Kansas City Chiefs News - ClutchPoints

Jeremiyah Love’s combine comments will make Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes hyped

Jake Faigus — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:12:55 +0000

Jeremiyah Love was asked at the NFL Combine where he would want to play, and he said his top option would be the Kansas City Chiefs. He did not explicitly say so, but he did say he would choose to play with the best quarterback in the NFL. He also said it would be an honor to play with Patrick Mahomes, as multiple mock drafts project him to Kansas City overall.

When talking with Rotoworld Football, Love was asked about his preferred landing spot, because, based on the draft, you have an idea of where you will end up. He said he wants to play with the best quarterback. Then they did not say his name, but it was implied that they were talking about Patrick Mahomes.

“Yes, yes, I would be,” Love said in a Feb. 27 appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” when asked about Kansas City even more. “Especially playing with Patrick Mahomes.”

It is worth noting that Jeremiyah Love also heaped a lot of praise on Mahomes and said, “It would be an honor” to play with Patrick Mahomes. He also said he thinks he is the best quarterback in the NFL, citing his three Super Bowl titles and two NFL MVP awards.

Mahomes is facing one of the toughest tests of his NFL career in 2026. The Chiefs had a 6-11 record, which was their first-ever losing season under Andy Reid. Patrick Mahomes also suffered a torn ACL in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that eliminated Kansas City from postseason contention. Mahomes is trying to be ready for Week 1, but it might be difficult to pull off.

It is worth noting that Jeremiyah Love would be a great fit for the Chiefs, as Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are both set to be free agents. This could be a big fit if it comes to it, but there is still a lot of time before the NFL Draft.

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NFL rumors: ESPN suggests Chiefs pursue bombshell Lions trade for Travis Kelce replacement

Zachary Weinberger — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:55:06 +0000

As there have been rumors surrounding Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and his potential retirement, the team could still be in the business of finding the tight end’s eventual replacement. While the Chiefs will approach the Kelce situation with caution, ESPN’s latest idea could have the team find a great successor after the star retires.

ESPN’s latest list would have them rank the top 15 trade candidates, as Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta was the eighth player listed, with Benjamin Solak and Dan Graziano speaking about his potential future. Solak in particular would speak about there being teams that could deal for the Lions star, who has regressed with back surgery, and the trade return could be better than “risking a bidding war in free agency in 2027.”

Kansas City would be listed as the first franchise in a list of “potential team fits.”

“LaPorta had back surgery this past season (489 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and hasn’t looked as explosive as he did as a rookie (889 yards, 10 scores in 2023), but he remains one of the most exciting young receivers at the position,” Solak wrote, as LaPorta has one year left on his contract.

Why the Chiefs could see Sam LaPorta as available to be traded

With the Chiefs in the midst of the 2026 offseason after missing out on the playoffs, the team needs to think about finding a replacement for Kelce, whether he retires this season or not. LaPorta’s name is mentioned due to, as Graziano points out, how the Lions have four key players up for extensions.

“The Lions have four 2023 draft picks they want to extend — LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, and Brian Branch — and there are people around the league who wonder whether they’ll be able to get all of those deals done or if they’d have to trade someone,” Graziano wrote.

As the analyst mentions, the odds LaPorta gets dealt are low, with them giving it a 10 percent chance, but it remains to be seen if Kelce retires and what Kansas City will do at tight end.

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Chiefs rumors: Travis Kelce’s $15 million a year boon waiting for him in retirement

Andrew Korpan — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:25:52 +0000

Fans are still waiting on Travis Kelce’s retirement decision, but the Kansas City Chiefs legend could get into broadcasting and garner a big payday if he wanted to.

In The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand’s latest column on the state of NFL TV broadcasting, they make an interesting remark about Kelce. The tight end appears interested in calling games, but the networks may want him as an in-studio analyst, which would pay a lot.

“Travis Kelce appears as if he will try to play another season before potentially trying broadcasting,” Marchand notes, “where he would like to call games, but probably could pick up at least $15 million per year as a studio presence.”

Marchand also notes that Kelce could be courted by Prime Video as well, who may shake things up for their Thursday Night Football broadcasts. He calls Kelce and Sean McVay the “wild cards” of candidates.

There is a chance Prime Video moves on from Kirk Herbstreit after his contract expires following the 2026 season. The likes of Greg Olsen and J.J. Watt are also potential names to fill the void.

Will Travis Kelce get into broadcasting after retiring?

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

It does sound like Kelce wants to get into broadcasting after calling it a career on the field. While he has made millions as a player, he could make even more as a broadcaster.

Kelce is currently contemplating his next steps. It appears he is getting ready to play his 14th season in the league after a disappointing 2025 campaign.

While Kelce had a better season than his 2024 campaign, the Chiefs won just six games in 2025. They missed the playoffs for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback. Mahomes also suffered a torn ACL late in the year, putting his status for the start of the 2026 season in question.

Kelce and the Chiefs are still trying to get back to the top of the mountain. They were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in embarrassing fashion in Super Bowl 59.

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Chiefs’ Brett Veach divulges how NIL forces NFL Draft adaptation

Paolo Mariano — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:02:08 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to pick up the pieces after going through a forgettable campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

For more than a decade, the team sat comfortably atop the AFC, winning the conference title five times. The Chiefs, however, spiraled to a 6-11 record last season, compounded by the ACL injury of Patrick Mahomes.

If there is a positive from their dismal finish, the Chiefs found themselves picking at No. 10 in the NFL Draft. Due to their dominance, they had always selected at the end of the first round. Now, they have a chance to pluck a talented prospect early.

Kansas City general manager Brett Veach, however, admitted in a report from Arrowhead Pride’s Maurice Elston that their process heading into the NFL Draft has not been easy, conceding the adverse effect of the NIL.

“I believe we moved over 25 guys off our board that we had top 75, top 100. So it’s really impacted, I think, the draft, and then you’re getting older, older prospects as you go on,” said Veach.

“Typically, the second and third rounds would be those guys that maybe they didn’t play a lot, but they were young. Well, now, these guys are just bouncing and getting paid by another school and getting paid and playing.”

The NFL Draft offers the Chiefs an opportunity to reset. Holding a top-10 pick gives the team leverage it has not had since the early years of Mahomes. The NIL, however, has affected their usual approach, as stated by Veach.

Based on mock drafts, some of the names who could end up with the Chiefs at No. 10 include Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey, and Miami linebacker Rueben Bain Jr.

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Chiefs GM Brett Veach’s NFL Combine declaration is a big Jeremiyah Love tease

Jackson Stone — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:07:44 +0000

The NFL Combine is currently underway, as teams around the league evaluate talent in preparation for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs have quite a few holes to plug on their roster after missing the playoffs altogether in the 2025 NFL season.

One of those areas is in the running game, a problem that Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is well aware of, per Matt McMullen of the Chiefs on X, formerly Twitter.

“Brett Veach mentions the need to establish an explosive running game in 2026 when asked about areas he’s looking to address,” reported McMullen.

The best running back in the upcoming draft class is widely considered to be Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love, who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy this past season for his efforts in South Bend.

Recently, NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper of ESPN projected that the Chiefs will indeed draft Love with their number nine overall pick.

“Love is No. 2 on my Big Board, showcasing elite-level vision and burst. He can make a house call any time he touches the ball, and with his hands out of the backfield, he can stick on the field on third down,” noted Kiper. “…Love — who had 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs in 2025 — could bring a whole new element to the Kansas City offense.”

Kiper also noted that both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are free agents heading into this offseason, with free agency slated to begin on March 11.

Meanwhile, the NFL Draft will get underway in late April from Pittsburgh. Chiefs fans will hope to come away from the festivities with their running back of the future on the roster.

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The Chiefs’ ‘different approach’ to Travis Kelce talks with retirement decision looming

Jackson Stone — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:16:26 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are fully immersed in the 2025-26 NFL offseason as they look to bounce back after shockingly missing the playoffs last season. One of the big questions for the Chiefs this winter is whether or not tight end Travis Kelce will come back for another year, or if he will choose to retire instead.

Recently, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach got 100% honest on how the team is preparing for both scenarios, saying that the team is “taking a different approach with Travis in the sense that we’ve kind of prepared for either scenario,” per Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star on X, formerly Twitter.

“Coach had mentioned on Friday that he’s had great dialogue with Travis. On our end, myself, Chris Shea, Travis’ crew, we’ve had some good dialogue there, and I’m sure we’re going to see them here, just as we will all of the other players’ agents, and we’ll continue that dialogue. But Travis is the best, he’s an icon, and hopefully he comes back, and we’ll just kind of let that process play out,” he added.

Kelce has seen a major dip in production over the last couple of years for the Chiefs as he continues to age, having made several costly mistakes for the team, especially toward the beginning of this past season, including accidentally running into Xavier Worthy during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and turning a sure touchdown into an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, Kelce is still clearly a beloved figure within the Chiefs organization, even if the team won’t be able to center much of their offense around him anymore going forward.

Meanwhile, Kansas City is desperately hoping that Patrick Mahomes is ready to go for next season after an ACL tear cut his 2025 season short.

NFL free agency is slated to get underway in March.

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1 free agent who would fix Chiefs’ biggest flaw heading into 2026 season

Enzo Flojo — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:28:44 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are not used to this feeling. For a decade, the franchise operated from a position of inevitability. January football was assumed. Arrowhead was a fortress. Patrick Mahomes was the ultimate eraser of flaws. 2025, though, shattered that illusion. For the first time since 2014, the Chiefs missed the postseason, and the fall was not subtle.

Now, Mahomes is rehabbing a devastating knee injury. The AFC also grows more ruthless by the year. As such, Kansas City cannot afford a conservative offseason. If they want to restore the fear factor that once defined them, they must confront their most obvious weakness head-on. They need a true alpha wide receiver.

2025 unraveled quickly

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The 2025 season marked a stunning fall from grace for the Kansas City Chiefs. The three-time defending AFC champions stumbled to a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. After a promising 5-3 start, the second half of the year spiraled out of control.

Kansas City lost eight of its final nine games as the offense stagnated. Explosive plays disappeared. Red-zone efficiency dipped. The margin for error vanished.

The season’s low point arrived in Week 15 against the Chargers when Mahomes suffered season-ending ACL and LCL tears. The injury effectively eliminated the team from postseason contention. It also shifted the franchise’s focus to long-term recovery.

Now, Mahomes will focus on rehabilitating. Eric Bieniemy also returns to stabilize the coaching structure. As such, Kansas City enters 2026 with a desperate need to retool around its recovering superstar.

No true alpha

The Chiefs have been searching for a consistent “X” receiver ever since the Tyreek Hill era ended. Sure, they have remained competitive. However, 2025 exposed a glaring regression in explosive production.

Travis Kelce is no longer the automatic mismatch he once was. Xavier Worthy offers speed but not dominance. The offense lacks a physical, boundary receiver who can win one-on-one against press coverage.

That deficiency became even more glaring after Mahomes’ injury. A quarterback working his way back from significant knee trauma needs a wideout who can bail him out. Mahomes will need someone with a massive catch radius who turns 50-50 balls into 70-30 wins. The Chiefs need gravity. They need presence.

Financial tightrope

Here’s the catch though — Kansas City’s front office is navigating a high-stakes financial dance. After finishing 2025 nearly $58 million over the cap, general manager Brett Veach triggered a massive reset by restructuring Mahomes’ contract. Converting $54.45 million into a signing bonus reduced Mahomes’ 2026 cap hit from $78.2 million to $34.65 million. That created roughly $43.6 million in immediate space.

The Chiefs followed by releasing veteran defensive end Mike Danna. That freed another $9 million. Even so, the team remains tight against a projected $303 million cap. Chris Jones carries a $44.8 million hit. In addition, questions linger around Kelce’s future.

There is room to maneuver, but it requires further restructuring. If the Chiefs decide to pursue a premier free agent, they can. It just means committing to another round of strategic cap gymnastics.

The fix: George Pickens

That premier free agent might just be George Pickens. He should be the answer to fixing the Chiefs’ biggest flaw. After spending 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys following a trade from Pittsburgh, Pickens enters free agency as the premier alpha receiver on the market. At just 25 years old, he’s coming off a career season. He ranked near the top of the league in yards per route run at 2.35.

Pickens is both productive and disruptive. His contested-catch ability is arguably the best in the league. His ability to track deep balls, high-point passes, and win physical battles along the sideline transforms how defenses align. For a quarterback like Mahomes, having a receiver who can dominate at the catch point is invaluable. Kansas City’s offense has lacked that edge. Pickens restores it instantly.

Why Pickens changes everything

Pickens is the kin dof wideout who alters structure. First, he gives Mahomes a legitimate bailout option. When protection breaks down, Pickens’ catch radius allows for aggressive throws without reckless risk.

Second, he unlocks Worthy. Instead of forcing Worthy into a primary role, Kansas City can deploy him as a high-speed secondary threat. That will stretch defenses horizontally while Pickens commands vertical and boundary attention. Third, Pickens aligns with Mahomes’ timeline. Unlike aging stopgaps, Pickens is entering his prime. This is a long-term investment in offensive identity.

