Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive Lineman Jordan Devey says running a cookie shop is a lot like playing in the National Football League.

Making the perfect chocolate chip cookie, he says, requires steady hands, hours of intense training and teamwork.

Thankfully, the staff at Cookie Co. are careful not to fumble.

“I love the competition … Let’s go head-to-head,” Devey said. “I’ll put our cookie against anybody’s.”

Devey and his wife, Linsey, opened Cookie Co. April 29 in Lenexa’s Sonoma Plaza at 8746 Loiret Blvd. and May 20 in Overland Park’s Bluhawk shopping center at 7765 W. 159th St. The couple own the shops with their partners Pietra Carrell and Mike and Keri Priest.

A Kansas City location is set to open in July at 13123 State Line Road, which was formerly occupied by Urban Bowl Grill & Poke.

From the NFL to the cookie shop

The franchises for California-based Cookie Co. are the NFL player’s first business ventures since he left the league in 2021.

Born in Utah, Devey has played for several teams, including the Patriots, the 49ers and the Bills. Devey played for the Chiefs from 2016 to 2018 alongside famed players Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.

After eight years in the NFL, the 35-year-old decided it was time to pursue other avenues.

While playing for the Chiefs, Devey realized nothing beats Kansas City, so he decided to settle down in the city of fountains and make his red-and-gold jersey a permanent part of his wardrobe.

“Kansas City loves Kansas City,” he said. “There’s so many big things going on here.”

Opening Cookie Co. in Kansas City

In January 2022, Devey started looking into opening a Cookie Co. franchise after seeing an Instagram reel of employees baking the cookies with fresh ingredients.

He decided he’d found his new calling.

Devey might’ve traded blocking players for frosting sugar cookies, but he still keeps in touch with his old teammates. Before the NFL Draft, Devey said he took boxes of cookies to the other Chiefs players, who were all grateful to Devey for the confections.

“It was like I never left, being in some of those rooms,” Devey said.

The cookie shop doesn’t shy away from its team spirit either. Devey asked KC Wolf to make appearances at both grand openings and promised he’d be back for the Kansas City opening.

What’s on the menu

Cookie Co. always offers chocolate chip, frosted sugar and monster cookies, with several additional flavors rotating every week.

On this week’s menu: maple bacon, snickers and oatmeal chocolate chip.

Devey’s business partner Keri Priest said Cookie Co.’s cookies are champions over the cookie market thanks to their freshness and creative recipes.

“A lot of our cookies have not just a different topping, but the mix-ins that we use in the batter as well, so it’s definitely a full experience when you get our cookies,” she said.

It might seem like an atypical career path for a former NFL player and Super Bowl champion, but it makes sense to Devey.

“The most common question I get asked is, ‘Why cookies?’” he said. “For me, it’s like, well, it brings joy … Nobody’s mad at you if you show up with a box of cookies.”’

Cookie Co. in Lenexa is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Cookie Co. in Overland Park is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.