RSS Chiefs Team Notes

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey and Travis Kelce selected to PFWA All-AFC team

The Kansas City Chiefs’ underachieving 2025 season resulted in less recognition at the end of the season than the three-time defending AFC champions are used to. The Associated Press’ All-Pro team featured one Chiefs player on the first or second team: center Creed Humphrey. Kansas City had been represented by at least three players in each of the previous seven seasons.

The Professional Football Writers of America’s 2025 All-NFL team also selected Humphrey as the only Chiefs player; the All-Pro center was one of only seven individuals who were recognized on the 2024 team as well.

The PFWA breaks the honors out into conferences as well. Along with Humphrey, tight end Travis Kelce was named to the All-AFC team after leading AFC tight ends in receiving yards (851) and catching the third-most passes in the conference.

Travis Kelce played all but one snap against the Chargers. It was his 4th 90%+ snap rate in the last 6 games as the season teetered on the brink

If that was the last meaningful game we ever see 87 play, it was one of his greatest efforts #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/s7AtgzURpl

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) December 15, 2025

To play all 17 games — lining up nearly every snap in crucial games down the stretch — his durability was already noteworthy, but Kelce ran the second-most routes (567) among all tight ends in the NFL according to NFL Next Gen Stats; in the AFC, Indianapolis Colts’ tight end Tyler Warren ran 73 fewer than Kelce for the second-highest mark.

The 36-year old tried to overcompensate for the inconsistent availability of Chiefs wide receivers in 2025, and reminded many writers and spectators that he is still one of the league’s best tight ends. Now the football world is waiting to see if the admirable effort was his final bow or enough of a reinvigoration to play into 2026.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...creed-humphrey-travis-kelce-pfwa-all-afc-team

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

3 things Eric Bieniemy will bring to Chiefs as offensive coordinator

On Monday, reports surfaced of the Kansas City Chiefs’ plan to fill the vacant offensive coordinator position with a coach who has held that title in Kansas City before: Eric Bieniemy. After one year as the running backs coach with the Chicago Bears, he will return to the Chiefs for the 2026 season. Bieniemy will reprise the role he held from 2018 to 2022, when he won two Super Bowls as the right-hand man to head coach Andy Reid.

Between his departure from the Chiefs and working under Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson, Bieniemy coordinated the offenses of the Washington Commanders and the UCLA Bruins, where he was also the associate head coach. His return to an NFL sideline in 2025 put him in charge of Chicago’s backfield, the original position he held for the first five years of Reid’s tenure in Kansas City.

The Chiefs’ offense needs a fresh approach, and Bieniemy can blend the knowledge he has gained in his last few stops with the strict attention to detail that helped the Chiefs become champions in 2019 and 2022.

1. Under center offense​

The Chiefs’ reliance on running plays out of shotgun formations in 2025 limited what they were able to do offensively, and these restrictions led to poor offensive play throughout the season.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Chiefs ranked 30th in the NFL in plays run from under center (196) during the 2025 season, but the Bears ranked fourth with 519 plays.

Ben Johnson has been one of the more innovative minds in the NFL since his days as an offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. His ability to blend a power running game with an innovative passing attack centered around play-action has been instrumental to the emergence of the Lions and now the Bears.

The Bears averaged 98.6 yards per game with under-center rush looks — the third-highest rate in the NFL — while the Chiefs averaged only 38.1 yards per game (27th ranked). When passing from these looks, the Bears ranked fifth in the NFL with 168.2 yards per game; that is what the Chiefs should look to adopt in 2026.

Bieniemy should help Reid bridge the gap between Kansas City’s current offense and the modern ideas that the Chiefs lacked in 2025..

2. Running back development​

Bieniemy will return as the offensive coordinator, but he will likely play a key role in the development of the running backs on the Chiefs’ current roster, as well as any additions made through free agency or the draft.

It’s worth noting that Kansas City has yet to fill the position of running backs coach after news of Todd Pinkston being relieved of his duties. The team also fired assistant running backs coach Mark DeLeone, according to a report on Tuesday evening.

The Chiefs should have a strong selection of top candidates for the job, but Bieniemy will naturally be involved in the development of the position he is most familiar.

In 2025, he coached the Bears’ backfield duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and both players finished with career seasons. Swift ran for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns, while Monangai— a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft— rushed for 783 yards and five touchdowns. The ground game carried the Bears’ offense, and Bieniemy was at the forefront.

Currently, Kansas City has only two running backs on the roster: Brashard Smith and Dameon Pierce. Smith was seldom used as a rookie, but flashed when he did see the field. Pierce spent the first three seasons of his career with the Houston Texans, but things did not pan out after his rookie season in 2022. Pierce was picked up in November and spent the final half of the 2025 season on the Chiefs’ practice squad.

The organization will also be in a position to add a running back to the roster through free agency and the draft. Bieniemy should play a key role in helping develop the room and sculpt what the backfield will look like for the foreseeable future.

3. Accountability​

Even in the modern era of analysis with in-depth statistical breakdowns as thorough as ever, some things still cannot be quantified, and one of these is accountability.

For the last two seasons, the Chiefs’ offense has floundered, and the dropoff was significant in 2025. At times, the offense looked like the productive machine it had been in the past, but all too often, a simple mistake derailed a drive or prevented the offense from gaining momentum.

During his first stint as the offensive coordinator, Bieniemy preached accountability, attention to detail, and above all else, executing the game plan.

Since he left following the 2022 season, the offense has been out of sorts. This was not all on the coaching staff, but the influx of penalties, turnovers, and poor execution played a part in the team parting ways with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy after three years.

Bieneimy will bring a no-nonsense, old-school mentality by hammering the offense on fundamentals, then holding all accountable to the championship standard that has been set in Kansas City.

The coaching will be needed in all phases of the offense. The Chiefs have a young group of skill players who have a long way to go to reach their potential, and the group will likely be larger at the start of training camp.

With Mahomes projected to return to play early on in 2026, it will be up to Reid and Bieniemy to hold the team around him accountable and hone in on the little things that can make or break championship seasons.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s/192697/3-things-eric-bieniemy-brings-chiefs

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

ESPN’s Mel Kiper predicts Chiefs to improve run game with top pick

There are over three months until the 2026 NFL Draft, but with the Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason underway, it’s time to consider what draft prospects the Chiefs could select with the ninth overall pick.

The most famous mock drafter of them all, ESPN’s Mel Kiper, released a first-round mock draft on Wednesday morning, with the season of college football officially concluded. Fresh off a 16-0 national championship season, Indiana’s quarterback has basically locked himself into the Las Vegas Raiders’ pick at the top of the draft.

With the third overall selection, the Arizona Cardinals were matched with Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, taking away an option at right tackle that was thought to be in range for Kansas City in most mock drafts. Two intriguing edge defenders — David Bailey of Texas Tech and Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami — are taken before the eighth pick: Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

9. Kansas City Chiefs
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

You could see it, right? The Chiefs make their first pick in the top 10 since they took Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 in 2017 and promptly use the selection to get a game-changing running back to pair with their star quarterback? Improving the run game could open up the offense in a big way. The Chiefs were in the bottom half of the league in yards per carry (4.2) and runs of 10-plus yards (44) this season, and Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are both free agents. It’s time to inject some juice into this ground attack.

Ignoring positional value, Love is the second-best prospect on my Big Board. Vision. Burst. Power. Speed. Receiving skills. He has it all, and he ran for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season.

Kiper goes with the pick that we have seen plenty of, and it could be further justified with the return of Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. The long-time running backs coach has worked with legendary ballcarriers Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles. Love has earned the top-10 hype with his talent, but general manager Brett Veach may feel better about pulling the trigger knowing Bieniemy will sharpen any dull spots in his game.

In this scenario, the one player that could be hard to pass up on for Love would be Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who was picked next. The high pick needs to be a difference maker, and Kansas City should feel good about either of those two players fitting the bill.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...per-predicts-chiefs-improve-run-game-top-pick

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs, Bills & Ravens dominated this era in the AFC. What changed?

The Kansas City Chiefs have been the dominant team of this era. I understand this isn’t news to anyone, but it needs to be said up front. The two other AFC teams most prominent from 2019-2024 were the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills. These three teams combined for nine of the 12 possible AFC Championship Game slots in these six years. They also had — by far — the best records among all AFC teams over this stretch, a combined 135 games over .500. The only other AFC teams to maintain a record above .500 from 2019-2024 were the Pittsburgh Steelers (58-41-1) and the Miami Dolphins (52-48).

It’s hard to overstate the dominance Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore had over this conference for more than half a decade.

That run of dominance came to an abrupt halt this season. The Chiefs and Ravens missed the playoffs entirely. The failure was enough for the Ravens to fire long-time head coach John Harbaugh. The Bills’ dramatic exit from the postseason in the divisional round convinced ownership it was time to move on from head coach Sean McDermott. It’s worth noting that the other AFC teams mentioned did the same.