The Chiefs once terrified defenses because they forced impossible choices. Double Kelce? Hill runs free. Shade the deep ball? Mahomes finds the mismatch underneath. That dynamic equilibrium vanished in 2025. Pickens, however, restores it.

Rebuild the aura

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Kansas City’s dynasty was built on two pillars: Mahomes’ brilliance and offensive inevitability. In 2025, both cracked. Mahomes’ injury exposed how thin the margin had become. Adding George Pickens isn’t about flash, even if it is admittedly flashy. It’s more about reclaiming aura.

Yes, it will require financial creativity. Yes, it will push cap obligations further into 2027 and beyond. Having said that, windows in the NFL are fleeting, even for generational quarterbacks.

Mahomes is eventually coming back. The AFC is stacked. The Chiefs cannot afford to field another offense that wins on scheme alone. They need a true alpha. George Pickens isn’t just the best option available. He’s the correction Kansas City can’t ignore.

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3 best Rueben Bain Jr. destinations in 2026 NFL Draft

Douglas Fritz — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:02:26 +0000

There’s plenty of hype for Miami (FL) edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. Some people have him as a fit for a perennial NFL power. And here are the three best destinations for Bain in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Bain is profiled by some as a can’t-miss prospect. Others point to his inadequate size when compared to other NFL edge rushers.

But the naysayers won’t push him too far down the board.

Edge rusher Rueben Bain would be a great fit for the Titans

The Titans have a high-enough draft pick to be in the market for a talent like Bain. If things go as expected, the Raiders will take quarterback Fernando Mendoza first. And the Jets will follow at No. 2 with linebacker Arvell Reese.

That would put the Cardinals on the board, and they could go with Francis Mauigoa, an offensive tackle.

This fits perfectly for Bain. That’s because he would settle under the wing of Robert Saleh. The Titans’ new coach is so good on the defensive side of the ball that it would not be shocking to see him mold Bain into an instant star.

We’re not talking as good as Micah Parsons was as a rookie for the Cowboys. But close.

He’s similar to Brandon Graham, according to NFL.com.

“Note taker, grudge holder, and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength,” Lance Zierlein wrote. “Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes. He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams.”

But the concerns are there.

“His lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn’t land the first strike,” Zierlein wrote. “He can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches, and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.”

Zierlein tagged Bain as a Year 1 starter. And if the landing spot is with Saleh and the Titans, it’s easy to see Bain finishing in the top three of the defensive rookie of the year voting.

But if the Titans pass, it’s not bad for Bain and great for …

Commanders would be ideal landing spot for Bain

The first objection might be the pitiful state of the Commanders’ defense. But keep in mind that the addition of Bain goes a long way toward fixing the biggest problem.

The Commanders don’t need an army of guys getting to the quarterback. They just need one guy who can get there enough to make opposing offenses pay attention. Because Bain should either get sacks or force the opponent into double-teaming the plan-wrecking menace.

There’s another reason why a DC destination would be great for Bain. And that’s the Commanders’ new defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones. Getting his first shot and needing to make a quick impact, Jones should stick with the aggressive approach he learned under Brian Flores.

So how does that impact Bain? Because the Commanders will be willing to bring extra people. That means a free run for them, or one-on-one opportunities for Bain.

Here’s another reason why Bain fits with the Commanders: head coach Dan Quinn. A lot of credit for Micah Parsons’ immediate impact with the Cowboys as a rookie went to Quinn. He’s a defensive-minded head coach who gets a lot out of his players.

It’s not to say that Bain is Parsons. But if Bain can tap into the teaching prowess of Quinn, he could hit the ground running with the Commanders.

Chiefs would love to get their hands on Rueben Bain Jr.

It turned out to be a good year for the Chiefs to miss the playoffs, if they get the right guy at No. 9. And Bain would fit seamlessly into the Chiefs’ winning organization. The team needs a youthful boost for its defensive line, according to profootballnetwork.com.

“Their defensive line is something that could use a bit of a facelift as Chris Jones continues to age,” Jacob Westendorf wrote. “Part of the appeal to Jones was his ability to move both inside and play on the edge in obvious passing situations.

“Bain Jr. is another player who could fit that role. It will be interesting to see how he performs at the combine. Still, if he’s able to play inside in some passing situations while also playing defensive end, the Chiefs are likely to value that type of positional versatility.”

This might be the best landing spot for Bain from a career standpoint. Everybody wants to play for a winner. And despite the ugly season in 2025, the Chiefs are still primed for great things. This may be Bain’s quickest path to a Super Bowl.

And there’s enough talent on the defense to not put too much pressure on him to rack up sacks beginning in Week 1.

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Chiefs part ways with 2-time Super Bowl champion defensive end

Kendall Capps — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:03:47 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off their worst season since 2012, going 6-11. Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending injury, albeit at the end of the year. The team struggled in several facets of professional football, but the lack of a pass rush was chief among them. They finished tied for 26th in the NFL with just 35 sacks in 2025. The season prior, they racked up only 39 sacks.

The Chiefs, recognizing that some fresh pass rushers are needed, decided to move on from veteran Michael Danna on Monday.

Kansas City’s social team posted a thank-you message for Danna. The move immediately clears almost $9 million in cap space, while leaving $2.6 million in dead money, per Yahoo Sports. He was slated to enter the final year of a three-year deal Danna signed with the Chiefs in 2024.

But after a few productive seasons in Kansas City, his numbers plummeted last season. Danna started a career-high 14 games, yet garnered just one sack and 4.5 total over the last two seasons. The Detroit, Michigan native helped the Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowls, having played all six years of his pro career with the team.

Danna, drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chiefs, started 49 of 87 games at defensive end. He posted 21.5 sacks, 194 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, six passes defensed, and an interception during his time with the team.

With Danna no longer in the fold, the Chiefs currently have George Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu as their only veteran edge rushers. Omenihu has consistently been a rotational guy throughout his seven-year NFL career.

The remaining defensive ends on the roster (Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Ashton Gillette, Janarius Robinson, Ethan Downs) are all highly inexperienced. So, it would be surprising not to see the Chiefs add one, maybe two, defensive ends in free agency.

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Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes named in lawsuit over restaurant name

Andrew Korpan — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:44:46 +0000

One of the highlights of 2025 was Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes opening their restaurant, which is the latest endeavor between the two Kansas City Chiefs stars; however, they have been named in a lawsuit regarding their restaurant’s name.

Kelce and Mahomes, as well as their business partner, were named in a lawsuit by 1587 Sneakers for trademark infringement (via ESPN).

Of course, Kelce and Mahomes’ restaurant name is 1587 Prime, combining the players’ jersey numbers. The sneaker company shares the same name.

“From the onset, we have communicated a sincere belief that there is room for mutual respect and understanding,” 1587 Sneakers co-founder Adam King wrote in a written statement to ESPN. “That belief has not changed, and we continue to hope to resolve this matter amicably.”

1587 Sneakers wants Kelce and Mahomes to drop the restaurant name, claiming it “causes confusion.” Additionally, they have asked them to stop selling merchandise with the name on it. The sneaker company is hoping to be “awarded unspecified damages.”

Why are Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes named in the lawsuit over their restaurant?

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

While it might seem like a minor complaint, the lawsuit alleges that they’ve received several inquiries by people believing they’re associated with Kelce and Mahomes’ business.

Granted, 1587 Sneakers has been around longer, operating since Apr. 13, 2023. However, they did not apply for the “1587” trademark until October 2025. The filing is still being reviewed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The Chiefs players filed for their trademark application in the bar and restaurant category in December 2023. Because the two companies are in different industries, it could be a complicated lawsuit.

Trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP doesn’t represent either party. However, Gerben gave their thoughts on the matter in ESPN’s report, saying the sneaker company may have a tall hill to climb.

“I think it’s a tough case for the sneaker company,” said Gerben. “Trademarks can coexist in different industries. … Given that the marks are essentially identical here, is a restaurant and a shoe company too close? Are consumers likely to be confused in thinking they are affiliated with one another?”

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Chiefs retain key defensive coach despite multiple interview requests

Benedetto Vitale — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 18:49:04 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are closing in on finalizing their coaching staff for the 2026-27 campaign. On Saturday, the franchise was able retain one of its key defensive coaches on the staff, despite multiple other teams requesting interviews.

Reports indicate that Matt House, who is 47 years old, is returning to the Chiefs for next season as the outside linebackers coach, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. It’s said that Kansas City blocked several other organizations from interviewing House, as Andy Reid wanted House to remain on his staff.

“Matt House will be the Chiefs’ outside linebackers coach, per source. The veteran NFL coach and former coordinator was blocked from multiple interview requests this cycle as the Chiefs wanted him to remain in Kansas City as a key part of their staff.”

House initially signed with the Chiefs in 2025 as a defensive assistant. So, his role as the outside linebackers coach is likely a promotion. He is incredibly experienced, as he has been coaching since 2001. Matt House has also been a defensive coordinator at the college level for the Pittsburgh Panthers, FIU Panthers, Kentucky Wildcats, and LSU Tigers football programs.

The Chiefs finished last season with the No. 10-ranked defense in yards allowed. Despite that, Kansas City struggled throughout most of the 2025-26 season, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

With rumors of Travis Kelce potentially retiring and Patrick Mahomes rehabbing his torn ACL, the Chiefs’ outlook for next season is a bit concerning. Regardless, the franchise is seemingly doing what it can to maintain as solid a coaching staff around Reid as possible.

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Chiefs HC Andy Reid gives intriguing Travis Kelce update amid potential retirement

Benedetto Vitale — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:09:39 +0000

With the 2025-26 season finished, there has been speculation that Travis Kelce could call it a career. However, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shared some recent comments that suggest that may not be the case.

Although Kelce is considered a free agent and could easily retire, Reid sounded optimistic that the 36-year-old tight end may re-sign with the Chiefs, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Andy Reid claimed that he and Travis Kelce have remained in communication so far this offseason, and he feels that’s a good sign that Kelce could return for at least one more season.

“There is communication,” Reid said about Kelce. “That’s the main thing. I’ve said this before: As long as there’s communication, I’m good. That means people want to move forward. I think that’s where Travis is.”

Nothing is set in stone yet, as the only way to confirm Kelce’s return would be if he signs a new contract. If that is the case, then the 11-time Pro Bowler would be returning for his 14th season in the NFL.

Travis Kelce ended last season with 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns. It was a bit of a struggle year for Kelce and the Chiefs, as the franchise missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

With Patrick Mahomes rehabbing a torn ACL, the club’s outlook for next season is a bit bleak. His goal is to be ready to go by Week 1 of the 2026-27 season. If he can do that, then Kelce very well could return instead of possibly retiring.

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4 moves Chiefs must make to clear salary cap space in 2026 NFL offseason after Patrick Mahomes restructure

Jaren Kawada — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:02:48 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs entered the 2026 NFL offseason with one of the worst cap situations in the league, prompting general manager Brett Veach to restructure Patrick Mahomes’ contract. The move gives the Chiefs more flexibility while signaling more roster changes in the coming weeks.

Mahomes’ new deal created over $43 million in cap space, but the Chiefs are still underwater. Kansas City is still $11 million over the threshold, the fifth-worst situation in the league, according to Over the Cap.

The Chiefs typically do not mind their cap space dilemma, but they find themselves in unfamiliar territory in the 2026 offseason. Kansas City missed the playoffs in 2025, marking its first postseason absence since 2014.

Just last season, the Chiefs were competing for a three-peat, and they now find themselves in danger of falling into the void. How quickly things change in the NFL.

With Mahomes coming off a season-ending torn ACL and the Chiefs losing offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to the New York Giants, there are suddenly uncomfortable questions being asked in Arrowhead. Kansas City’s back is not necessarily pinned against the wall, but Veach is being forced into action more than he has in previous years.

Mahomes’ restructuring was a step in the right direction and needs to be a sign of things to come. The Chiefs need to renegotiate another star player’s contract and release a few tenured veterans before the 2026 offseason gets away from them if they want to return to Super Bowl contention.

Restructure Chris Jones’ contract

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Entering the offseason, restructuring Patrick Mahomes’ and Chris Jones’ contracts were the Chiefs’ two most obvious moves. With Mahomes’ deal now out of the way, Veach has to address Jones next.

While the Chiefs have now restructured Mahomes’ deal in each of the last four offseasons, Jones remains on the five-year, $158.7 million deal he signed in 2024. But ahead of the third season of that contract, Jones is due for a renegotiation. His $44.8 million cap hit in 2026 is the most in the league for a non-quarterback.

Kansas City would not clear another $40 million in cap space by restructuring Jones’ contract, but it can open up roughly $20 million. Expect the 31-year-old defensive tackle to work out a new deal soon.

