my role with the Chiefs.”
After graduation, Curtis focused on building her career — until she realized something was missing.
“I thought my drumline days were behind me,” she said. “Then I saw the Chiefs Rumble perform after a Super Bowl win, and I felt this pull to get back into it. The first time I played again, I thought: This is who I am.”
She auditioned in 2021 and made the cut, and five seasons later, she’s still keeping the beat — both on the field and in her career. For her, every thunderous crash of her cymbals is a reminder of why the hard work and long days are worth it.
“People see us on the field for a few minutes and think that’s it,” she said. “What they don’t see are the Sunday afternoon rehearsals after long work weeks or the 6 a.m. alarms on game days. But that’s what makes it worth it — you’re doing it because you love it.”
A full circle moment
For Curtis, whether it’s in sales or music, the goal is the same — to connect with people and make them feel seen.
“My job is to make people feel heard and valued — whether that’s a client sitting across the table or a fan in the front row,” she said.
That philosophy took root at Mizzou, largely shaped by a class that left a lasting impression.
As a student, Curtis took a course on consumer behavior with Courtney Cothren, an associate teaching professor in the Trulaske College of Business. It was Cothren’s first semester at Mizzou, and her teaching style immediately stood out to Curtis.
“I was so lucky to have her early on,” she said. “Courtney was one of those professors who truly cared about her students and made me feel like I could do anything. She became a role model and a mentor for me.”
Today, that relationship has come full circle. Curtis now returns to campus each year as a guest speaker in Cothren’s class, sharing her professional journey and encouraging students to find balance on their own paths.
“It feels surreal to go from being her student to standing at the front of her class,” Curtis said. “It’s a full-circle moment — and a reminder that the people you meet at Mizzou stay with you long after graduation.”
Beyond the field
Among all her performances with the Rumble, one moment stands out: playing at one of the NFL’s international games in Frankfurt, Germany.
“It was surreal,” she said. “Seeing how much the Chiefs’ brand meant to people halfway around the world — and hearing the crowd react to an American drumline they’d never seen before — was incredible. It reminded me how music and sports connect people everywhere.”
Outside of Arrowhead Stadium, Curtis and her fellow musicians bring game day energy to community events across the Kansas City area. For her, the most rewarding moments come from inspiring young fans.
Looking back, Curtis hopes her story reminds Mizzou students and alumni that a successful career doesn’t mean giving up what brings them joy.
“There’s no single path to a successful, fulfilling career and life,” she said. “You don’t have to choose between a career and a passion — you can build a life that celebrates both.”