Andy Reid is the last head coach standing out of the bunch.

The change atop the AFC was a shock to the system, the kind of movement that requires a deeper assessment. The Chiefs, Bills and Ravens enter an uncertain future despite having arguably the three best quarterbacks in the conference.

How did we get here? And what comes next?​

Sustaining this level of success is remarkably difficult. It’s what made the New England Patriots’ dynasty so impressive. Opposing teams will poach the coaching staff and front office, and that bleeds into free agency, where players on winning teams are hot commodities.

Winning comes at a cost, both literally and figuratively. These are good problems to have, but it’s something to overcome nonetheless.

The truth is, these issues are easier to overcome while your quarterback is on a rookie contract. Teams can eke out some extra flexibility through the first year or two of a quarterback’s mega-deal, as well. The rookie deal flexibility came to an end for the Chiefs and Ravens in 2021 with Mahomes and Jackson, respectively. The Bills provided themselves with added flexibility in Josh Allen’s deal through the 2023 season.

Cost-controlled young talent is the most valuable commodity when your quarterback accounts for more than 15 percent of the salary cap. Free agency becomes more targeted. Trades are harder to pull off because, again, those draft picks carry their weight in gold. Especially early round selections.

How did the best teams in the AFC fare with those picks in recent years? Let’s take a look.

The Chiefs’ top 40 selections since 2020:

• 2020 – RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (#32)
• 2021 – N/A
• 2022 – CB Trent McDuffie (#21) & DE George Karlaftis (#30)
• 2023 – DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (#31)
• 2024 – WR Xavier Worthy (#28)
• 2025 – OT Josh Simmons (#32)

Bills top 40 selections since 2020:

• 2020 – N/A
• 2021 – DE Gregory Rousseau (#30)
• 2022 – CB Kaiir Elam (#23)
• 2023 – TE Dalton Kincaid (#25)
• 2024 – WR Keon Coleman (#33)
• 2025 – CB Maxwell Hairston (#30)

Ravens top 40 selections since 2020:

• 2020 – LB Patrick Queen (#28)
• 2021 – WR Rashod Bateman (#27), DE Odafe Oweh (#31)
• 2022 – S Kyle Hamilton (#14), C Tyler Linderbaum (#25)
• 2023 – WR Zay Flowers (#22)
• 2024 – CB Nate Wiggins (#30)
• 2025 – S Malaki Starks (#27)

There are some solid players on that list. McDuffie and Karlaftis have been foundational pieces of the Chiefs’ defense since they were drafted. Worthy showed flashes as a rookie before injuries took hold in year 2. Simmons looks the part of a franchise left tackle. Rousseau is a solid rotational edge rusher for the Bills. Kincaid’s had his moments. Queen made a Pro Bowl appearance before leaving the Ravens via free agency. Hamilton is a star. Linderbaum might be the top center on the free agent market this offseason. Flowers has been solid. Wiggins can play. Starks is already an established starter.

Moral of the story, these aren’t all busts. But there might be… one star on that list? Maybe you could argue two if you’re willing to list McDuffie into that criteria along with Hamilton? This is the reality of drafting outside of the top 20 annually. It’s remarkably difficult to find blue-chip talent past that range.

I did some digging to find out if this has been unique to these three teams, or if the rest of the league also struggles to find blue-chip talent in this range of the draft:

There were 96 total players picked between the 25th and 40th overall selections in the NFL Draft between 2020 and 2025. Only nine of those 96 players earned a pro bowl nod. Only three (Patrick Queen, Landon Dickerson and Tyler Linderbaum) of those 96 players had multiple Pro Bowl appearances.

Pro Bowl appearances aren’t a foolproof way to judge a player’s career, but the numbers match up well with the reality of these picks. Roughly 10% of the picks in the range where Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore have been selecting in the NFL Draft go on to become positive contributors. An even smaller percentage has a chance at becoming a star.

This lack of star talent showed up in a big way when watching all three recent AFC juggernauts this season. The Ravens defense isn’t what it once was. The offense doesn’t feature anyone outside of quarterback Lamar Jackson or running back Derrick Henry, who strikes fear into opposing defenses. The same issues exist for the Bills: the defense got smaller, older and slower in recent years. The offense revolves around quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook and wide receiver Khalil Shakir. Shakir would be a nice complementary piece, but he’s miscast as a primary receiver.

Does this sound familiar? Defensive tackle Chris Jones’ decline has exposed the inability of the rest of Kansas City’s defensive line to win one-on-one, and the offense lacks a go-to guy in the twilight of tight end Travis Kelce’s career.

None of this is to absolve front offices for their misses in the draft, but I don’t believe it’s a coincidence we’re witnessing the rise of teams like the Denver Broncos and Patriots in the conference at the same time as we’ve seen the Bills, Ravens and Chiefs level off. The rookie quarterback contract is a real advantage, and the two teams representing the AFC on Championship Weekend this season found ways to weaponize those deals. This will be the 13th time in the past 14 Super Bowls in which at least one of the teams will feature a quarterback on a rookie contract.

That doesn’t feel like correlation; it looks like causation.​

The Ravens and Bills fired their coaches in part because they were unable to accomplish what Reid did in Mahomes’ first five seasons — win the big one. The Chiefs came out of Mahomes’ rookie contract with two Super Bowl victories and another appearance. If nothing else, that earned Reid the benefit of the doubt after one down season. Harbaugh and McDermott are left wishing they could be so fortunate.

What comes next is anyone’s guess. It remains to be seen who the Bills and Ravens will hire as their next head coach. The Chiefs will have a top-10 selection for the first time since trading up for Mahomes. That grants them access to the caliber of talent they’ve been lacking in recent years. The Ravens are slated to select 14th overall, the same selection they were able to take Hamilton a few years ago. Buffalo is once again picking 26th, and their cap situation leaves something to be desired. They also have the potential MVP playing in their division.

Reaching the top of the mountain is hard. Sustaining that level of performance might be even harder. The Chiefs, Ravens and Bills lived a charmed life for most of this decade. The rosters aren’t what they once were. Changes are necessary. The offseason will help determine if we look back at 2025 as a one-off or if it’s a sign of things to come.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-bills-ravens-dominated-era-afc-what-changed

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler values ‘high-floor’ players in 2026 draft

With no postseason games for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Arrowhead Pride staff has boots on the ground at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas to learn more about the 2026 NFL Draft. Contributing editor Ron Kopp Jr. and lead film analyst Caleb James were at the event’s opening day.

Dane Brugler covers the NFL Draft for The Athletic and is one of the most thorough draft evaluators in the media. He proves it by putting together “The Beast” each year with an in-depth analysis of over 400 draft-eligible players.

He was gracious enough with his time to talk with me about the top of the 2026 draft class with Kansas City’s ninth-overall pick in mind. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has been a popular choice, and Brugler sees the Chiefs as a realistic landing spot.

“Every team is a little different with where they are in their offensive trajectory and with the way the roster is,” Brugler said. “So not everyone is suited to take a running back that early. The Chiefs are in a spot where they just want to get the offense to the next level, and a guy like Jeremiyah Love, he could be the guy that helps open it.”

Love enters the draft after two consecutive seasons rushing for over 1,100 yards, 6.9 yards per carry and at least 17 scores on the ground. Over those two years, he totaled 63 catches for 594 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

“As they build their board, if they come away thinking that Jeremiyah Love is one of three players they should be targeting there, I would completely understand it,” Brugler noted. “Because his impact potential, especially in that offense, is awesome. This isn’t a great running back class; it’s not like if you don’t pick Love at nine, you can get this guy in the second round. It’s just not that deep.”

There’s the case for Love, but Brugler himself mocked Ohio State safety Caleb Downs to the Chiefs, although Love was not available in his scenario.

Brugler mentioned he received pushback on the prediction, but he was strong in his opinion that positional value may not carry as much weight this year.

“It’s just not a high-end, rich draft,” Brugler declared. “If you ask evaluators around the league to list the top non-quarterbacks in the draft, the list is going to look wildly different from person to person. Some are going to look at Caleb Downs and (linebacker) Sonny Styles and Jeremiyah Love, three positions that are ‘non-premium positions,’ but they see the highest floors of anyone in this draft that would be taken that high.”

“I would understand why a team would value those guys as opposed to shooting for high-upside, the guy that has a few holes in his game, but you look at what he could be,” Brugler continued. “I understand why a team would look for the high floor as opposed to the high ceiling in this draft, especially. Even though they are ‘non-premium positions,’ I think you have to throw it out. This draft is very unique, and a guy like Caleb Downs, you could make the case is the best player in this entire draft.”

With a uniquely high pick, Kansas City must come away with a worthwhile player. Brugler made the point that teams picking in the top-10 need to draft a player that “is going to impact your roster the most.”

That could be Love or Downs, but Brugler reiterated the ambiguity of the class means the Chiefs should be prepared for all of the possibilities — including the two most popular defensive linemen: Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey of Texas Tech.