Release RT Jawaan Taylor

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from another restructuring, the Chiefs would create the most cap space by releasing offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor. Kansas City would save $20 million by cutting Taylor, according to Over the Cap. There is no difference if the team releases him before or after June 1, allowing it to take him off the books before free agency opens in March.

Taylor has been a staple of the Chiefs’ offensive line for years, starting every game he has appeared in since joining the team in 2019. His consistency led to a four-year, $80 million extension in 2023.

While Taylor’s play has not been poor, it is also not up to the level that his salary demands. He has not received higher than a 63.7 player grade on Pro Football Focus — just below the league average — where he was the team’s lowest-rated offensive tackle in 2025.

Taylor has also struggled with penalties throughout his career. He warranted 13 flags in 2025 — three were declined — eighth-most of any player in the league, and he has accrued as many as 24 penalties in a single season.

The Chiefs invested in Josh Simmons in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, indicating their desire to revamp their offensive line. Kansas City still has Wanya Morris, Jaylon Moore and Esa Pole under contract in 2026, who each started at least one game last season. None of Morris, Moore or Pole is a clear upgrade over Taylor, but they are all cheaper to retain.

With a plethora of experienced options at tackle and the possibility to select another tackle early in the upcoming draft, Taylor is nothing but dead weight on the Chiefs’ roster. It would be a big mistake to keep him on the team by the start of free agency.

Release DE Mike Danna

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Mike Danna was a potential cut candidate in the 2025 offseason, but the Chiefs valued his leadership and experience enough to keep him for another season. Coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, Danna is even more of a liability one year later.

After peaking with 6.5 sacks in 2023, Danna’s production has fallen off a cliff in the last two years. His output dipped to 3.5 sacks in 2024 before he could only muster one sack in 2025. Danna did manage his first career interception, but he also tied a career low with just 25 tackles.

The 28-year-old’s snap count decreased in 2025 along with his production. Rookie Ashton Gillotte’s role steadily increased throughout the year, while Charles Omenihu also cut into Danna’s playing time after missing most of the 2024 campaign. Former first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah could also become a factor in 2026 after spending the entire 2025 season on injured reserve.

The Chiefs have an abundance of quality, albeit unexciting, edge-rushing options on their roster, leaving Danna expendable. Releasing him would free up $8.9 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.

If Kansas City selects an edge-rusher early in the 2026 NFL Draft, which many expect it to do, Danna could be as good as gone.

Release CB Kristian Fulton

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Chiefs have an ample amount of veteran cornerbacks on their roster who are all viable cut candidates in the 2026 offseason. None makes more sense than Kristian Fulton, whose impact in 2025 was obscure. Kansas City can save $5 million in cap space if it releases Fulton in the 2026 NFL offseason.

The Chiefs signed Fulton in the 2025 offseason to pair him with Trent McDuffie, but the plan has not panned out. The oft-injured Fulton appeared in only eight games in 2025, finishing the year with 16 tackles, six pass breakups, and no interceptions.

Fulton spent most of the year nursing an ankle injury before returning in Week 10, when he slowly ramped up back into the starting lineup. The 27-year-old was a solid addition to the defense when he was on the field, but injuries only allowed him to play over 50 percent of the defensive snaps in three of his eight games.

Injuries have been an issue for Fulton his entire career. Since getting taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the LSU alum has yet to play a full season while missing five or more games in all but one of his six years in the league.

Fulton is a fine cornerback when he plays, but the Chiefs needed him to be a consistent playmaker. Kansas City’s roster is otherwise full of average cornerbacks and has no need to pay Fulton to be just another one of them.

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What Chiefs’ Andy Reid said about possibility of Tyreek Hill reunion

Preston Byers — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 22:05:20 +0000

For the first time in his career, Tyreek Hill is a free agent. The recently released wide receiver was not too long ago the best wideout in the league, but due to injuries and off-the-field issues, there are significant questions about how much he will contribute to his next team.

In his first two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Hill caught 238 passes for more than 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns. The last two years in Miami, though, he was limited to 21 games, during which he caught 102 passes for 1,224 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Following this past season, the Dolphins, who went 7-10 and missed the playoffs for a second straight year, shook things up by firing head coach Mike McDaniel and releasing veteran players, including Bradley Chubb and Hill.

So now that he is a free agent, could a reunion with the Kansas City Chiefs, for whom Hill played the first six years of his career, be in his future? Well, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid seemed noncommittal about it.

“I don’t even know if Tyreek is healthy right now to do anything. I’m sure he’s working hard on that part of it, trying to get all that straightened out. We talk about everything, so there’s nothing happening there, but we know what you know, and he’s out there cranking away trying to get himself back to where he can play, period,” Reid told reporters, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Asked today how he would evaluate a reunion with free-agent WR Tyreek Hill, Andy Reid told reporters: “I don’t even know if Tyreek (Hill) is healthy right now to do anything. I’m sure he’s (Tyreek Hill) working hard on that part of it (and) trying to get all that straightened… pic.twitter.com/ZOepWcTRDh

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 20, 2026

A talented yet controversial prospect, Hill, who spent time at three colleges, went in the fifth round of the 2016 draft to the Chiefs. He almost immediately made an impact, tallying 593 yards and 6 touchdowns as a rookie. He then became Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target and recorded four 1,000-yard seasons in the next five years.

After the 2021 season, Hill was acquired by the Dolphins and signed a four-year, $120 million extension.

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Jaylen Watson just wants some respect on his Madden rating

Lorenzo J Reyna — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:24:09 +0000

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson is out for respect this offseason. And it has little to do with the Chiefs dealing with his free agency status. It has more to do with his Madden rating.

Watson clearly wasn’t content about earning a 79 grade by the popular video game. He addressed that number with NFL insider Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports Thursday.

“I don’t really play Madden because my rating has been the same since I was a rookie,” Watson told Schultz. “They had a running back as a one and I’m getting burnt by the running back. I’m like ‘What is going on?’ And I stopped playing.”

Though he managed to improve from his 73 grade during his rookie season. But he hasn’t cracked past 80 in the era of Madden.

Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson highly wanted in NFL free agency

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Watson steadily became an impact performer under Andy Reid.

The cornerback has gone from junior college prospect out of Ventura College, to seventh rounder from Washington State, to two-time Super Bowl champion.

He’s fresh off delivering career-best marks across the board — beginning with earning 15 regular season starts. Watson also tallied his most tackles (64), solo stops (42), tackles for a loss (three), and even interceptions (two). The 6-foot-2 CB is additionally among the few defenders who have broken up six passes in his first four seasons.

The soon-to-be fifth-year veteran is expected to draw attention. The Pittsburgh Steelers already rise as a possible fit, as Yago Antunes of ClutchPoints described.

“He’s long, he’s competitive at the catch point, and he has the temperament for press-man reps,” Antunes wrote.

There could be other suitors for Watson. CB needy teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, even the rival las Vegas Raiders can look into Watson.

Maybe EA Sports can dive into his rating too while he searches for his next league destination.

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3 players Chiefs must let walk in free agency during NFL offseason

Enzo Flojo — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:13:57 +0000

Hard resets are rare in Kansas City. But that’s what follows a harsh season. For nearly a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs have operated from a position of dominance. The assumption every offseason was to tweak, reload, and chase another Lombardi. The 2026 offseason, though, feels very different. This isn’t about fine-tuning a Super Bowl machine. It’s about recalibrating a roster that just endured its most sobering campaign of the Patrick Mahomes era.

Dynasties don’t collapse overnight, but they do reach inflection points. Kansas City’s front office now finds itself at one. Cap constraints and looming contract extensions mean difficult choices are inevitable. As such, three familiar names stand out as players the Chiefs must let walk.

Reality bites

The 2025 season was a jarring reality check for the Chiefs. They finished with a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. They began the year with aspirations of a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Everything, however, unraveled in the second half. A devastating ACL tear for Mahomes in Week 15 effectively ended the season’s remaining hope, but the cracks had already begun to show.

Kansas City went a staggering 1-9 in one-score games. Sure, the defense remained a top-10 unit. Still, the offense lacked rhythm and explosiveness. The season culminated in the first losing record of the Andy Reid era and a third-place finish in the AFC West. The disappointment prompted a coaching adjustment, including Matt Nagy’s departure. It also triggered the high-profile return of Eric Bieniemy to coordinate the offense once more.

Youth and explosiveness

The Chiefs have to make tough cuts centered on rejuvenating the offense around a rehabbing Mahomes. The skill-position group has grown thin and, at times, predictable. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both enter free agency following a league-worst rushing output in yards after contact. With that, the run game requires a dramatic overhaul. Identifying a true “home run” threat in the backfield has become urgent.

The wide receiver room also presents similar questions. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is set to test the market. Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice provide promise, but the depth behind them lacks stability. Defensively, the potential departures of Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, and Leo Chenal threaten to chip away at what has been a developmental success story.

All of this unfolds while Kansas City navigates a cap sheet roughly $11 million over the projected threshold. That’s even after Mahomes’ recent restructure. Those hard conversations aren’t just coming. They’re already here.

WR Hollywood Brown

When Kansas City brought in Brown, the goal was to add vertical speed to stretch defenses and complement Travis Kelce’s interior dominance. There were flashes of that impact. By March 2026, though, Brown will be 29 years old and positioned to pursue one final multi-year payday.

That timing doesn’t align with Kansas City’s current blueprint. Worthy is entering his third season. Rice also remains the primary possession target. Paying WR2 or WR3 money to a situational deep threat doesn’t reflect a lot of value.

The Chiefs have consistently demonstrated they can manufacture receiver production through system fit and draft development. Instead of committing significant cap space to Brown, Kansas City would be wiser to target a mid-round draft prospect or a lower-cost veteran seeking a prove-it deal.

RB Isiah Pacheco

Few players symbolize Kansas City’s grit more than Pacheco. His violent, high-motor running style became a cultural touchstone during championship seasons. That said, emotional attachment cannot dictate roster math.

Pacheco is set to complete his rookie contract. Second deals for running backs historically carry significant risk. Letting Pacheco walk would sting emotionally. Strategically, it’s sound. His punishing style, while effective, accelerates wear and tear. The Chiefs must prioritize resource allocation elsewhere, specifically along the interior offensive line. That’s where Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith loom as extension priorities.

Committing $8-10 million annually to a running back contradicts the Chiefs’ proven roster-building principles. Kansas City’s system thrives when the offensive line is dominant and the backfield is interchangeable. Drafting a fresh, cost-controlled runner offers a smarter long-term play.

S Bryan Cook

Bryan Cook has been a steady presence in the Chiefs’ secondary. Free agency, though, is where depth turns expensive.

Kansas City’s secondary pipeline remains strong. Jaden Hicks is entering his third season with ascending upside. Chamarri Conner offers positional flexibility at a fraction of Cook’s projected market value. In this league, the Chiefs must resist matching outside offers.

Allowing Cook to secure his payday elsewhere aligns with the organization’s compensatory pick strategy. It’s less about Cook’s ability and more about allocation efficiency. That’s a formula that has quietly sustained Kansas City’s depth over the years. Paying premium money for a non-elite safety would constrain flexibility at more impactful positions.

Strategic subtraction

Letting Marquise Brown, Isiah Pacheco, and Bryan Cook depart would not signal surrender. Kansas City’s championship window requires recalibration. The Chiefs’ next era will revolve around a healthy Mahomes, fortified trenches, and dynamic youth infusion at skill positions.

Dynasties are maintained through discipline. The temptation to retain familiar contributors is strong, especially after a disappointing season. However, sustained success in the NFL hinges on anticipating decline, not reacting to it.

Kansas City’s 2026 offseason won’t be defined by splashy signings. It will be defined by restraint, foresight, and strategic departures. Sometimes the smartest way forward is knowing exactly who to let go.

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Rashee Rice’s attorney releases statement denying allegations in lawsuit

Randall Barnes — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 23:27:10 +0000

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is pushing back on allegations featured in a lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, Dacota Jones. Jones. who is the mother of Rice’s two children recently filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages over assault allegations.

Per the allegations listed in the lawsuit, Rice repeatedly assaulted her during their time together and even strangled her in December 2023. Jones was reportedly pregnant at the time of the incidents. The lawsuit also alleges that Rice destroyed property and even locked Jones out of their home.

Per Adam Shefter, an attorney for Rice released a statement responding to Jones’s lawsuit, saying, “On October 9th, 2025, well after the parties’ relationship had ended, Ms. Jones stated under penalty of perjury in a sworn Affidavit for Non-Prosecution that ‘Mr. Rice and I had a verbal argument, but he did not punch me. We will allow the legal process to run its course and have no further comment at this time.”

The Chiefs also released a statement, which was secured by the Kansas City Star in January. The statement came following the allegations of abuse that were publicized by Jones on social media.

“The club is aware of the allegations on social media and is in communication with the National Football League. We have no further comment at this time,” the statement said per the Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell.

Rice started the 2025 football season serving a six-game suspension for violating league policy for player conduct. The suspension came after they hit, and one incident involving Rice in March 2024.