“Neither of those guys are top-8 locks,” Brugler said. “David Bailey is a bullet off the edge. He has some questions in the run game, but he has gotten better and better… Rueben Bain is just not loved by everybody. Some teams grade him as a three-technique; some teams are not going to be comfortable taking a player with his physical profile that early. The tape says he’s a guy that’s really impactful, so it wouldn’t be surprising either if he was off the board.”

It is early in the draft process, but the bottom line for Brugler is that a team like the Chiefs must use this opportunity to boost the roster as much as possible in one swing. Downs and Love may not play “premium” positions, but each are immediate-impact prospects at positions that Kansas City lacks a difference maker currently.

The high-floor players could instantly raise the Chiefs’ ceiling for next season and beyond.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-brugler-values-high-floor-players-2026-draft

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The best Eric Bienemy quotes from his time with the Chiefs

This week, the Kansas City Chiefs and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy agreed to a multi-year deal for Bieniemy to return to the team he won two Super Bowls with. A lot of things come to mind when Chiefs fans think of Bieniemy, but near the top of the list is the distilled nuggets of wisdom that he has an innate ability to drop into a presser on a random Tuesday.

Some might call them Bieniemisms, others might call them proverbs — however you label these maxims, one thing is true: Bieniemy is one quotable son of a gun.

To celebrate Bieniemy’s return, I thought it might be fun to comb through the catacombs of articles and dig up the best Bieniemy quotes from his last stint in Kansas City.

So without further ado, I present a collection of all of my favorite Bieniemy sayings.

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On screwing up.​

“One thing in this industry — the only way you’re going to learn to improve is to go out there and make a mistake. Sometimes the best thing you can do is make a mistake.”

On giving praise​

“Great job of finishing the play. Now catch your breath. We’re about to feed your ass.”

On not shooting yourself in the foot​

“When it’s all said and done — like I tell our guys each and every week — ‘Let’s line up and play against the opponent.’

“Because the Chiefs right now are kicking the Chiefs’ ass. Let’s go out and play against the opponent, give ourselves an opportunity, and then let’s see what happens.”

On what makes Mahomes unique​

“You guys have been around him — you know him,” said Bieniemy. “He’s a competitive prick. OK? He’s a great kid, but he’s a competitive prick.”

On getting frustrated​

“I don’t have time to get frustrated. Because I have to get up and go to work the next day. We do this for a reason – we coach football to be the very best that we can.”

On running the football​

“The more yards you can put on the ground, the more pressure you apply to the defense.”

On committing to the run game​

“We have to run it,” Bieniemy asserted to reporters. “We have to invest in it — meaning that we can’t just run it a few times and expect success.”

“It’s just like when you’re pounding concrete and you’re using that hammer,” suggested Bieniemy. “It’s not going to break the first few times you utilize it. It’s going to take a while.

On self-reflection​

“So when you get your ass kicked, you re-evaluate everything. So guys have to take a look at themselves [and] coaches have to take a look at themselves.”

On overcoming adversity​

“No one ever wants to go into a game [by] turning over the football — but at certain times, things happened. The thing that we need to do is make sure that we have the wherewithal to overcome the adversity and make something positive happen. So just like I told the guys: ‘We’ve got to create our own luck.’”

On giving feedback​

“The thing is these guys understand I coach hard, and I coach fair, and I always tell them, ‘I’m going to be your harshest critic, but I’m also going to be your biggest fan,’” explained Bieniemy. “The reason why I coach that way is because I know what they’re capable of doing. So, when those guys make mistakes, I just want them to understand that obviously we don’t want you to make a mistake, it’s OK that you made the mistake, but now what are we going to do from here on out to amend that mistake?”

On the 13-second game, preparation, and situational football​

“It wasn’t by chance that it happened,” Bieniemy said of the game-tying drive. “It happened because we’ve practiced it over and over and over again.”

On teaching phonics​

“Our guys are going to do whatever is needed to go out and win, because when it’s all said and done with — we talk about this every week. It’s not about the numbers; it’s about the alphabets. And the only two [letters] that matter in this industry is a W and a L. Whatever we have to do to get that W? That’s all what matters.”

“I’m not trying to sound arrogant or anything, that first drive we always want to go out and score,” Bieniemy insisted. “I don’t care if it’s a 15-play drive or a one-play drive, we want to make sure that we go out there and establish our identity and who we are and what we’re going to be about today.”

On digging deep​

“If you want to beat this team, you have got to out-effort them. You’ve got to out-strain them. You got to be willing to play to the echo of the last whistle.

“So that’s the type of game this is going to be. Put your hand in the dirt [and] knuckle up [for a] 60-minute dogfight. Then after that — if we have to go additional minutes — drink some water, get your Kool-Aid. [Then] we got to go do it. We gotta go fight!”

On protecting the football​

“Guys need to understand this. In order to be a team that wants to exceed all expectations and go out and pursue a championship, there’s certain things you can’t do. You can’t turn over the football. Right now, we got to protect the ball. We got to do a better job of understanding how important it is of possessing it and making sure that whatever individual has that ball last, their job is to hand it back to the ref.”

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What about you? What’s your favorite EB saying to date?

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...c-bieniemy-quotes-from-last-stint-with-chiefs

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

In championship week ‘Reacts’ poll, Chiefs’ fans approve of Bieniemy

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans. You can see all of the recent survey results here.

And be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

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Welcome home coach!​

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The Chiefs made it official on Friday: Eric Bienemy will return as offensive coordinator after three years away from the team. Chiefs Kingdom overwhelmingly approves of the hire, whether that’s because of Bienemy or simply wanting change from the previous offensive coaching staff.

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The first challenge for Bieniemy​

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With so much change among the offensive coaches, it’s clear that the unit needs improvement. The polled fans of Kansas City see the run game as the most crucial aspect to work on, but over one-third of voters prioritized situational football or player development; it’s fair to say there’s plenty to work on.

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Click here to see other recent survey results.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/nfl-reacts-survey/193014/championship-week-welcome-back-bienemy

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs News 1/24: Chiefs bid farewell to Matt Nagy

The latest​

Patrick Mahomes writes special message as Chiefs officially part ways with Matt Nagy | Kansas City Star

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared a social media message of his own about Nagy. While resharing a Chiefs post about Nagy, Mahomes wrote in an Instagram story: “Thank you coach for everything! Made me a better player and man!” Mahomes added a saluting emoji to that post.

Patrick Mahomes has accurately identified the Chiefs’ biggest and most needed fix | Kansas City Star

Mahomes finished 36th out of 38 qualifying quarterbacks in fourth-quarter completion percentage. That’s behind Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Behind J.J. McCarthy and Spencer Rattler. How? How can Mahomes rank that poorly in any quarterback statistic?

How is it possible a team that built a dynasty on its ability to win close games suddenly lost the magic?

That reverts to that Texans play, and the question that followed it.

Did the Texans know what was coming? Had they seen the trick one too many times?

“I think the one part of having so much success is teams watch a lot of film on you,” Mahomes said. “So we try to have good game plans of how to combat what (they) do and what (we’ve) done well. “You saw that this year — teams were very conscious of the plays that we’ve hit for a long time.”

It’s a long, detailed reply that for the relevance in this column could be boiled down to one word:

Yes.

The Texans perhaps knew what was coming.

Ravens requested to interview Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen | Ravens Wire

From 2016 to 2020, Cullen served as the Ravens’ defensive line coach. That overlapped with Minter’s time in Baltimore. Since Minter would most likely be calling the defensive plays, familiarity with Cullen will be imperative to his growth as a first-time head coach.

If the Ravens can land Cullen, it would give Minter a trusted voice on his staff and help create continuity on a side of the ball he knows best. With the defense likely to remain a strength, Baltimore’s offseason focus now shifts to whether Minter can build the right offensive staff around him to position the Ravens for success in 2026 and beyond.

Former Browns receiver, Chiefs Super Bowl champ dies at 82 | Cleveland.com

Former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Frank Pitts Jr., who won Super Bowl IV with the Kansas City Chiefs, has died. He was 82.

Pitts played 10 seasons in the AFL and NFL for the Chiefs, Browns and Oakland Raiders from 1965-74. He played his first six seasons in Kansas City, where he helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV, 23-7, over the Minnesota Vikings in January 1970. Pitts recorded three rushes for 37 yards and three receptions for 33 yards for the Chiefs in that game.

Around the NFL​

Bills interview Philip Rivers for head coach position | ESPN

Rivers, who has never coached at the collegiate or professional level, was interviewed by the Bills on Friday in Florida, the team announced. Rivers is the coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama.

The quarterback, who retired after one season with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, rejoined the team in December when Daniel Jones tore his right Achilles. Rivers started three games as the Colts went 0-3 and were eliminated from playoff contention.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been in all the team’s coaching interviews thus far, and the expectation is that will continue.