Following the suspension, Rice finished the season with 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns.

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Chiefs put out statement on lawsuit filed against Rashee Rice

Benedetto Vitale — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:02:56 +0000

Dacoda Jones, the ex-girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, filed a lawsuit against him, alleging he assaulted her over a span of 18 months. On Wednesday, the franchise put out an official statement regarding the situation surrounding Rice.

Kansas City issued a small statement, essentially acknowledging the lawsuit filed against the 25-year-old wideout, according to Michael Rothstein and Nate Taylor of ESPN. The Chiefs also claimed they are remaining in talks with the NFL as the situation continues to unfold.

“The club is aware [of the lawsuit] and remains in communication with the National Football League.”

Jones claims that she was assaulted multiple times over 18 months between 2023 and 2025. She states that she was pregnant with Rice’s child during these alleged incidents. Jones is said to be seeking over $1 million from Rashee Rice.

The lawsuit claims that Dacoda Jones was hit in multiple ways, including being strangled back in December 2023. She alleges that Rice displayed a history of abusive behavior throughout their relationship, per ESPN.

“Jones alleges that Rice strangled her in December 2023 and exhibited a history of abusive behavior through the relationship in both Texas and Missouri until July 2025. ‘Rice has grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects,’ the lawsuit says. The suit, filed Monday, also says Rice punched walls, destroyed property, and broke furniture while also locking her out of their apartment at night.”

Rashee Rice just wrapped up his third season in the NFL with the Chiefs. He played in just eight games. He served a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which comes from his alleged involvement in a high-speed car crash in Dallas back in March 2024.

He also missed some time due to a knee injury he was recovering from in the previous season. Through three years in Kansas City, Rice has played in 28 games out of a possible 51. He has recorded 156 receptions, 1,797 yards, and 14 touchdowns so far in his career.

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Chiefs’ Rashee Rice facing disturbing domestic violence allegations in lawsuit filed by mother of his 2 kids

Malik Brown — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:04:20 +0000

Rashee Rice has been in legal trouble over the past two years, and the recent lawsuit filed against him doesn’t make things any better. Rice’s ex-girlfriend and mother of his children recently claimed that the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver choked, strangled, scratched, hit, and headbutted her over 19 months.

The abuse allegedly went on from December 2023 to July 2025, and the lawsuit claims that Rice continued to assault her over the course of their relationship.

Dacoda Jones, Rice’s ex, claims she was subject to other violent and abusive behaviors, which included him throwing things at her, punching walls, and breaking furniture. That abuse led to her bleeding, swelling, and bruising, causing injuries to her face, mouth, arms, legs, chest, and shoulders.

Jones also claims that most of the abuse occurred when she was pregnant. Last month, Jones posted pictures on Instagram showing injuries and damage to her house that she claimed Rice had caused. In the now-deleted post, Jones wrote in the caption about what she was dealing with while being with Rice.

“He’s very controlling, there’s been times he’s came to my new home broken my door, there’s been times when he would put his hands on me while I was pregnant even had the audacity to lock me outside all night in ten degree weather because he got caught cheating,” she wrote via the Daily Mail.

The Chiefs released a statement following those allegations, and the league launched an investigation into the matter.

“The club is aware of the allegations on social media and is in communication with the National Football League. We have no further comment at this time,” the Chiefs wrote.

Just last year, Rice was suspended for the first six games of the season due to his criminal convictions stemming from a hit-and-run incident in Dallas in 2024.

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Patrick Mahomes contract restructure clears $43.56 million in salary cap space for Chiefs

Gerard Angelo Samillano — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:37:22 +0000

The NFL offseason is where magic truly happens. No, it’s not about the big names moving from team to team, but that certainly is a part of it. The true magic of the NFL offseason happens when teams are able to generate cap space out of seemingly nothing. That’s exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs did in this offseason.

The Chiefs came into the offseason with the least cap space in the NFL. The Chiefs were actually in the negatives to start the offseason: not a good sign. However, Kansas City has a trick up its sleeve to generate cap space. Adam Schefter reports that the team has restructured the contract of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, clearing more than $43 million in cap space for the team this season.

“The Kansas City Chiefs restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract this week, lowering his salary cap number from $78.2 to $34.65 million for the upcoming season and creating $43.56 million in salary cap space, as @Jason_OTC reported,” Schefter wrote on X.

In essence, the Chiefs are deferring part of Mahomes’ cap hit this season into future “void” years. That allows them to create cap space to spend now while their Super Bowl window is still open. It’s a common trend for teams to move around contracts, but it’s still fascinating to witness in real-time.

With that newfound cap space, the Chiefs are now looking to retool their roster. Their inability to make it to the postseason last year was not due to Mahomes’ ACL injury: Kansas City looked rough prior to the star getting injured. Glaring holes on offense and defense did the Chiefs in last season. The severe lack of a competent run game hurt their offense, and their pass rush woes outside of Chris Jones and George Karlaftis meant that opponents could grind the defense down.

With that in mind, a great running back and a pass-rusher to complement Karlaftis on the edge is at the top of the Chiefs’ priorities. Big names to look out for are Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker and New York Jets RB Breece Hall, as well as Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson.

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Chiefs’ Chris Jones makes pitch to Tyreek Hill amid trade rumors

Allan Binoy — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:32:31 +0000

The NFL offseason is barely underway, but the stove is already piping hot. Just days after the Miami Dolphins made the shocking decision to release superstar wideout Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is already working the phones, or at least the timeline.

Jones wasted no time jumping on X, formerly Twitter, to recruit his former teammate back to Arrowhead. Tagging Hill, Jones posted a simple but loud message: “@cheetah it’s (time).”

The “Cheetah” spent his first six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, becoming the most electric deep threat in football before being traded to Miami in 2022. While the move was strictly business at the time, the landscape in KC has changed. The Chiefs’ offense lacked that signature vertical explosion for much of the year.

Adding Hill back into a room with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce would essentially break the league. Again. Hill’s departure from Miami comes after a productive but ultimately expensive stint.

However, this isn’t the same Tyreek Hill who left four years ago. Hill’s tenure in Miami ended on a somber note after a brutal Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets on September 29, 2025.

In that game, Hill suffered a season-ending dislocated left knee and a torn ACL while being tackled along the sideline. Before the injury, he was having a solid night in a 27-21 win, but the cart ride off the field ultimately signaled the end of his time in South Florida.

Hill finished his abbreviated 2025 campaign with 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown. Now 31 and coming off major reconstructive surgery, the question isn’t just where he’ll play, but how much “Cheetah” is left in the tank.

General Manager Brett Veach is known for his aggressive nature. With a chance to secure a historic three-peat, bringing back a motivated Hill might be the ultimate “all-in” move. For now, Chiefs Kingdom is left watching the clock.

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NFL rumors: ESPN urges Rams to use 1st-round pick in Chiefs trade to fix biggest weakness

Chris Spiering — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:50:27 +0000

Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams know what it feels like to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. After watching the Seattle Seahawks dominate the season and win another Super Bowl, both the Chiefs and Rams will attempt to do whatever it takes to get back there.

The Chiefs won’t have Patrick Mahomes for either some or most of the season, but they can still compete without him. The Rams have a talented roster as well, and were close to making the trip to the Bay Area for Super Bowl 60 if a few plays had gone their way against Seattle.

The Rams have a glaring weakness on defense at the cornerback position. In a recent ESPN article by Bill Barnwell, he urges the Rams to use one of their two first-round picks to trade for Chiefs’ starting cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Rams get: CB Trent McDuffie, 2026 fifth-round pick
Chiefs get: 2026 first-round pick

“Their biggest weakness is at cornerback, a position Snead has tried to address via trades for young stars in the past,” Barnwell wrote. “The Rams sent second- and fourth-round picks to the Chiefs for Marcus Peters, and though that didn’t work out, Snead followed up by sending two first-round picks to the Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey. That one did. I’m not sure there’s a cornerback available worth that sort of haul, but would the Rams use one of their first-rounders to get an immediate difference-maker? McDuffie fits that bill as a feisty, aggressive cornerback with the ability to play near the line of scrimmage.”

McDuffie would make the Rams much better in the secondary, either as a slot corner or outside. Quentin Lake has played well in the slot and could remain there.

Upgrading that cornerback position is going to happen for the Rams. ESPN’s Field Yates had the Rams take two cornerbacks in the first round of his latest NFL mock draft, proving the concern for the position.

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Why Chiefs shouldn’t bother signing Tyreek Hill in free agency after Dolphins release

Ben Strauss — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:17:45 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs should be in for a lot of change during the 2026 offseason. Kansas City collapsed during the 2025 season, finishing the regular season 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time in several seasons. It certainly did not help that Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury. But as much as things change, they can also stay the same.

The Dolphins released veteran wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Monday among a flurry of other roster moves. A possible reunion between Hill and the Chiefs was already a trendy talking point before this move. Now the rumor mill may kick into overdrive as that move is now one step closer to actually happening.

The betting markets certainly think that Tyreek will land in Kansas City.

The Chiefs have opened as the betting favorite to land Hill during NFL free agency. They are trailed by the Steelers, Chargers, Raiders, and Packers.

But does a player like Hill makes sense for the Chiefs in 2026?

Personally, I can see reasons for both Hill and Kansas City for why a reunion could be a mistake.

Below we will explore why the Chiefs should not bother signing Tyreek after he was released by the Dolphins.

Tyreek Hill’s knee injury should have the Chiefs concerned

We have to start with Tyreek’s knee injury.

Hill’s 2025 season was cut short after having surgery on multiple torn ligaments in his knee. Even at the time, it was clear that Hill’s ability to play during the 2026 season is now an open question.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero gave a murky update about Hill’s injury status just before Super Bowl 60. Pelissero said it is unclear “when or even if” Hill will be ready to play in 2026.

It can take up to 12 months to fully recover from a knee injury like Hill suffered.

The fact that Hill could need a long time to recover makes him a tricky free agent to count on. It is doubly true when considering why Tyreek was so good during his prime.

Everyone knows that Hill’s calling card is his speed. It is fair to wonder if Tyreek will look like the same receiver after a major knee surgery. He is also getting older, as he will turn 32 years old before the start of free agency.

Obviously Hill has an impressive resume of past production. But I can understand if NFL teams have a difficult time determining how effective Hill could be in 2026.

Kansas City cannot afford to take a gamble on a player like Tyreek Hill

Kansas City should have concerns about Tyreek’s health. But they also need to recognize that they may not even be able to afford him.

The Chiefs are in a tricky situation with their salary cap. They enter the offseason already $54.91 million over the 2026 salary cap. That will force the Chiefs to restructure contracts, and likely make some roster cuts, just to get cap compliant.

Kansas City may need to make ever more drastic measures to free up enough budget to land a free agent like Hill.

It is impossible to know exactly how much Hill may demand this offseason. But it seems clear that Kansas City won’t have much cap space to spare.

Even if Hill agreed to return to Kansas City on a massive discount, would signing Hill even be a good decision?

The Chiefs need to make every dollar count this offseason. Hill is obviously a risky addition because of his age and injury timeline. At this point, Kansas City would be paying Hill because of nostalgia and speculation that he may still be able to play in 2026.

Sorry Chiefs fans, but I just don’t see this move happening.

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Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Mock Draft roundup post-Super Bowl as draft season ramps up

Gerard Angelo Samillano — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:02:01 +0000

For the first time in what feels like ages, the Kansas City Chiefs are picking in the top ten in the NFL draft. After missing the postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, Kansas City got the ninth pick in the 2026 NFL draft. It’s a welcome consolation prize: the 2025 season showed that the Chiefs aren’t as invincible as they once were.

Now, the Chiefs have a good way of addressing their key weaknesses. The draft is always the best place for contending teams that are also strapped for cash to fix their roster. With Kansas City projected to have the least cap space heading into the offseason, getting their pick right is highly important. Let’s look at who the experts believe the Chiefs should take in their mock drafts.

Chiefs’ biggest needs: offense, offense, offense

It’s crazy to think that the Chiefs, of all teams, need to fix their offense. And yet, the eye test and the statistics showed that that’s exactly what this team needs to get back into title contention. Kansas City’s offense has been held together by a thread, and that thread’s name is Patrick Mahomes. There have been signs that the team’s offense is slowing down, and that was on full display in the 2025 season.

Most areas of the Chiefs’ offense outside of the quarterback position have been an issue. The wide receiver room outside of Rashee Rice is a bit lackluster: Xavier Worthy hasn’t lived up to expectations, and their veteran pickups haven’t performed well. The offensive line has been less than impressive both in pass protection and run blocking. Their tight end room has also not performed well, with Travis Kelce getting up in age and Noah Gray having a down year.