Seahawks’ Sam Darnold feels ‘really good,’ ready for NFC title game | ESPN

The Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl quarterback has no game designtion, though he was limited in practice all three days this week as part of the team’s plan to get him ready to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.

“I feel really good,” Darnold said Friday. “Feeling really good this whole week. I feel like the process is going right along where it should be, so I feel really good for Sunday.”

Darnold suffered the injury to his left side in practice last Thursday. He played through it two days later in the divisional round, completing 12 of 17 attempts for 124 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Drew Lock with nine minutes remaining in Seattle’s 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Browns’ Bizarre Head Coach Process Revealed as Candidates Quit: Report | Newsweek

Before you meet with any of the staff, please come over here to take your obligatory introductory questionnaires, personality tests, and a multi-part essay that needs to be due sooner rather than later.

Oh, and there will be additional homework after the initial stage.

Sound good?

If that sounds overwhelming to you, humble reader, then don’t be alarmed: you’re feeling the same as the actual candidates aiming to be the next head coach of the Browns.

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero broke the news on how the Browns are conducting their interviews, which comes a day following the report that Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula turned down Cleveland for an opportunity to interview with them.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

The best Eric Bieniemy quotes from his time with the Chiefs

On not shooting yourself in the foot

“When it’s all said and done — like I tell our guys each and every week — ‘Let’s line up and play against the opponent.’

“Because the Chiefs right now are kicking the Chiefs’ ass. Let’s go out and play against the opponent, give ourselves an opportunity, and then let’s see what happens.”

Social media to make you think​

Interesting nuance here—the Bills can't interview Rams, Seahawks, Patriots or Broncos assistants, and the Steelers can't interview Broncos or Seahawks assistants til they're eliminated from the playoffs.

Why? Next week's window for Super Bowl teams is for 2nd interviews only.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 23, 2026

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media​

• Facebook: Like our page
• Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
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• AP Staff on X: See complete list
• 90.9 The Bridge on X: Follow @909thebridge

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kansas-city-chiefs-news/193029/1-24-chiefs-bid-farewell-to-matt-nagy

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

2026 Shrine Bowl: 3 tight ends, 3 different skillsets to offer Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs should be keeping tabs on the tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft, regardless of the decision of future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce.

The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl is a good place to start. On Friday, members of the Arrowhead Pride staff took in practice and spoke with draft prospects afterwards.

In general, the tight end position seems to be a strength among both teams’ rosters.

Texas TE Jack Endries with a tough catch over Arizona S Dalton Johnson pic.twitter.com/hjwhW3YxTt

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon using his 6056 height to go up and secure the pass pic.twitter.com/tGK9VRoTaC

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

During the players’ availability to the media, three tight ends from the West roster — each offering different strengths as a player — were kind enough to answer questions we had. We start with one of the most intriguing prospects at the showcase:

1. Bauer Sharp, LSU​

Sharp measured at just over 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 251 pounds at the Shrine Bowl weigh-in. He looks the part of a traditional, in-line tight end — but he was a quarterback in high school (like Kelce). He transitioned away from the signal-caller position early in his college career, but he acknowledged the benefits of having that perspective on pass plays.

LSU TE Bauer Sharp stands out on film for his sound blocking, strong grip

But here he shows off the strong hands to secure the jump ball pic.twitter.com/4iVI2zNL4n

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

In Friday’s practice, Sharp shows off the contested-catch ability as well.

However, when watching Sharp play at LSU, his blocking stood out as sound and consistent. When asked about it, the tight end made it clear that it wasn’t by accident.

“I’ve always had a physical part to my game, when I was quarterback, too,” Sharp told me. “Obviously, it was just the technique for me when I first started playing that I had to improve, and that is what I’ve done. I love it, I take pride in it, I’ve actually fallen in love with blocking. I’m just a nasty player like [George] Kittle… I take pride in that for sure.”

The self-comparison to the San Francisco 49ers tight end sets the expectation for his NFL impact. It’s not just his mindset; it’s also his attention to detail that makes him so effective at locking up a defender.

“That’s the main thing about tight end is hand placement,” Sharp emphasized. “I try to start low to high when trying to stick in their chest. That’s tight end… every defensive lineman I go against in the league is going to be bigger than me. You have to win with technique, base and footwork.”

With practice snaps showing off athleticism as well, Sharp appears to be the total package; it wouldn’t surprise me if he is one of the highest drafted players from the Shrine Bowl.

2. Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma​

A native of Hays, Kansas, Kanak is looking to prove himself as more of a “hybrid position” than tight end at a height below 6 feet 2 inches. Last season at Oklahoma, he lined up in-line (265 snaps), flexed to the slot (222), out wide (39), and in the backfield (43) according to Pro Football Focus.

Oklahoma TE Jaren Kanak is a Hays, KS native

Nice first step to create separation on the shallow cross pic.twitter.com/VxnHSZv7gp

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

In a play from Friday’s practice, Kanak’s first step gets the defender off-balance, and a notable burst the other way gives him the separation he needs to catch and run up the sideline. He also lined up in the backfield as an H-back during team period.

“That’s just part of having a versatile tool belt and to be able to put defenses in binds,” Kanak shared with me. “Like ‘how do we label this personnel group? Are they in 21? Are they in 12? Is it 11? Is this guy a receiver because he’s running past our Nickels?‘”

“It can create hiccups for a defense,” Kanak said. “And so being able to have that versatility in my tool belt is something that I’m definitely looking forward to offering a team.”

If you thought of 49ers’ fullback Kyle Juszczyk when Kanak explained his ideal role, you weren’t alone.

“That was a guy that I constantly am referring back to,” Kanak shared. “And a guy that I studied very heavily in the offseason, trying to model my game after him. Mostly in the run game, using his body position… he’s honestly just the perfect example.”

3. Seydou Traore, Mississippi State​

No prospect had a more fascinating background than Traore, who grew up in London, England, playing goalkeeper in soccer among different sports, but eventually wanted to play American football. He didn’t even know what position; he just wanted to play.

“I had no idea,” Traore answered when I asked about his original positional desire. “I was pretty slim when I first started. So initially, when I first started, I was playing safety and wide receiver for my local club.”

“A year on from that, I played wide receiver at the NFL academy. The following year, I’m at Clearwater Academy International in Florida, and I’m a receiver too, and then from there I got recruited by Arkansas State.”

In his transition to college football, Arkansas State immediately asked Traore to gain strength in order to play tight end rather than receiver. At the Shrine Bowl weigh-ins, he was over 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 233 pounds. He has an 80-inch wingspan — the longest measured of any tight end there.

“I feel my strength is my versatility of what I’m able to do,” Traore declared. “I can turn a five-yard catch into a 20-yard gain. I can also go deep and stretch the field, then in the run game, I just stick my face in there and get busy. I feel like I create problems, and I’m a mismatch for defenses.”

Seydou Traore/TE/Miss State has looked terrific in the early going @ShrineBowl practice. Athletic, agile and catches the ball well. LBs could not cover him in drills. It may take a couple of seasons but he's going to be a day three steal.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 24, 2026

On Saturday, Traore stood out to NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline in practice.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...owl-3-tight-ends-3-different-skillsets-chiefs

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs announce 2025 team MVP, rookie of the year award winners

The Kansas City Chiefs have announced their Derrick Thomas and Mack Lee Hill award winners for the 2025 NFL season. The announcement comes almost a month earlier than the past three seasons after the Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 record and missed the postseason.

A team vote determines these awards once the season ends.

Derrick Thomas Award (Most Valuable Player)​

This year's team MVP goes to @PatrickMahomes! pic.twitter.com/1Biin6IJ7M

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 24, 2026

For the fourth time in his incomparable Chiefs career, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has won the Derrick Thomas Award (Most Valuable Player). Mahomes was previously named team MVP for the 2018, 2022, and 2023 seasons.

Mahomes’ season was unfortunately truncated by a torn ACL suffered in Week 14. While his cumulative stats — 3587 passing yards with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions over 13 games — underwhelm based on the standard he has established, the quarterback battled to keep a disappointing squad in postseason contention into December. During the best stretch of the Chiefs’ season, a three game October winning streak, Mahomes posted a passer rating above 100 in each contest with nine touchdowns and only two picks.

With little going right on offense much of the season, Mahomes also set career highs with 422 rushing yards and five scores gained on his legs.

Mack Lee Hill Award (rookie of the year)​

This rook made a statement this season! @AshtonGillotte pic.twitter.com/um3im3cWi3

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 24, 2026

Taken with the Chiefs’ first of two third round selections of the 2025 NFL Draft, former Louisville edge rusher Ashton Gillotte was named the Mack Lee Hill (Rookie of the Year) award winner.

While Gillotte nominally started only two games, his snap percentage increased as the season went on. Gillotte played over half of the defensive snaps in seven contests, including Kansas City’s final five games. He finished the season with 1.5 sacks but recorded a pressure in five of the final six games. Gillotte also made arguably Kansas City’s top defensive play of the season with a dramatic interception off of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in Week 14.

---

In addition, defensive end George Karlaftis was named Kansas City’s Ed Block Courage Award winner. Named after a longtime Baltimore Colts athletic trainer, each NFL squad awards the honor to a player who “exemplifies commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...93042/chiefs-announce-2025-team-award-winners

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

2026 Shrine Bowl: 3 intriguing defensive linemen for Chiefs draft

The Kansas City Chiefs should be in full draft mode. This weekend, the organization has a chance to evaluate up-and-coming prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas.

Defensive tackle is a position that the Chiefs will likely be targeting in this draft class, and there were a few prospects in the group that could be intriguing for Kansas City.

On Thursday and Friday, the Arrowhead Pride team evaluated and spoke to these NFL hopefuls. Here are three I had the pleasure of talking with for a few minutes:

1. Aaron Hall, Duke​

At the Shrine Bowl weigh-ins, the Duke defensive lineman measured a shade under 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 296 pounds with 33.48-inch arms.

Hall lined up all over the field during the practice session, going from his usual spot as a 3-technique to an inside shade over the center, and as far out as a 5-technique.

Aaron Hall is an interesting prospect. Made some plays in 11v11. Quick disruptor. pic.twitter.com/uZIqdLORY5

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

I had a chance to catch up with Hall after practice, and he had an interesting perspective on his positional versatility.

Duke DT Aaron Hall Jr. said multiple coaching changes in college helped him adapt to different schemes.

Hall lined up at defensive end all day after playing primarily as an interior defender in college.

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Hall elaborated on why he was so comfortable making the transition on short notice.

“I’m willing to do what it takes to win, and I think in College I have shown my versatility,” Hall said. “I went through three head coaches, four different defensive coordinators, and with each group, it was a new scheme and new terminology.”

Hall clarified that he started at Duke as a defensive end, but quickly moved inside to defensive tackle.

When asking him what his favorite pass rush move was, Hall wasted little time with his response.

“For me, it is some form of power conversion,” Hall told me. “That is one of the strengths that I do best, I wasn’t blessed with the 4.4 speed, but I feel most confident in my ability to rush with my power.”

He pointed to an All-Pro defensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts when asked which NFL player he wants to base his game after.

“DeForest Buckner is a guy who can really convert off those power moves with stab lifts, and stab rips,” Hall explained. “Especially with his length inside.”

Hall has a nice blend of length, short-area quickness, and power, which will give him a chance to compete for an NFL roster spot in 2026.

2. Darrell Jackson Jr, Florida State​

It is always interesting to see which players match their listed height and weight, and which have been propped up. Florida State has Jackson listed at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 337 pounds, and that was nearly his exact weigh-in figures at the Shrine Bowl: he weighed 328 pounds at the same height.

With 35-inch arms, the behemoth defensive tackle was one of the largest players at the Shrine Bowl, and could be one of the most highly-touted. There is the potential that Jackson could go inside the top 100 picks in the NFL Draft.

This week, he managed to show what he can do with his size and power.

Big bull rush from Darrell Jackson Jr pic.twitter.com/S4YvfmPxJa

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Jackson used his power and extension well in practice, and when I had a chance to talk to him, he revealed a little more about his game.

“ I like playing the shade, I like playing the one, I like playing the 2i, I like playing the three, I like playing the four, the 4i, and the five,” he confidently responded when I asked him, given his physical gifts, which position he would prefer to line up at.

Jacksons lined up primarily as an inside defender at Florida State, and this is where he will find himself once he is in the NFL.

“I feel comfortable in any scheme 4-3 or 3-4,” Jackson declared. “We played the 3-4 ar Maryland.”

The transfer portal has given a lot of players exposure to multiple schemes as well as different roles. This interchangeability, paired with the ability to be coachable, should be valued by NFL teams.

Given the influx of mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, I asked Jackson about containing these players, and he gave an insightful response.

Florida State DT Darrell Jackson said he is comfortable playing any posistion. When aksed about containing QB's he had this.
"Stay on the high shoulder side, & don't let them out of the pocket. "
He mentioned that if there is a spy it takes everyone being on the same page.

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

“When you are playing a mobile quarterback, you probably have a spy, and you have to communicate with him when you are taking the inside, or when you are going to rush the outside shoulder,” Jackson explained. “At the end of the day, it comes down to communication. ”

This understanding of the bigger picture of a defensive scheme and game plan highlights good football IQ, as well as an unselfish player who will help his team win.

3. Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana​

One of the best things about the Shrine Bowl is that it gives small-school prospects a chance to compete against higher-end competiton.

Proctor entered the Shrine Bowl as a relatively unknown player, but with solid play, he has been creating buzz.

Kaleb Proctor has some juice. pic.twitter.com/lk1ijqTRs1

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Measuring in at 6 feet 1 inch tall and 275 pounds, Proctor is undersized for an interior lineman, but an outstanding blend of explosion and quickness off the snap helped him to disrupt several snaps in practice.

Proctor recorded an impressive 16 career sacks, with nine coming during his final season for Southeastern Louisiana.

When I had a chance to sit down with him, he helped shed some light on his mindset as a small-school prospect.

“It’s not about proving it to anyone but myself,” Proctor said. “Because that is what is going to carry me through this process and get me to where I want to go.”

“The goal is I want to play the 3-technique position, I want to gain my weight, and keep playing that position, but I will rush from anywhere,” he responded when I asked about which position he prefers to play in the NFL.

When I asked what his favorite pass rush move was, he quickly responded, “double swipe”, saying it required a lot of quickness to pull off.

A day later, he used it on his first snap of one-on-one drills and displayed why there will be more buzz about him as the evaluation process continues.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans.../2026-shrine-bowl-3-defensive-linemen-to-know

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs News 1/23: Safety is Chiefs’ weakest position entering 2026

The latest​

Here are the Chiefs’ three weakest positions entering the 2026 NFL offseason | The Kansas City Star

1) Safety

Over the last decade or so, the Chiefs have kept the “safety train” moving, going from names like Tyrann Mathieu to Juan Thornhill to Justin Reid and now Bryan Cook. When one player moves along, the next tandem up seems ready and capable.

But this doesn’t feel like a back-end build that’s ready to move on without Cook.

Spagnuolo is known for designing a complex defense with rules and assignments that help disguise looks and confuse the opposing quarterback. In doing so, he asks his safeties to do a lot, and he trusts them to adjust depending on what they see.

Right or wrong, Spagnuolo likes Conner, who actually edged out Bolton for the team lead in defensive snaps. Conner plays everywhere, from the box to the nickel to dropping back as a free safety. When he was on the field in a limited role, Hicks was mostly used in the box.

How Patrick Mahomes is handling one of his greatest knee-rehab challenges: himself | The Kansas City Star

And that indomitable mindset we’ve seen play out over and over in Mahomes is both reassuring and the crux of any concern about his ambition to be on the field — “with no restrictions,” as he put it — to start the season.

Because there’s an emotional challenge between the urgency of returning vs. his long-term health, between being diligent and over-extending himself — as he could be apt to do, being the voracious competitor he is.

As he spoke about following the directions and protocols from surgeon Daniel Cooper through rehabilitation largely with Chiefs VP of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder, assistant athletic trainer Julie Frymyer and longtime personal trainer Bobby Stroupe, Mahomes used terms such as “they hold me back, because I always want to go a little further” and “as much as they’ll let me.”

Chiefs 2025 offense: What needs to be fixed (and what doesn’t) after disappointing year | The Athletic

When at his best in 2025, Mahomes didn’t hesitate. He had the quickest average time to throw of his career per Next Gen Stats (2.79 seconds), and many of his best performances lined up directly with the games he held onto it the shortest.

It was especially noticeable early. According to Pro Football Focus’ data, Mahomes passed to his first read on 83 percent, 79 percent, 83 percent and 82 percent of his throws in his first four games.

Over the rest of the season — his final 11 weeks — Mahomes surpassed 71 percent on his first-read throw percentage in just three other games.

Part of getting back to fast-fire offense, though, will be what Mahomes referenced earlier. Can the offense add more unpredictability and break tendencies enough to keep defenses guessing? And can the Chiefs find more answers against man coverage, which they struggled to shake this season?

Around the NFL​

The AP NFL MVP finalists are Allen, Lawrence, Maye, McCaffrey and Stafford | Associated Press

Allen, the reigning MVP, threw for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, posting a 102.2 passer rating while leading Buffalo to its seventh straight playoff appearance. He also ran for 14 TDs. The Bills were knocked out of the playoffs by Denver in the divisional round and fired coach Sean McDermott.

Lawrence helped Jacksonville win 13 games and the AFC South title. He had 4,007 yards passing, 29 TDs and 12 picks. The Jaguars were eliminated by the Bills in the wild-card round.