The biggest issue that the Chiefs had last season, though, was their run game. The Chiefs have always leaned into their passing attack more than most teams. Even in their limited touches, though, KC’s running backs struggled to consistently create space for the offense. With both running backs heading into free agency, Kansas City might look towards the draft for an upgrade.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Tim Crean, ClutchPoints; Field Yates, ESPN, Nate Tice & Charles McDonald, Yahoo! Sports, Garrett Podell, CBS Sports

With their running back woes in mind, it’s no surprise that many mock drafts have the Chiefs selecting the best running back in the 2026 class: Jeremiyah Love. The Notre Dame running back is an explosive back who’s capable of ripping off big runs at a moment’s notice. Love had 1,372 yards (8th in the nation) and 19 touchdowns (tied for third).

With Mahomes coming off an ACL tear, there’s pressure on the Chiefs to generate offense out of the quarterback’s hands. Having a reliable running back like Love, who can get positive yardage consistently and is good for a few big plays, will be helpful to the team. Love will also be coached by returning Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, who is credited heavily for Chicago Bears RB D’Andre Swift’s resurgence last season.

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report

Love is going to be a highly contested pick, though. The New Orleans Saints could feasibly take him at eight, and even the Washington Commanders are a contender to pick the Notre Dame RB. The Chiefs could also decide to find an RB in the later rounds. Should they use their first-rounder on a WR, though, Jordyn Tyson is an excellent choice.

Tyson’s route-running and short-area quickness will be a big boost to a Chiefs offense that’s been more focused on quick passes. Especially with Mahomes likely being limited for a few weeks, Kansas City will need someone who can generate something quick for the offense.

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Chad Reuter, NFL.com

Speaking of Mahomes’ injury, it will be in the Chiefs’ best interest to protect their star quarterback. Kansas City’s offensive line had Mahomes running for his life last season before his injury. In particular, their left tackle position has been a problem, as they’ve struggled to find a replacement for Orlando Brown Jr.

Pegged as a “younger, more nimble version” of Brown, Proctor should help solve the Chiefs’ blindside tackle woes. He’s a big man at 6-foot-7 and 366 pounds, yet his athleticism is still through the charts. He should be an upgrade over Jawaan Taylor, who has declined steadily in his time in Kansas City.

Reuben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com

We’ve been talking about offense for the most part, but it’s also important to highlight the Chiefs’ biggest weakness on the other end. Kansas City’s pass-rush last season has been lackluster, struggling to generate pressure against opposing quarterbacks. George Karlaftis and Chris Jones has done most of the heavy lifting, but KC needs more help on that end.

Bain Jr should be an excellent choice for the Chiefs if they decide to go defense in the first round of the Draft. The Miami pass-rusher finished the 2025 season with 9.5 sacks and helped lead Miami to the CFP Final. He recorded a sack and eight tackles in the Final against Indiana.

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3 sneaky good NFL free agents Chiefs must sign in 2026 offseason

Gerard Angelo Samillano — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:06:21 +0000

It’s time for change in Kansas City. After years of playoff dominance, the Kansas City Chiefs’ postseason streak with Patrick Mahomes ended with a whimper. The Chiefs started the season 0-2 and were unable to get themselves out of the hole they dug themselves. Mahomes’ injury late in the season was just the finishing touches on a truly disastrous season for a team of their caliber.

The Chiefs missing the postseason has exposed some uncomfortable truths about the team. No longer can Kansas City just rely on Mahomes being Mahomes and bailing them out. They need to build a cohesive team that plays complementary balanced football. However, the Chiefs don’t have a lot of cap space coming into this offseason. In fact, they have the least cap space out of all 32 teams in the NFL.

That doesn’t mean that the Chiefs won’t be able to sign free agents this offseason. The front office can work some magic in order to generate some money to spend on free agents. However, that also limits who Kansas City can target. Even with their reduced pool of potential free agents, there’s a couple of players that could benefit the team.

Rachaad White, RB

What doomed the Chiefs in the regular season? There are plenty of reasons, but one of the most commonly cited problems of the team last season was their running game. Or rather, their lack of a rushing attack. Kansas City has long been reliant on their passing attack more than their running backs. When you have Mahomes under center, that’s a valid strategy. Even with a pass-heavy attack, though, the Chiefs’ rushing prowess was still reliable.

That simply wasn’t the case last season. The Chiefs’ running backs were unable to consistently generate positive yardage on offense. At one point, Mahomes was the leading rusher of the team with his long scrambles. That was a bad sign for Kansas City, as their one-dimensionality was exposed heavily.

The Chiefs need a running back who will be efficient with their touches. Rachaad White has taken a backseat over the last few years due to the emergence of Bucky Irving. However, White was a near-1,000 yard rusher in 2023 and has been more efficient over the last two years. He also worked well as a pass-catching back in that 2023 season, a trait that will be useful in the Chiefs’ offensive scheme.

Joseph Ossai, EDGE

Ossai is a familiar name for Chiefs fans. Back in 2023, the Cincinnati Bengals pass-rusher’s boneheaded play towards the end of the AFC Championship game gifted the Chiefs crucial yards. Kansas City eventually kicked the game-winning field goal thanks to the yards from Ossai’s unnecessary contact penalty.

Since then, Ossai has become one of the better pass-rushers in Cincinnati. While the Bengals’ defense has been one of the worst over the last few years, Ossai has been one of the few bright spots on the team. Ossai has recorded 10 sacks over the last two years, and he’s been the most consistent guy to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Ossai did well playing with Trey Hendrickson alongside him on the line. With the Chiefs, Ossai will be lining up with the likes of Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, two of the best pass rushers in the league. After being labeled as a Chiefs “hero” during the 2023 postseason, the Bengals pass rusher could end up with that team this offseason.

Cade Otton, TE

Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

For years, the Chiefs have had some of the best tight ends that the league has ever seen. From Tony Gonzales to Travis Kelce, there was always a reliable tight end that Chiefs quarterbacks can target safely. With Kelce considering retirement, though, the Chiefs have a sudden need at the position.

Even if Kelce returns for a final year, having another tight end would help the Chiefs. Noah Gray hasn’t had the best 2025 season and the options outside of him are underwhelming at best. Kansas City needs a proven pass-catcher from the position, and they have a potentially cheap option in Cade Otton.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end has enjoyed a quietly productive career. He’s been a reliable target for Baker Mayfield, notching 1,627 with the star quarterback. When the Buccaneers’ wide receiver room was decimated by injuries, Otton became one of the go-to options for the team. He’s no Kelce, but he can help fill the massive void that will be left by the legend when he hangs up his cleats for good.

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3 potential Chiefs blockbuster trades that would shake up entire 2026 offseason

Enzo Flojo — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:13:42 +0000

Dynasties rarely collapse in dramatic explosions. More often, they erode quietly, through attrition, cap strain, and the natural toll of sustained success. For the Kansas City Chiefs, the 2025 season delivered that jarring reality check. After years of dictating the AFC hierarchy, the franchise now finds itself navigating vulnerability. With Patrick Mahomes recovering, the roster thinning, and financial pressure mounting, the 2026 offseason represents a crossroads. If general manager Brett Veach chooses aggression over patience, three blockbuster trades could instantly reshape Kansas City’s trajectory and reinsert the Chiefs into the championship fast lane.

Cracks in the armor

The 2025 Chiefs season will be remembered as one of the most stunning falls from grace in modern NFL memory. The three-time defending AFC champions limped to a 6-11 finish. They missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

The once explosive offense became methodical and predictable. Kansas City struggled to generate chunk plays. A dismal 1-7 road record underscored their inability to dictate tempo outside Arrowhead. The defining blow came in Week 15 against the Chargers, when Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear. From that moment, any remaining postseason hopes evaporated. The Chiefs finished the year with nine one-possession losses. Now holding a rare Top 10 draft pick, Kansas City enters the offseason with urgency-and opportunity.

Salary cap reality

Financially, the Chiefs face one of the league’s most complex puzzles. Kansas City enters the 2026 offseason projected to sit roughly $55 million over the salary cap. That’s dead last in the NFL. The bulk of that burden stems from superstar allocations. Mahomes carries a $78.2 million cap hit and Chris Jones accounts for $44.8 million. Combined, the two pillars consume nearly 40 percent of the team’s liabilities.

The silver lining lies in flexibility. Kansas City holds the league’s lowest dead-money total. That gives Veach some maneuvering pathways through restructures and targeted releases. Veterans such as Jawaan Taylor and Mike Danna could be cap casualties. Meanwhile, Mahomes’ and Jones’ deals could be creatively reworked. Still, compliance alone won’t be enough. To truly accelerate their rebound, the Chiefs must convert financial gymnastics into roster reinforcements. That makes the trade market their most potent lever.

Roster gaps

Kansas City’s roster needs entering 2026 are both urgent and layered. The running game now faces uncertainty with both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt approaching free agency. The unit averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in 2025. That left Mahomes overburdened even before injury struck.

At wide receiver, the offense still lacks a true alpha presence. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy provide speed and versatility. However, neither consistently commands double coverage. Defensively, the secondary could thin rapidly with Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, and Leo Chenal nearing free agency. Meanwhile, the pass rush remains overly reliant on Jones. It lacks a true edge counterpart capable of closing games. In short, Kansas City needs impact injections.

Here are a few possible trade scenarios the Chiefs should consider.

Big swing: AJ Brown

If the Chiefs intend to restore Mahomes’ pre-injury dominance, acquiring a true WR1 becomes paramount. That’s where AJ Brown enters the equation. Rumblings around Philadelphia suggest cap recalibration could make Brown available despite his elite production.

For Kansas City, the appeal is obvious. Brown represents the physical, contested-catch dominator the offense has lacked since Tyreek Hill’s departure. Sure, Worthy stretches defenses vertically. Brown, though, punishes them underneath and along the boundary. Mahomes would benefit immensely from a “bail-out” target capable of winning 50/50 balls.

Packaging their Top 10 pick alongside a mid-round future selection could entice Philadelphia. Symbolically, the move would signal Kansas City’s pivot from retooling to reloading. That would declare that the Mahomes era’s second act has officially begun.

Defensive megafront

Championship defenses close games. That truth became painfully evident throughout Kansas City’s 2025 collapse. Enter Maxx Crosby, who’s a relentless edge rusher whose motor never idles. With reports of frustration surrounding the Raiders’ losing culture, Crosby could become available for the right return.

Pairing Crosby with Jones would instantly create one of the league’s most destructive defensive fronts. Offenses would face interior collapse from Jones and edge chaos from Crosby. That can fundamentally alter protection schemes. The cost, however, would be steep.

A package centered on Trent McDuffie plus draft capital could tempt Las Vegas. Trading an All-Pro corner within the division is borderline unthinkable. However, Kansas City has historically developed secondary talent well. The reward would be a defensive identity shift from coverage-reliant to pressure-driven. That would mirror the formula that fueled their earlier Super Bowl runs.

Backfield reset

Sure, quarterback and pass rush dominate headlines. Still, Kansas City’s ground game remains equally pivotal, especially with Mahomes returning from injury. A blockbuster pursuit of Bijan Robinson would address that void in spectacular fashion.

Robinson’s skill set transcends traditional rushing production. He’s a dynamic receiver, elite space creator, and schematic chess piece. In Andy Reid’s offense, Robinson could function as both runner and mismatch weapon. That would reduce Mahomes’ reliance on improvisational heroics.

Atlanta’s evolving roster timeline could make Robinson obtainable. That’s particularly true if the Falcons seek draft capital to reallocate resources. A first-round pick plus mid-round compensation might open negotiations. Strategically, the acquisition would rebalance Kansas City’s offense. This would give them the league’s most dangerous QB-RB-TE trio alongside Travis Kelce.

Kansas City’s path forward

The Chiefs have spent the better part of a decade as the NFL’s measuring stick. That said, dynastic longevity requires reinvention as much as retention. The 2025 season exposed vulnerabilities that incremental roster tweaks won’t fix.

Acquiring AJ Brown would restore offensive intimidation. Trading for Maxx Crosby would redefine defensive aggression. Landing Bijan Robinson would modernize offensive balance. Each move carries financial and roster risk-but also championship recalibration potential.

For Veach, the mandate is about maximizing Mahomes’ prime, not managing it cautiously. If Kansas City executes even one of these blockbuster swings, the narrative around the franchise could flip overnight. It would move from post-dynasty decline to imminent resurgence.

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Travis Kelce gives candid response on Chiefs stadium move

Autumn Hawkins — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 04:06:44 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are making major moves regarding Arrowhead Stadium, and Travis Kelce has thoughts.

In December 2025, the Chiefs announced that the organization would relocate to Kansas from Missouri by the 2031 season.

“Today is an extraordinary day in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement at the time. “We are excited to partner with the State of Kansas to bring a world-class stadium to our fans. This project represents another step in our legacy of innovation and our fan-first mentality, which started with my father, Lamar Hunt.”

The statement added, “The stadium, practice facility, and surrounding development will benefit the entire region, and further elevate Kansas City in the eyes of the country and the world.”

What does Travis Kelce think about the Chiefs’ move?

Kelce shared his thoughts on the move on his New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce. The Chiefs’ tight end shared that there are some positives to this change despite some backlash from fans.