McCaffrey, an All-Purpose All-Pro, ran for 1,202 yards and 10 TDs and caught 102 passes for 924 yards and seven TDs. He played a key role in helping the injury-depleted San Francisco 49ers win 12 games. He’s a finalist for three awards this year, a feat last accomplished by Joe Burrow.

Ravens hire Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as head coach | The Athletic

Minter, 42, was immediately viewed as one of the favorites for the position, given the organization’s familiarity with him and his impressive two-year run as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh.

Minter was an assistant under John Harbaugh in Baltimore from 2017 to 2020, serving the final year as the Ravens’ defensive backs coach. He was a college defensive coordinator at Indiana State, Georgia State, Vanderbilt and Michigan, and he was part of the Wolverines’ national championship-winning staff during the 2023 season. He then followed Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, where he became one of the league’s fastest-rising assistants.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs’ decision on Trent McDuffie this offseason won’t be simple

The Case for Trading McDuffie

The counterargument begins with the same market realities. Cornerbacks are now being paid like elite receivers, and not all elite corners are valued equally. McDuffie is not a prototype boundary defender with rare size and length, and offenses have increasingly tested him with bigger receivers in contested situations.

In 2025, the results were mixed. McDuffie allowed more touchdowns and a higher passer rating in coverage than in his All-Pro seasons. While his overall tape remained strong, the efficiency dip provides leverage for teams hesitant to pay top-of-market money. It also justifies the Chiefs exploring alternatives.

Financially, the appeal of a trade is straightforward. Moving McDuffie would clear his entire $13.6 million cap hit from the 2026 books, a meaningful figure for a team that is routinely forced to maximize every dollar. That flexibility could be redirected toward the pass rush, offensive depth, or future extensions — all positions that tend to rise in cost.

Social media to make you think​

EB to the chiefs hm

— Ty Hill (@cheetah) January 22, 2026

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media​

• Facebook: Like our page
• Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
• X: Follow @ArrowheadPride
• AP Staff on X: See complete list
• 90.9 The Bridge on X: Follow @909thebridge

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...2978/1-23-safety-chiefs-weakest-position-2026

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

2026 East-West Shrine Bowl: What to watch for as a Chiefs fan

Note: A special thanks to the staff at the East-West Shrine Bowl for generously hosting myself, contributing editor Ron Kopp Jr., and lead analyst Caleb James for this year’s event. The 101st edition of the game will kick off at 7:00 p.m. Arrowhead Time on Tuesday, January 27th, at the Ford Center in Frisco, TX. The game will air live on NFL Network.

The offseason started earlier than the Kansas City Chiefs expected, and this year will likely mark the most important draft of general manager Brett Veach’s tenure.

This year’s East-West Shrine Bowl will mark the first big step of the scouting process for this year’s draft, with the Senior Bowl soon following before the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of February.

The Chiefs’ scouting department has traditionally taken the event very seriously. Cornerback Nohl Williams, the team’s third-round selection from last April, was on last season’s roster. In addition, Esa Pole, who started Kansas City’s final five games at left tackle, participated in 2025.

Let’s look at some players from this year’s game who might interest the Chiefs based on this offseason’s likely positional needs. Of local interest, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is one of the three passers for the East team.

Offensive weapons​

One of the game’s best fits for the Chiefs, Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne, was injured in Friday’s practice and sadly will not participate. Ryan Fowler, formerly of The Draft Network, reported that Claiborne did meet with the Chiefs at the event and should be ready for the combine. The play on which he suffered injury, however, demonstrated his great fit for head coach Andy Reid’s offense.

Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne runs the wheel route and goes up to complete the catch at a height of 5092 pic.twitter.com/66lGFZaSaP

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

At the week’s practices, the tight end group stood out. The headliners are Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon and Jack Endries of Texas, who both showed off the ability to use their height to come down with tough catches. The less heralded players from the group also had big weeks, and you can read about three sleepers at the position we were able to speak with here.

Texas TE Jack Endries with a tough catch over Arizona S Dalton Johnson pic.twitter.com/hjwhW3YxTt

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

This year’s game does not boast heavy star power at wide receiver. A small school deep sleeper may be Jalen Walthall out of Incarnate Word, who received a combine invitation this week. LSU’s Zavion Thomas had an underwhelming four seasons (split with Mississippi State), but he was consistently one of the fastest offensive players and made multiple big grabs throughout the week.

Nice little one-handed grab by LSU WR Zavion Thomas. He’s had a nice first practice so far. pic.twitter.com/dEjPMu86ZP

— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) January 23, 2026

The Chiefs may need five quarterbacks for training camp as superstar Patrick Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL. Don’t be surprised if a passer from the Shrine Bowl or Saturday’s Senior Bowl sneaks his way onto the fringes of Kansas City’s roster.

Offensive Line​

It is unclear how aggressive the Chiefs will be in addressing the offensive line, with the starters largely settled and several now-experienced backups under team control for multiple seasons. One possibility on Day 3 could be adding a backup guard candidate, with 2024 draft selection Hunter Nourzad unable to pass the underwhelming Mike Caliendo on the depth chart. Georgia’s Micah Morris had a great week and could offer good value in the middle rounds.

Great snap from Micha Morris. Physically imposing player. pic.twitter.com/3nZEi8Jb9U

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Defensive line and linebackers​

Linebacker is arguably this draft’s best position group, and the sample of players in Frisco did not disappoint. Unfortunately, LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr. and Texas A&M’s Taurean York departed the event early and will not participate. With a dynamic interception, a lesser-known name who stood out while we were there: Miami of Ohio’s Jackson Kuwatch.

Great play by Miami (OH) LB Jackson Kuwatch pic.twitter.com/pLm7tbZFpj

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 23, 2026

One of the most interesting players will be USC off-ball linebacker Eric Gentry, measuring in at 6 feet 6 inches tall. Predictably, his college film shows limitations in the run game due to his height, but he put on a show in Texas, batting down passes.

#USC LB Eric Gentry gets a pass deflections on back to back plays during the team session at the Shrine Bowl. pic.twitter.com/5FO98VxNHr

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 24, 2026

The defensive tackle group was especially impressive. Florida State’s 328-pound Darrell Jackson Jr. was imposing and is a good bet to be the game’s top drafted player. You can read more about Jackson and two other interior options who impressed Caleb here.

A strong riser from the event is Navy’s Landon Robinson, who dominated in one-on-ones and reportedly had a formal meeting with the Chiefs.

Stop me if you've heard this before – another Landon Robinson pressure during team drills in what would have been a sack. His strength to push OL hands away and acceleration is ELITE. Big day for the Navy defensive lineman. #ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/awcwr5QZBp

— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) January 25, 2026

No position sees teams gambling on traits more than at edge rushers, and scouts may be taking a fresh look at Oklahoma’s Marvin Jones Jr. Despite only totaling eight sacks in four seasons split between blue blood programs, Jones showed off the athleticism that made him a coveted five-star recruit only a few years ago.

Marvin Jones Jr speed to power pic.twitter.com/7ZBUzBODIw

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Secondary​

History suggests a high probability of seeing a future Kansas City defensive back on Tuesday night.

One player who impressed us was Vanderbilt’s Kolbey Taylor, who boasts an 80-inch wingspan. He appeared sticky in coverage and showed the willingness to come up in run support that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo covets.

Vanderbilt’s Kolbey Taylor is having a nice showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Patient and mirrors well at LOS.

Taylor led Vanderbilt in forced incompletions this past season (5). pic.twitter.com/fSHfG7xFdI

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 25, 2026

Texas Tech safety Cole Wisniewski made some nice plays and was also a big winner of the week’s practices. Wisniewski could sneak his way into the late Day 2 mix in April.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans.../chiefs-fans-watch-2026-east-west-shrine-bowl

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ Andy Reid is ‘fired up’ about new staff: ‘Change can be good’

For the first time in eight years, the Kansas City Chiefs were not involved in Sunday’s NFL doubleheader of conference championships. Head coach Andy Reid has been a staple of both the AFC and NFC title games throughout his career, so with his 2025 team unable to even make the postseason, a change around him was not a surprising result.

The offensive coordinator spot has officially been turned over to Eric Bienemy, despite former coordinator Matt Nagy still searching for his next job. In total, five positions on the offensive coaching staff have been vacated since the end of last season. So far, the only official hire is Bienemy, but Reid made it clear he’s excited about the new chapter during a Zoom call with local media on Monday.

Andy's got great energy in this presser. Good to see him so lively. He's ready to get back to work

— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) January 26, 2026

After a few spirited answers, Reid was asked about the noticeable energy in his words.

“I’m fired up to get in this offseason and get going,” Reid responded. “We didn’t do very well this past year, and that has not been our MO here. So I want to fix the problems we had in all phases. There will be people that move on, people that come in… change can be good sometimes for you, so that’s what I’m fired up about.”