“The owners get so much more opportunity [by] getting to the outskirts of the city, and it’s hard to argue with those opportunities,” Kelce said on the Feb. 11 episode. “We’re dealing with it right now in Kansas City.”

Not only are fans affected by the change but so are the players, including the three-time Super Bowl champion.

“We’re going over to Kansas, but at the same time, if you look at that deal in terms of an owner? That’s one of the greatest opportunities you could ever get as an owner,” Kelce said on Wednesday. “I think it’s going to be unbelievable once it’s finally set in stone, but it is going to be kind of heartbreaking, knowing that the Chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead and that … Missouri side of Kansas City. It’s part of the old professional sports. It is a business at the end of the day.”

While the shift will not occur until at least 2031, the Chiefs tight end still has yet to make a formal decision on whether he’ll return for the 2026-2027 season.

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3 best Tyreek Hill trade destinations if Dolphins decide to move on from star WR

Dominik Zawartko — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:31:52 +0000

Things haven’t worked out swimmingly for the Miami Dolphins through recent years, missing the NFL Playoffs for their second-straight season. In firing head coach Mike McDaniel and seemingly moving on from starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins have a massive offseason ahead of them in terms of rebuilding and rebranding the identity of this franchise.

Tyreek Hill remains one of the most electric players to ever play the game, but his time in Miami has left much to be desired in terms of tangible results. He suffered a season-ending injury (knee) in Week 4 following a 2024-25 season that saw his lowest receiving totals in four years. This all while Hill is due to earn $26.6 million in 2026 and the Dolphins have some tough decisions to make in terms of their star wideout.

Reports are coming in that Hill’s status for the 2026 season may be murky following his significant injury, marking a potential end for his time in Miami. Releasing or trading away Hill could certainly earn the Dolphins some draft capital while freeing up whatever cap they can, so we’ll take a look at three potential destinations for the first-teamer and NFL champion.

Potential Tyreek Hill trade destinations

Reunion in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid

Four of Hill’s six 1,000-yard receiving seasons came with QB Patrick Mahomes under center, resulting in a Super Bowl win in 2020. This seems like the most obvious choice any time there’s trade speculation surrounding Tyreek Hill given the previous success under Andy Reid’s offense and his stellar rapport with Mahomes.

While the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t likely to put together a massive trade haul for the 31-year old receiver, Kansas City would almost certainly entertain adding Hill to their roster if they see themselves in position to make a run during the playoffs. With Patrick Mahomes also returning from injury, it doesn’t seem as though the Chiefs would rush back into a reunion, but the door may be open wider than ever given Hill’s shaky future in Miami.

Joining young talent in Las Vegas

This seems like the most far-fetched of all the potential trade destinations given the Raiders’ laundry list of issues to address before signing a blockbuster WR like Hill. Among a number of coaching changes still pending, the Raiders will be focused on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They’re most likely to take Heisman winner and NCAA Champion QB Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, making an interesting battle at the quarterback position between him and Geno Smith.

If Hill plans to follow in the footsteps of players like Marshawn Lynch and Antonio Brown in joining the silver and black, he would certainly have an exciting offense at his disposal with Mendoza (presumably) under center, Ashton Jeanty running the ball, and tight end Brock Bowers hopefully returning for a full season. The offense would immediately become must-watch TV, but it’s still a pipe dream when considering the contracts and potential off-field issues that we’ve seen with Hill in the past.

Leading the Green Bay WR room, joining a contender

If Tyreek Hill plans to play for championships and immediately join a contending team, he may not have to look further than the Green Bay Packers. The Packers and Dolphins are already linked with their recent coaching moves and the franchise is eyeing QB Malik Willis in free agency to replace Tua Tagovailoa. Sending Hill to the Packers in exchange for a multitude of draft picks and defensive players could be another all-in move for GM Brian Gutekunst and Green Bay after signing DE Micah Parsons.

The main issue with the Packers’ offense, besides the season-ending injury to TE Tucker Kraft, has been their lack of a clear No. 1 option in the receiving game. The room is full of young talent like Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden, but the last two seasons have clearly shown an attack by committee rather than one go-to player stepping up in the biggest moments.

Hill would undoubtedly make this Packers’ receiving corps one of the best in the NFL while re-focusing on football and playing with a championship mentality in Green Bay. The Packers, in turn, would have to amass a strong trade to get the deal done, but adding the veteran and former champ could be what the team needs to put them over the top in the NFC.

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Chiefs hiring 3x Pro Bowler as running backs coach

Abdullah Imran — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:12:06 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs have hired former NFL running back and Oklahoma Sooners RBs coach DeMarco Murray to lead their rushing corps, NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday. Declining rushing production over multiple seasons led Kansas City to release Todd Pinkston, creating a vacancy at running backs coach.

The Chiefs’ ground game has ranked near the bottom of the league in recent years. In 2025, Kansas City averaged 106.6 rushing yards per game, placing them in the NFL’s bottom 10 and 25th overall at 106 yards per contest. The year before, they averaged 101 rushing yards per game, and in 2023, they ranked 17th in the league in rushing yards per game. The organization finished 6-11 in 2025, missing the playoffs and ending a 10-year postseason streak that included five Super Bowl appearances and three championships.

Kansas City has already made moves to restructure its offensive staff. Eric Bieniemy, who served as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, returned to that role after Matt Nagy was replaced. The Chiefs are also navigating roster constraints, sitting nearly $50 million over the salary cap ahead of free agency on March 11 and the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23.

Murray, 38, leaves Oklahoma after six seasons as running backs coach, with one year left on his contract. He joined the Sooners staff in 2020 after spending 2019 in the same role at Arizona. During his time in Norman, Murray worked under both Brent Venables and Lincoln Riley. While Oklahoma struggled as a team, ranking 104th nationally in rushing yards per game at 119 last season, Murray still oversaw standout individual performances. Under his guidance, Eric Gray rushed for 1,366 yards and Kennedy Brooks for 1,253 yards in separate seasons.

Murray also has a documented record as a recruiter. The Sooners signed composite 2026 No. 4 running back Jonathan Hatton Jr. in December and secured a commitment from 2028 No. 1 running back Micah Rhodes last month.

As a player at Oklahoma from 2006 to 2010, Murray amassed over 5,000 all-purpose yards and 63 touchdowns, including 3,685 rushing yards and more than 50 total touchdowns. He earned three All-Big 12 honors and contributed to three Big 12 championship teams, including the 2008 squad that reached the national championship game.

Selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Murray played seven NFL seasons with the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans. He was named the 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 1,845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Over his professional career, the 3x Pro Bowler garnered 7,174 rushing yards, 2,165 receiving yards, and 55 total touchdowns.

With Murray heading to Kansas City, it’s another staff loss for the Sooners and the Chiefs’ latest attempt to improve a running game that ranked in the league’s bottom third over the past two seasons.

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Chiefs hire former NFL rushing champion as new RBs coach

Lorenzo J Reyna — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 03:54:48 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are boosting the coaching staff with familiar faces for Andy Reid. Already Eric Bieniemy returns to the staff. Now Reid’s newest running back coach is a past league-leader.

DeMarco Murray is heading to K.C., per Fox NFL insider Jordan Schultz on Wednesday night.

“Murray has been coaching on the college level since 2019 and now makes the jump to the NFL,” Schultz posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

Murray leaves his alma mater Oklahoma for the Chiefs. NFL fans likely remember him for leading the league with 1,845 yards in 2014 while playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Did new Chiefs RB coach played for Andy Reid?

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN

Murray shares a past connection with his newest coaching boss.

Both have past Philadelphia Eagles representation. However, Murray played for the franchise in 2015 — when Chip Kelly and later Pat Shurmur led the franchise.

Murray tallied only 702 yards in his lone campaign with the Eagles. He also scored six touchdowns and managed to start in eight games.

Murray eventually landed with the Tennessee Titans and reignited his Pro Bowl form: 1,287 yards and nine touchdowns during 2016. He played one more season in Nashville before calling it a career.

The 38-year-old since carved up a strong resume as a collegiate RB coach. Arizona handed him his first coaching role in 2019 under Kevin Sumlin. He made his way back to Norman and handled RB coaching duties for the Sooners from 2020 to 2025.

Eric Gray turned into a 1,000-yard back under Murray in 2022. Kennedy Brooks compiled 1,253 yards through Murray in the previous season. Murray even coached future AFC champion RB Rhamondre Stevenson at OU.

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3 best Kenneth Walker III free agent destinations after winning Super Bowl MVP

Troy Finnegan — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:55:57 +0000

Every year in the NFL, the playoffs produces new superstars around the league. The Seattle Seahawks were full of breakout stars who had big playoff games in all three of Seattle’s postseason wins on its way to a Super Bowl LX title.

Perhaps none of those stars broke out more than running back Kenneth Walker III, who ran for more than 100 yards in all three games and won Super Bowl MVP on Sunday after running for 135 yards on 27 carries against the Patriots.

Now, Walker will enter free agency as one of the top running backs available along with Breece Hall, but he is a bit of an interesting evaluation. The Michigan State product is one of the most gifted pure runners in the league, with explosive speed in the open field and an incredible shiftiness to make defenders miss in tight spaces. This season, Walker became a more patient runner, willing to let plays develop instead of bouncing it outside at first chance.

However, Walker doesn’t do much else outside of running the football. The Seahawks almost never asked him to stay in and pass protect, even leaning on George Holani for that role after Zach Charbonnet went down with an injury. He also is not a very good receiver, evidenced by a key drop in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Despite that, there is no question that Walker increased his value during a playoff run that saw him rack up 417 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns in three games. Where are the best landing spots for the former second-round pick?

Seattle Seahawks

Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

For much of the season, the feeling in Seattle seemed to be that Walker would be gone in 2026. Charbonnet is a productive runner and a more well-rounded back than Walker is and would be poised to step into a bigger role next season if the Seahawks let Walker walk in free agency.

Now, however, a lot has changed. Walker was a superstar in the postseason, becoming an engine of a Seahawks offense that played some of its best football. Charbonnet also suffered a torn ACL in the Divisional Round against the 49ers, and there is a good chance that he won’t be ready to start the season.

That makes Walker much more valuable to the Seahawks, who will likely be more inclined to bring him back in free agency even at a steeper price. Seattle will need to stay balanced after the departure of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, so Walker landing back in the Pacific Northwest makes a lot more sense this offseason.

Carolina Panthers

If Walker does end up leaving Seattle, the Carolina Panthers should be one of the top landing spots for him. Chuba Hubbard recently got an extension from the Panthers, but it’s clear that he is not a true workhorse back. With Rico Dowdle hitting free agency this offseason, this is a good chance for the Panthers to upgrade.

From Carolina’s side, Walker represents a more explosive option than either Dowdle or Hubbard and would really add some juice to the running game. Hubbard would be able to do a lot of the third down stuff that Walker isn’t as good at, making the two of them a good fit together. When Carolina was at its best this season, the running game was doing a lot of the heavy lifting and putting Young in advantageous situations, and adding Walker could keep that trend going in 2026.

From Walker’s point of view, this is a good fit as well. He played his first few years in college close by at Wake Forest, the Panthers sit middle of the pack in cap space and they have a good offensive line that would give him opportunities to have big games. Walker would be the lead back in the gameplan for Dave Canales and company, so this is an ideal fit on both sides.

Kansas City Chiefs

It’s no secret that the Chiefs have been yearning for more offensive artillery for a while now, and what better way to do it than by bringing in one of the best big-play backs in the league. Kansas City has actually been a successful run game from down-to-down recently, but the duo of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt has barely been able to generate any explosive runs.

Having someone that can do that would take a lot of the weight off of the shoulders of Patrick Mahomes next season when he comes back from his torn ACL injury. Despite having Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have shown the intention of wanting to run the ball at times. They certainly have the offensive line talent to do so, with Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey on the interior and Josh Simmons at left tackle.

The Chiefs have no cap space, but they have some wiggle room there if they restructure Mahomes’ contract and cut Jawaan Taylor, who has been overpaid at right tackle. Is using that limited space on a running back the smart move here? Maybe not, but it would be a lot of fun to see what this offense could do with Walker in the backfield.

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The player the Chiefs can’t pass on in ESPN’s new mock draft

Yago Antunes — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:01:26 +0000

Running back Jeremiyah Love is heading toward the NFL after an impressive stint at Notre Dame, though his final college season was nearly disrupted by an outside recruitment attempt. During an interview with Kevin Clark during Super Bowl week, Love revealed that a different college program tried to poach him through a tampering effort before he officially declared for the draft.

He noted that while the call was straightforward, he chose to ignore the distraction and stay focused on his goals in South Bend.

His departure creates a significant void in the Irish backfield, where freshmen Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton are now competing for the starting role.

As a former Heisman finalist and a projected top-tier selection, Love leaves behind a legacy that the next generation of Notre Dame runners will find difficult to replicate.

The professional interest in Love is already peaking, particularly from a Kansas City Chiefs team in need of offensive variety.