Some will point at Bieniemy’s history with Reid and Kansas City as hardly a “change,” but his style is objectively different than Nagy’s. Reid acknowledged that and emphasized how Bieniemy straightforwardly communicates with players and coaches, including star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I’d tell you EB will be very direct with him,” Reid shared. “[Mahomes] knows it’s coming from a place of knowledge there.”

Still, there will be criticism that the change needed was in reference to his offensive scheme. Reid would agree that it needs a refresh — or a retooling, as he foreshadowed in December — so that’s what he hopes the newest hires help with.

“Everywhere you go in this business, you pick something up,” Reid explained. “You might take it with you, or you might say, ‘I don’t want to do that.‘”

“I welcome that, I always keep my ears and eyes open for things,” Reid assured. “That’s why we’re very seldom stagnant, and why, even with our record, I felt I could stand in front of you guys and go ‘listen, what worked for us the year before, it just flipped on us.’ That’s sometimes how this thing works, so now it’s making sure we get back and do the right things, correct some things, and then get them going in the right direction again.”

In the modern age of accessible information, Reid reminded those listening that new ideas can be introduced without further hiring. It just takes effort and willingness.

“You use all the technology that’s out there,” Reid pointed out. “There is no reason to be stagnant; you have too many different options, you shouldn’t have to bring in the latest, greatest here and there, all that. You have all that right at a finger tip for you, if you go that route.”

There will likely be little change in the chain of command for calling a play into Mahomes, but that’s because it is already a collaborative process. The positive change will simply be the new voices.

“I still enjoy calling plays,” Reid admitted. “But what I do, I’m also not afraid to delegate and get opinions from people. Even in certain situations, letting them go ahead and call things in different areas. We do this jointly. I keep it open, and I’ve felt that’s the best way. I want guys to contribute, I want them to work hard and be experts in their area, and then accumulate in all areas. I’ve always mixed and matched there, and it seemed to have been fairly productive.”

The change is welcomed by many in Kansas City. The head coach’s enthusiasm and upbeat energy when talking about the transition prove that it is already reinvigorating the people it needs to.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...dy-reid-fired-up-new-staff-change-can-be-good

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ Clark Hunt talks Mahomes’ rehab, hopes Kelce plays in 2026

For the first time in a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs are spending January off the field after finishing 2025 at 6-11 and failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Clark Hunt, the team’s chairman and CEO, appeared on Tuesday’s edition of “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network. Hunt made clear he expects missing the postseason for only the second time under head coach Andy Reid to merely be a one-year absence.

“We’re excited about the challenge that we have now of getting back,” said Hunt. “We still have a great roster. We still have Andy Reid and a really outstanding coaching staff. We are going to work very hard in 2026 to make sure that we are part of the playoffs and hopefully part of the Super Bowl.”

Much of what can be accomplished in 2026 rests in the health of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a torn ACL in December. Hunt knows it is too early to put a firm timeline on Mahomes’ return, but he has been impressed with how the face of the league has handled the early stage of his recovery.

“I was with Patrick a couple of days ago in our training room,” recalled Hunt, “watching him go through the work that he’s doing to get back onto the field with the rehab. Nobody works harder than Patrick. He certainly has a goal of being back for the beginning of the season. I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s somebody in the past who has healed quickly. Again, his work ethic I think gives him a huge advantage of getting back and being ready to play in 2026.

Whether Kansas City’s 2026 season is a success or failure may also be impacted by whether 36-year-old tight end Travis Kelce returns for a 14th season. Hunt hopes the future Pro Football Hall of Fame member puts off retirement for another year, but he will happily give Kelce time to make the decision. Kelce’s upcoming wedding to superstar singer Taylor Swift could also affect his timing this offseason.

“As an organization, we certainly hope that he will come back,” Hunt remarked. “He had another great year. Maybe not on part with where he was four or five years ago, but he still had over 800 yards and was really one of the leaders on the offensive side of the ball for us. So, there’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play. We’re trying to be respectful and let him have the time that he needs to make a decision. He has sort of a busy offseason coming up with his engagement and marriage. So, we want to be respectful and give him the time he needs to make a decision, but we certainly hope that he’ll be back.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ahomes-rehab-hopes-travis-kelce-plays-in-2026

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

2026 Shrine Bowl: 5 intriguing offensive linemen for Chiefs draft

The 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl is set to kick off Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Arrowhead time, broadcast on NFL Network. Both the East and West squads have been busy practicing this past week in preparation, and showcased their abilities in front of scouts and the media.

The Kansas City Chiefs will need offensive line depth in the later rounds of the draft, and the Shrine Bowl serves as a good spot to identify talent.

The Arrowhead Pride staff had boots on the ground in Frisco, Texas, last week, and a few of the offensive linemen stood out.

1. Brian Parker, Duke​

Parker played at both right and left tackle during his time at Duke, but after talking with him, he revealed that he would be playing center exclusively at the Shrine Bowl.

Duke OL Brian Parker II made every career start at RT/LT but will be taking snaps at center exclusively for the duration of the Shrine Bowl.

"If you want to draft me at tackle, draft me at tackle, or bump me inside to center or guard, this is what I am here to show this week."

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Measuring 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 306 pounds, Parker is slightly undersized to play along the offensive interior. Still, his movement abilities can be maximized by a team that utilizes a zone blocking scheme as well as blocking in space.

The Chiefs do not need a starter at any spot along the interior offensive line, but Parker has proven to be a versatile player and quick learner, and would have good value as a backup when first entering the league.

This was a good double team rep from Brian Parker and Joe Cooper. I like how Parker was able to take over the block and get his head around to end the play.

The DT Dontay Corleone is no slouch either. pic.twitter.com/VoTMGH9BPv

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 26, 2026

For not taking snaps at center since high school, Parker appeared to be gaining comfort, and having positional versatility will boost his draft stock.

2. Aamil Wagner, Notre Dame​

One of the standouts from the early practice sessions was Notre Dame tackle Aamil Wagner. A two-year starter in college, Wagner wasted no time showing off his game.

Great recovery from Amail Wagner. Gives up his chest a little bit early, but fights to reset and re anchor. pic.twitter.com/mU30jQevSc

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 306 pounds with longer than 34-inch arms, Wagner is a little bit on the lighter side for an offensive lineman, but he makes up for it with solid athletic ability and long arms.

Wagner projects to be a swing tackle early on in his career, and through the course of practice, he seamlessly transitioned from left to right tackle.

Solid snap from Amail Wagner. pic.twitter.com/uYhcu5GsWf

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

A smooth mover, Wagner fires out of his stance comfortably, locks on, and fights to anchor himself to finish the play. He will need to work on his striking ability, but his build and movement skills should have the Chiefs interested in pursuing him later on in the draft.

3. Caden Barnett, Wyoming​

One of the risers of the week has been the Wyoming standout. Barnett played tackle during his time at Wyoming, but will look to slide to the interior in the NFL. This week at Shrine Bowl practices, he lined up primarily at right guard.

Caden Barnett with the good lateral quickness and strong hands to stop the pass rush. pic.twitter.com/uHuQN7L6VR

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 26, 2026

A heavy-handed brawler, Barnett has advanced hand-fighting skills, and with a strong base, he was able to anchor himself down and win pass protection snaps.

Barnett had a fist fight in a phone booth style, and he was not shy when I asked him about the mentality an offensive lineman has to have in the NFL.

I asked Wyoming OL Caden Barnett what his favorite part of playing OL is.

"The physicality, I love moving a grown man against his will from point A to point B. I'm a mauler."

His favorite play is power, he likes "running through someones face".

Football guys football guy

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

At just a hair under 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 316 pounds with 32-inch arms, Barnett is a hair undersized and will likely be a reserve early on in his career. However, if he can continue to string together more solid performances, he will have a chance to be drafted and develop into an interior swing player. The Chiefs need depth along the interior, so he will be a player to keep an eye on for Day 3 of the draft.

4. James Neal III, Iowa State​

Starting his college career at Independence Community College in Kansas, Neal eventually found his way to Iowa State, where he lined up all over the line of scrimmage during his college career. As a Senior, he started every game at left tackle, and this is where he found himself at for Shrine Bowl practices.

Good pass pro rep from James Neal III. Plays the spin well and runs his man up the arc. pic.twitter.com/DSEpZvVcH5

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 26, 2026

Neal is a good athlete, along with a stature of 6 feet 4 inches tall and 322 pounds with nearly 34” long arms; he profiles to play tackle or guard in the NFL.

He carries his weight well, and quick feet and a strong core help him to win pass-blocking snaps, while good bend and power transfer help him to root out defenders in the run game.

Neal comes from a downhill rushing offense at Iowa State, and he shared with me what his favorite play to run in college was.

James Neal III, OT from Iowa State, said his favorite play to run in college was a "duo scheme with a tackle pull". Said he "really liked to pull as a tackle".

He mentioned the best opposing player he faced was former KU edge and current Chicago Bear Austin Booker.

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 23, 2026

Given his athletic profile, any play where Neal could pull to get into space would be a benefit for him. Athletic, moldable talent like Neal is what the Chiefs will be seeking in the late rounds of the draft and undrafted free agency.

5. Faialili Fa’amoe, Wake Forest​

The All-ACC performer has looked solid in practice this week and is making a case to be drafted. At 6 feet 4 inches tall and 311 pounds with 33.68” arms, Fa’amoe projects more as a guard in the NFL, but his performance against other top competition at the Shrine Bowl should leave the door open for him to play right tackle at the next level.

Fa’alili Fa’amoe from Wake Forest had some nice snaps in pass protection. Good footwork solid base and core. Nasty finish. pic.twitter.com/z60RFQjsQm

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 26, 2026

Fa’amoe has been solid in pass protection and shown a nasty streak as well. His fundamentals in pass protection have showcased an agile and quick tackle, with a good understanding of momentum and the angles needed to take away the defender’s ability to bend the arc.

His footwork and core are good for a tackle, but his hands are good as well. This combination should help him to climb up draft boards.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-shrine-bowl-5-offensive-linemen-chiefs-draft

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Eric Bieniemy has a ‘standard of excellence’ he expects Chiefs to meet

Days after officially returning as the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy spoke with the Kansas City media on Wednesday. Bieniemy spent a decade on Kansas City’s staff from 2013 to 2022 and was the offensive coordinator for his last five seasons with the Chiefs.

Bieniemy left the team following the Chiefs’ victory in Super Bowl LVII. He spent the 2023 season as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders before leading UCLA’s offense in 2024. In 2025, he was the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, the Bears ranked fourth in the league this season with 0.04 expected points added (EPA) per rush play.

Currently, Bieniemy is working through how the concepts he has learned in three years away from Kansas City can help the Chiefs and head coach Andy Reid.

“I’ve had an opportunity to learn a few things,” he remarked. “I’ve obviously opened my mind to how to view things from a different point of view. It’s great, but on top of that, we’ve got to make sure we’re getting down to what’s best for us when it’s all said and done with.”

“Anybody can present an idea,” Bieniemy acknowledged. “More importantly, we need to make sure, first and foremost, that we’re taking a look at anything we need to continue to improve on or continue working with and making sure we’re getting all the answers first with that and then just figure out where we need to go from there.”

Stepping out of Reid’s shadow allowed Bieniemy to develop as a communicator.

“I think it’s helped me in a number of ways,” said the coach. “When you’re doing it on your own, you’ve got to find creative ways to implement a system. You learn a lot about yourself — the good, the bad, and the ugly. All ideas are not bad ideas; we just need to be receptive to them. Just the dynamic of working with people, learning how to communicate and articulate your plan, and getting them to buy in — I think all that helps.”

“I’ve learned a lot over the years,” Bieniemy pointed out. “I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m excited just to get started. Obviously, today is Day 1. I want to make sure on Day 2, 3, 4 and 5 we hit the ground running with all this excitement and all this energy that’s being created.”

Because he is just coming off a postseason run with the Bears, Bieniemy admits he is still in the early stages of planning what can be done to improve the Chiefs, who struggled offensively down the stretch of a disappointing 6-11 season. While away, however, he continued to look at Kansas City for ideas on new plays of his own.

“I really haven’t had an opportunity to dig in and really study it like I want to,” he offered. “Every now and then, I would pick up a few ideas or a few plays here and there. But I really haven’t had a chance to dig in like I want to. I’m going to spend this time during this period just to figure out the good, the bad, the ugly, and the indifferent.”

One area Bieniemy should make an immediate impact on is resurrecting the Chiefs’ lethargic run game. He will work with Reid — and offensive line coach Andy Heck — on solutions to make that portion of the offense more exciting.

“With Coach Reid,” he predicted, “we’re going to figure out things that we need to do moving forward as far as making sure we get the right people in the building. When it’s all said and done with, we’re going to make sure we can do the things that we do best. We have one of the better O-line coaches in the industry in Coach Heck. He does an outstanding job with those guys up front.”

“Have I been exposed to a number of run schemes? Yes,” Bieniemy reflected aloud. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for us moving forward. I think that’s just a general overall plan.”

Since Bieniemy left, the Chiefs have (fairly or not) been perceived to lack accountability on offense both for coaches and players. Bieniemy expects all individuals — players and assistants — to be coachable.

“That’s why we get paid,” he declared. “We’re coaches. It’s our job to come up with answers. We’ve got to make sure we can give solutions to the answers and resolve it. We’ve got a great coaching staff. We’ve got great people. I feel like I’m back in with family. We’re all very familiar with each other, so we’ll sit down and figure everything out together.”

As for players, Bieniemy is excited to start fresh with new ideas, but the vocal, hard-nosed coach fans saw for a decade remains.

“There are some things about me that have changed,” Bieniemy stated, “but more than anything, EB is EB. We will still be disciplined in detail in everything in how we handle our business. There’s a standard of performance. There’s a standard of excellence that will be expected. But on top of that, there’s been a great deal of wealth that I’ve learned through the good and the bad. The thing that I appreciate is it’s just helped me to grow into this role and have this opportunity to be in this situation again.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...27/eric-bieniemy-standard-excellence-expected

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey nominated for NFL Protector of the Year award

In its inaugural season, the Protector of the Year award will be given to the best NFL offensive lineman from the 2025 campaign, symbolizing “protection, durability, and the unsung heroics of the players who shield their teammates and drive their teams forward.”

That description fits Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey perfectly, so it’s no surprise that he is one of 6 nominees for the award. Along with Humphrey, here are the five others according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

• Left tackle Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
• Center Aaron Brewer, Miami Dolphins
• Right guard Quinn Meinerz, Broncos
• Left guard Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears
• Right tackle Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

This past season, Humphrey was honored as a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press for the second consecutive year. He started all 17 regular-season games for the fifth season in a row, or all five seasons he has been in the NFL.

He will compete with the four other starters on the All-Pro first team and the center on the All-Pro second team. The award winner will likely be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony held on the Thursday before Super Bowl LX.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...d-humphrey-nominated-nfl-protector-year-award

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

REPORT: Chiefs are hiring two assistant coaches from college ranks

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 22: Kansas City Chiefs helmets on the side lines prior to the game against the Chicago Bears on August 22nd, 2025 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

On Thursday morning, two separate reports provided more information on the new coaching staff being assembled by the Kansas City Chiefs.

• According to senior reporter Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Chiefs will be hiring Villanova wide receivers coach Nate Pagan to be a quality control coach.
• ESPN’s Pete Thamel published a report saying Kansas City is expected to hire Coastal Carolina safeties coach C.J. Cox as a quality control coach.

Pagan is coming off his seventh season as the wide receivers coach for the Villanova Wildcats after two years as an offensive assistant at the school. One of the most successful players he coached in his time was wide receiver Jaaron Hayek, who earned a spot on the Chiefs’ 90-man offseason roster after standing out at rookie minicamp in 2024.

Cox is a well-known defensive backs coach collegiately; he has led the cornerbacks or safeties for a college football program every year since 2017. He has participated in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship three times, including twice with the Chiefs during the 2022 and 2023 offseasons.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...t-chiefs-hiring-two-assistant-coaches-college

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs request to interview familiar face for running backs coach

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach Deland McCullough looks on wearing his Bose headset during game action in a preseason NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears on August 25, 2018 at Soldier Field in Chicago IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As the Kansas City Chiefs continue to change the coaching staff this offseason, Deland McCullough has emerged as a name to monitor for the running backs coach position. McCullough is a familiar figure in Kansas City, having held the role from 2018 through the 2020 season, a span that included a Super Bowl LIV championship and consecutive AFC titles.

During his initial tenure with the Chiefs, McCullough coached a deep and rotating backfield that featured Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon and Darrel Williams. His units were consistently trusted in pass protection and situational football, aligning closely with Andy Reid’s offensive priorities during that stretch.

After the 2020 season, McCullough returned to the college ranks. He spent time at Indiana before joining Notre Dame as running backs coach and associate head coach, where he helped oversee a productive ground attack. While in South Bend, McCullough coached Jeremiyah Love, a highly regarded running back who developed into one of the nation’s most explosive offensive players. McCullough played a significant role in Love’s recruitment and was closely involved in his development at Notre Dame.

Love has since become a common fixture in early mock drafts, with draft analyst Mel Kiper projecting him to Kansas City at No. 9 overall. There is no indication the Chiefs’ interest in McCullough would be tied to any specific draft plan, and league sources consistently caution against linking coaching hires to future draft outcomes. Still, the overlap is worth noting given McCullough’s familiarity with both the Chiefs’ system and a prospect who may be on their draft board.

Most recently, McCullough returned to the NFL as the Las Vegas Raiders’ running backs coach, reestablishing his presence at the professional level. As the Chiefs weigh experience, continuity and player development, McCullough’s résumé provides a logical reference point — even if some connections ultimately prove coincidental.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...t-interview-familiar-face-running-backs-coach