According to a new mock draft from ESPN, Love is the one player the franchise cannot afford to pass on this April.

In their analysis, Field Yates states:

“While I don’t know if Love will fall to this pick in April, I would be surprised if he makes it past the Chiefs.”

His report emphasizes that Love is the “biggest non-QB difference-maker in the class” due to his dual-threat capabilities.

Yates further details his skill set, saying that, “As a runner, he has terrific explosiveness and vision. As a receiver, his routes from the slot look no different from a wideout.”

Buzz regarding a return for Travis Kelce has intensified, with recent reports from Dianna Russini of The Athletic suggesting that he is leaning toward playing a 14th season in Kansas City.

Although Kelce has admitted to feeling conflicted about the physical demands of the game, his enthusiasm for recent staff changes indicates he may want one more run at a title.

While the team currently sits over the projected salary cap, the front office is expected to finalize a financial strategy by March that would allow them to retain Kelce while potentially integrating an explosive talent like Love into the offense.

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Kirk Herbstreit admits he doubted Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes NFL rise

Douglas Fritz — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:49:40 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs made Patrick Mahomes happy with the offensive coordinator hire. But the offseason could be tough as Mahomes rehabs from his injury. However, Mahomes has proven many people wrong, including Kirk Herbstreit, who admitted he doubted Mahomes’ NFL rise.

Herbstreit made the comments on This is Football, which posted on YouTube. He was asked what quarterback he’s seen over the years in college who surprised him the most with how good he became in the NFL.

“I guess I could go back to Mahomes,” Herbstreit said. “I mean, he’s the most obvious one. I’ve done college football for 30 years. If you would’ve told me that Mahomes is gonna be that when he was at Texas Tech. I just looked at Mahomes as like, he’s another Texas Tech, throwing… I thought he’d be a good player, but I never really imagined him becoming what he is. He’s the most obvious one to me.”

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has become an NFL legend

For all of his impressive regular-season numbers, it’s the postseason that stands out. He has a record of 17-4 and three Super Bowl titles, and three MVP awards in those games, under his belt. And his touchdown-to-interception ratio is an astonishing 46 to 10.

So how did people miss his obvious talent? He was tabbed as an eventual plus starter, according to NFL.com.

“Mahomes is a big, confident quarterback who brings a variety of physical tools to the party,” Lance Zierlein wrote. “But he’s developed some bad habits and doesn’t have a very repeatable process as a passer. Mahomes’ ability to improvise and extend plays can lead to big plays for his offense. Mahomes will be a work in progress.”

And here are some of the weaknesses that seemed to hinder his game as he stepped into the NFL level.

“Can be inconsistent in his approach,” Zierlein wrote. “Needs to play inside the offense and show more discipline. Too eager to go big-game hunting. Ravenous appetite for the explosive play can also bring unwanted trouble. Willingness to default to playground style appears to limit his ability to get into a consistent rhythm.”

Yep. Sounds like all the things that actually make Mahomes great. Who knew?

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Chiefs’ Chris Jones makes Super Bowl promise before Seahawks-Patriots kickoff

Lorenzo J Reyna — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 23:06:26 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs failed to make it four straight AFC crowns this season. Now they have the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots to watch. Chris Jones, however, made an attempt to grab the spotlight before kickoff.

Jones took to the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter, to make this big prediction:

Took a year off, we will be back to it next year!

— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) February 8, 2026

Jones is confident that the 2025 season was simply a year off for the Chiefs. Kansas City fell to 6-11 this past season — the worst mark in the era of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

Plus the ’25 season is also the worst mark Jones has been on since his K.C. arrival, as every Chiefs team he played on was a playoff contender.

Was Chris Jones productive despite Chiefs’ down season?

Jones remains the face of the Chiefs’ defense.

He delivered seven sacks from his defensive tackle spot — two more than his 2024 effort. Jones also produced 29 total tackles with 15 solo stops.

But the towering 6-foot-6, 300-pounder improved another mark: Tackles for a loss. Jones piled 12 behind the line of scrimmage, more than 2024 when he tallied nine.

Jones’ production landed him a seventh straight Pro Bowl nod — one of the league’s longest active streaks.

Kansas City never took a step off this past season on defense. The unit ranked sixth overall in scoring defense and also finished 10th versus yards.

But K.C. got ravaged with injuries and inconsistency — leading into its dismal 2025 campaign. The mark became the Chiefs’ worst season since 2012 when the team fell to 2-14. Now Jones believes it’ll be his team, not the Patriots, will represent the AFC at SoFi Stadium in Feb. 2027.

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Chiefs rumors: Travis Kelce return buzz gets even louder on Super Bowl Sunday

Yago Antunes — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 14:06:09 +0000

The anticipation surrounding Travis Kelce’s professional future has reached a fever pitch on Super Bowl Sunday, with recent reports suggesting a 14th season in Kansas City is more likely than ever.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, those close to the star tight end believe he is leaning toward returning for at least one more year despite the ongoing retirement discourse.

Kelce has been a visible presence at various events leading up to the big game in San Francisco, and while a definitive announcement has not been made, the momentum for his return continues to build.

On a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce expressed immense excitement about the hire, stating he cannot wait to see one of his favorite coaches back in the building wearing the Chiefs logo once again.

But according to a report from the NFL, Kelce finds himself in a position similar to last offseason, though clarity is expected much sooner this time around.

While the perennial Pro Bowler has not made a firm public commitment, he has remained in constant contact with the Chiefs, and the organization has made it clear they want him back.

However, a potential return would require a new contract, as Kelce played out the final year of a two-year, $34.25 million extension last season.

This creates a minor hurdle for Kansas City, which currently sits more than $50 million over the projected salary cap, though the team is expected to navigate these financial gymnastics by March to accommodate their star playmaker.

Despite the optimism, the decision remains a complex one for Kelce as he weighs the physical toll of his long career.

During a Christmas interview with legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez for Card Player, Kelce admitted he was truly conflicted about his next move and said he really did not know if he would play another year.

Whether he chooses the locker room or his growing portfolio of off-field ventures, the football world is waiting to see if he will wear the Chiefs logo for one more legendary run.

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Chiefs rumors: Travis Kelce playing a 14th season ‘more real than ever’

Zachary Weinberger — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 17:28:16 +0000

With the Kansas City Chiefs entering an important 2026 offseason, one aspect of the team that has yet to be officially played out is the decision from tight end Travis Kelce if he will retire or not. As the Chiefs’ star thinks about his retirement decision, the latest reporting could suggest that there is a real possibility he could play next season.

In the latest column from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, she would report about Kelce taking part in events around San Francisco ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl. There’s no denying that retirement has been a choice for Kelce, but it appears that his returning for the 2026 season is very much so a likely choice, with that possibility “looking more real than ever.”

“Kelce was seen bouncing around San Francisco parties and events, even as the soon-to-be-married man’s next move remains uncertain,” Russini wrote. “While retirement has been discussed, many close to him believe he could return for at least one more season. A final decision has yet to be made, but a 14th season is looking more real than ever.”

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce excited to see one person back with the Chiefs

However, there was one piece of news that could signal a delay in his retirement with Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs as their offensive coordinator. The reason is that Kelce was on the podcast “New Heights” with his brother Jason Kelce, and when reacting to the news of Bieniemy, the Kansas City tight end said he “can’t wait to see him back in the building.”

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time; one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy, and it’s gonna be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo, baby.”

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building he’s one of my favorite coaches of all time”

Travis shared his thoughts on (a possibly shirtless) Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs pic.twitter.com/MRmdNAcIar

— New Heights (@newheightshow) January 21, 2026

While it wasn’t an official decision, it does seem like Kelce was excited to be back in the building to see Bieniemy.

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Chiefs’ Trey Smith sounds off on ‘standard’ needed for offensive improvement

Richard Pereira — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 01:19:32 +0000

Trey Smith emphasized the need for the Kansas City Chiefs offense to improve for the 2026 season and beyond.

The Chiefs saw their quest for a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance go down in flames with a 6-11 record in the 205 regular season. Adding insult to injury, they also lost star quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the year and likely a chunk of 2026 as he rehabs a torn ACL.

Kansas City heavily relied on Mahomes to be remarkably productive to keep the offense above water plenty of times. After he went down, the team visibly struggled to come through in big plays for the remainder of the campaign despite already being ineligible for playoff contention.

Smith appeared on a Feb. 5 interview on Radio Row with Shannon Sharpe, via reporter Harold Kuntz. It was there where he talked about the offense’s issues, understanding the importance of having accountability for everyone across the board.

“He lets us be men out there, but, at the same breath, we have to be more accountable for ourselves. For us man, it’s a standard, getting back to that standard,” Smith said.

Trey Smith shared his thoughts about Eric Bieniemy and the #Chiefs offense on Radio Row with Shannon Sharpe. “He let’s us be men out there, but, at the same breath, we have to be more accountable for ourselves. For us man, it’s a standard, getting back to that standard. pic.twitter.com/jGaxWutacs

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) February 5, 2026

What lies ahead for Trey Smith, Chiefs

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Trey Smith has been with the Chiefs since 2021, earning two Pro Bowl selections throughout his career so far. He knows when an offense is elite and when it’s struggling, stating the team needs to acknowledge its issues and resolve them moving forward.

Kansas City has been a threat to the entire league for the past couple of seasons when Patrick Mahomes is healthy. Taking home two consecutive Super Bowls before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59, the franchise has showcased themselves to be a dynasty in the NFL. However, Mahomes’ injury will keep down for the count for a solid period of time.

The Chiefs will prepare for the upcoming draft and free agency, retooling the roster to bolster their chances of returning to the playoffs. And when Mahomes makes a full recovery, they can aspire for a return to Super Bowl contention.

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3 Chiefs cut candidates entering 2026 offseason

Ben Strauss — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:46:16 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs had their worst season in recent memory in 2025. Kansas City finished the regular season with a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 season. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes also tore his ACL in Week 15 against the Chargers. That injury ended his 2025 season and leaves Mahomes’ availability for Kansas City’s offseason program in question.

The 2026 offseason will be incredibly important for the immediate future of the Chiefs. That is especially true as Mahomes recovers from his major knee injury.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs will have some truly difficult decisions to make during the offseason.

Kansas City enters the 2026 offseason already $54.53 million over the salary cap. That means they’ll have to make several roster moves just to get compliant with the salary cap. They’ll need to go even further to make space to add players during free agency.

The first step will almost certainly be restructuring a few contracts to move money into future seasons. Mahomes ($78.21 million), Chris Jones ($44.85 million), and Trey Smith ($24.50 million) all have massive cap hits in 2026. Chiefs fans should expect those contracts to be tweaked this spring.

But Kansas City may also need to make some roster cuts to free up additional cap space.

But who could the Chiefs part with this offseason? And would any of those potential cuts even make a dent in Kansas City’s massive salary cap deficit?

Below we will explore three Chiefs players who could be cut candidates during the 2026 offseason.

Kansas City could save a lot of cap space by cutting Jawaan Taylor

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

This feels like the most obvious decision the Chiefs could make during the entire offseason.

Taylor ended the season on injured reserve after battling a triceps injury. He will turn 29 during the 2026 season and is not under contract in 2027. The combination of his age, contract status, and injury should make him an appealing cut candidate.

The Chiefs would save $20 million in cap space by cutting Taylor. That will also come with $7.39 million in dead money, but still result in some significant cap savings.

That is a huge amount of money that Kansas City could save. Considering how far they have to go, getting $20 million in relief in one move feels like a no-brainer.

Kansas City could slide Jaylon Moore over to right tackle in 2026, just like they did after Taylor’s injury this season.

If the Chiefs do keep Taylor, I’d expect them to renegotiate his contract.

Do the Chiefs have enough EDGE depth to part ways with Mike Danna?

Another potential cap casualty is edge rusher Mike Danna.

Danna was not a consistent playmaker for the Chiefs in 2025. In fact, he had the worst statistical season of his professional career. Danna only logged eight solo tackles with 17 assists, one sacks, and one interception.

Danna’s regression during 2025 could be enough for Kansas City to move on from him this offseason. Especially considering how much money they could save.

The Chiefs can save $8.94 million in cap space by cutting Danna, with just $2.17 million in dead money. Danna is not under contract in 2027, so this move is as simple as cutting him and saving some cap space.

Just like with Taylor, the Chiefs already have a backup plan in place if they decide to move on from Danna.

Kansas City has invested multiple draft picks at edge rusher over the past few seasons. George Karlaftis is a great starter, and young players Ashton Gillotte and Felix Anudike-Uzomah could easily fill in opposite of Karlaftis on the line.

The Chiefs could easily find another replacement for Danna in the draft. Or even in free agency with a one-year contract.

Either way, this feels like another easy move to make.

Drue Tranquill is another interesting potential cap casualty

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Finally, let’s discuss linebacker Drue Tranquill.

Tranquill has been a consistent contributor for the Chiefs ever since joining the team before the 2023 season. He will turn 31 years old before the start of the 2026 season.

The Chiefs could save $6 million in cap space by cutting Tranquill with just $1.5 million in dead money. Just like the others, he is only under contract through 2026.

I feel this is the most difficult decision on the list. Kansas City saves some cap space, but not a ton, by cutting Tranquill. But who would even replace him?

The answer likely won’t be Leo Chenal, as he is set to hit free agency. Perhaps Kansas City asks more from fifth-round pick Jeffrey Bassa? Or they could attempt to replace Tranquill in free agency or with a draft pick.

The Chiefs already have enough talent on the roster to deploy a solid nickel defense. But they’ll need to find a suitable replacement for when they want to play base and get three linebackers on the field.

Still, I think cutting Tranquill is the right move.

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3 non-playoff teams that could pull a Patriots and make Super Bowl 61

Douglas Fritz — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:09:58 +0000

When trying to sort out the 2026 season, what happens with the Dallas Cowboys will make a big difference. And there are other notable free agents like Trey Hendrickson, who could shake things up. However, for the non-playoff teams, here are three that could pull a Patriots and make Super Bowl 61.

The Patriots went from a 4-13 finish in 2024 all the way to the big game this year. They added the right pieces and the right coach. And one of the teams on this list added a new coach for the upcoming season.

Dallas Cowboys

Everything hinges on whether the Cowboys work out a deal with George Pickens. With him, the Cowboys are a threat to score 30 points in any game. Without him, they’re still good on offense, but not at the very top of the NFL.

Owner Jerry Jones has been known to drag his feet on putting together big contract packages. But the Cowboys can hedge their bets with Pickens by giving him the franchise tag.

However, the early steps suggest Jones may be heading down the same road he’s traveled before, according to dallasnews.com.

“The Cowboys have not held any contract talks with Pickens’ agent, two people briefed on the situation told The Dallas Morning News,” Calvin Watkins wrote. “Not having talks with Pickens at this point isn’t concerning. But after what transpired last offseason, when club officials failed to reach a deal with star pass rusher Micah Parsons, eventually leading to a trade, the thought of getting a deal done sooner rather than later seems prudent.”

Getting Pickens under wraps is first, and wisely using two first-round picks is also a big key. The Cowboys need help at running back, edge rusher, linebacker, and safety. The most notable of those is edge rusher.

Getting a guy like Auburn’s edge Keldric Faulk with the No. 12 overall pick would go a long way. Then they could settle in for a linebacker at No. 20, but it depends on who remains on the board.

If the Cowboys get two good first-round defensive players, they would be well on their way to making a run at the Super Bowl.

Another thing that would boost them into the stratosphere would be signing a free-agent safety like Jabrill Peppers or veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Also, the Cowboys could greatly benefit on defense by getting a full season of DeMarvion Overshown, according to dallascowboys.com.

If the Cowboys get significantly better on defense, they will easily be one of the best teams in the NFL.

Baltimore Ravens

There’s a new coach in town, and it might be a lot to expect Jesse Minter to fly that high in his first season. However, he has the built-in advantage of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, so he has a chance.

The Ravens didn’t look good at times in 2025, but they have plenty of talent. They simply need to shore up a couple of areas in the offseason.

The offensive line could indeed be better. They didn’t impress in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. But that can be fixed in the draft. The Ravens have the No. 14 pick, and could use it to acquire a talent like Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. However, the draft isn’t deep at that position, so they may need to go with a wide receiver instead.

Whichever way that goes should influence their top free-agent target. However, the market isn’t deep there for either guards or receivers. Perhaps the Ravens could go after Deebo Samuel, which would give them a decent pairing with No. 1 wideout Zay Flowers.

Another shakeup is the defensive line. The Ravens must be better there. This includes edge rusher, where Mike Green turned out to be disappointing. If he could step up in 2026, this would be a big boost for the Ravens’ playoff hopes.

Still, the Ravens were No. 30 in sacks in 2025. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility could target a pass rusher with the No. 14 pick.

Overall, the Ravens are just a couple of good offseason moves from being right back where they started the 2025 season. And that would be as a prime Super Bowl contender.

Kansas City Chiefs

First, the Chiefs aren’t broken. This season got away from them, but it came through a sea of close losses. If the Chiefs had been their better selves late in games, they would have been in the playoffs. However, this wasn’t a Super Bowl year, even with Patrick Mahomes at the controls.

There are things the Chiefs need to fix. But they can repair them through the draft and free agency.

Also, they need to have Mahomes in his usual element before the season gets too far along. His December ACL injury complicates things, but Mahomes thinks he has a shot to be on the field from the get-go, according to ESPN.

“I want to be ready for Week 1,” Mahomes said. “The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s the goal. To play Week 1 and have no restrictions.”

The Chiefs are solid on the offensive line, especially if Josh Simmons steps to the next level in his second NFL season.

What the Chiefs need to get back to the pinnacle is a threatening running back and a strong No. 2 receiver. The best path seems to be getting a free agent running back like Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker III. That would open the door to drafting a wide receiver like Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate.

If those guys aren’t available, the Chiefs would need to take a top-level edge rusher like David Bailey. If they take that path, they would need to sign a free agent like Mike Evans.

The point is, the Chiefs are just a few pieces away from resuming their spot as a serious Super Bowl threat. And, of course, Andy Reid gives them the edge once they get into the playoffs.

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Rob Riggle talks Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, Super Bowl LX in new “Guac Guru” role

Tomer Azarly — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:56:25 +0000

Throughout his illustrious career in the entertainment industry, Rob Riggle has been an actor, comedian, sports commentator, and now a… a Guac Guru?

Earlier this month, Riggle officially partnered with Avocados From Mexico ahead of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, and has taken on the role of Guac Guru to serve up tailed game day plays and guac recipes throughout football season.

The Big Game is the moment guac was made for,” shared Riggle. “And as the Guac Guru, I can confidently predict that you’ll find yourself in front of a bowl that’s simply too delicious for a single dip.”

As part of the partnership, Rob Riggle and Avocados From Mexico are making three Big Game predictions that can land one fan $60,000 — in honor of the Big Game’s 60th anniversary — plus free avocados for an entire
year, if all three come true. His predictions are:

• A team scores exactly 20 points
• A player shows off an eating gesture as a celebration
• Announcers use the word “guacamole” during the broadcast

Additionally, Avocados from Mexico is launching the Golden Double Dip Chip, a 14K gold, wearable, “snackcessory.”

ClutchPoints caught up with the Guac Guru himself, Rob Riggle, ahead of Super Bowl LX to discuss his new partnership with Avocados From Mexico, his love for the Kansas City Chiefs, his new memoir, and more.

Tomer Azarly: Hey Rob, so the big game is coming up on February 8th. I hear you have an ideal snack that you’d like to have during the big game?

Rob Riggle: Oh yeah. Well, a lot of them, but it starts with chips and guac because you can’t go wrong there. I mean, it makes everybody happy from what I’ve, what I’ve experienced. You know, the ladies, the guys, the kids, the grandparents. Everybody likes chip and guac. You can’t go wrong. Well, that’s a good place to start.

Tomer Azarly: What is it about chips and guac that make it such a non-negotiable? I feel like wherever you go, you got to have some.

Rob Riggle: I think it’s because it works for everybody on some level. It tastes good. It’s healthy. It’s satisfying. And it’s, uh, you know, salty and sweet. It’s, it’s the chips and the guac. It’s just, it works. It works on almost every level. You don’t find many things like that.

Tomer Azarly: What’s your ideal party set up when you’re watching the game? What do you have set up on that table right there in front of the game?

Rob Riggle: Well, spread-wise, you gotta have a lot of options food-wise. You gotta have chips and guac right there dead center. Um, I like to have some barbecue. I’m a Kansas City guy, so I like to have a little barbecue. You gotta have some charcuterie, maybe some cheese, some vegetables, some honey to dip in. And sides are critical. You gotta have like, on the barbecue side, you got a coleslaw, you gotta have some sort of potato dish. You gotta have maybe some Mac and cheese, some beans. Ooooh! You gotta have a good spread. You gotta have a big screen and you gotta have a lot of places to sit and that’s it. And once you got that, you’ve totally won.

Avocados From Mexico

Tomer Azarly: You said, ‘that’s it,’ but that was so precise. And I feel like you’ve had this set up to the point where you’re like, ‘all right, you’re sitting over there, you’re sitting over there, charcuterie on this side.’ Like it sounds like you’ve had this mapped out for years.

Rob Riggle: Well, yeah, I’ve been, I’ve been very blessed to, my team has been doing well. I’ve been in the playoffs a lot lately. So yes, to a certain degree. Yes. And if I have friends over that are not rooting for my team, they need to sit a little bit over to the side. Still a good view of the game, but not next to me because when their team does something well and my team does something poorly or vice versa, I need to be able to celebrate or commiserate with my people.

Tomer Azarly: I respect that. I can’t have them near me, either. Go away. Go on that side.

Rob Riggle: I just can’t listen to them celebrate.

Tomer Azarly: You brought it up, but I want to talk to you about it. You’ve never been shy about your love for the Chiefs. Obviously an early end of the season, rough end, just what did you make of how that season went for your Chiefs?

Rob Riggle: It was tough. All the games in the previous year, those one score games, we won all those. This year, we didn’t and that’s the difference. Those one score games got us. We had a lot of injuries. We had some early-season suspensions that kind of were tricky to navigate. And then, you know, obviously, you never want to see Patrick get hurt ever, ever, ever. And so, you know, that was painful to see him get hurt. But he’s strong, he’s resilient. He’s doing all the rights things. Nobody cares more about winning and competing more than he does, so I know he’ll be back. And we got one of the great coaches, a Hall-of-Fame coach. We got Hall-of-Fame talent and we’ll be good. We’ll be fine. This was just probably a well-deserved rest.

Tomer Azarly: I was going to say that before this year, it’s been a good era of dominance here for your Chiefs! What’s it been like being a fan of that? Being able to attend a lot of games, a lot of high stakes games and be able to celebrate a lot too.

Rob Riggle: It’s been what everybody thinks it is. It’s awesome. It’s just pure joy. And, you know, when I started, my first game was 1975 at Arrowhead, uh, with the Chiefs. 50 years, we went without a Super Bowl appearance! And 50 years, we were out in the desert and I was with them for almost all of it. And my whole lifetime, they had been to a Super Bowl in my lifetime. And so, when they made it, it was a dream come true because you do have times in your life where you go, I don’t even know if I’ll ever see a Super Bowl. I just don’t know. You just don’t know. And then when it happens, it is magical. And then when it happens again and again, and you get on this unbelievable heater, you know, you’re like, it’s an embarrassment of wealth, riches. You’re like, what? I can’t believe how great it is. And then it’s amazing and it’s awesome and I wanted to come back because it’s wonderful. It’s so great.

Tomer Azarly: They’re giving your heart and your well-being a year off. They said, ‘come back next year, we’ll get after it next year.’

Rob Riggle: It’s a nice rest.

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Tomer Azarly: When you’re watching games, how are you watching game when you’re in the living room? Like, are you someone who’s standing up clapping? Are you like sitting and anxiously chewing your nails? Are you in the corner? Are you pacing around? Like what are you doing and how are you watching the game?

Rob Riggle: I’m a little bit of all of what you just said. I’m a little bit pensive, where I’m in a quiet prayer, breathing in the hand, clutch moment, you know. Then there’s huge celebration, cartwheels in front of the television then there’s a lot of cursing at referees for blowing obvious calls. There’s a lot of um debate about why they called a certain play with other guys in the room. You run the gauntlet of emotions, I think, if you’re a true fan.

Tomer Azarly: You’ve been you’ve been such a big part in the entertainment industry and you’ve had so many roles also in sports. Do you have a personal favorite moment or gig? Is it even possible for you to choose a personal favorite moment of yours?

Rob Riggle: Oh gosh, uh. Getting on Saturday Night Live was a dream come true. It was something I’d worked for for a long, long, long time and then when it finally happened, it was hard to process. Like, ‘uh, really?!’ And then being on that stage when they roll credits and I’ve watched it my whole life — when they roll credits and everybody’s on stage — and then to be on that stage looking back out towards the audience and in the cameras, it was surreal. It was very surreal and that was a great moment. Being on the Daily Show, getting that job was a great, great moment. Getting to do movies with people that I admire. Getting to do scenes with Tom Hanks or people that you just love their work and appreciate them so much and then you find yourself in a scene with them. Dumb and Dumber To, I was sitting behind Jeff Daniels and and Jim Carrey you know as Lloyd and Harry and I’m in the middle of them going, ‘no one would believe me right now if I called them.’ And all I wanted to do is call all my friends and go, ‘you would not believe what is happening right now. I’m in the back of a hearse riding down the highway with Lloyd and Harry.’ Like those those are surreal moments and they’re wonderful and so those are all highlights if that’s what you’re talking about the entertainment side. Those are good highlights for sure.

Tomer Azarly: You’ve done this for so long. What still excites you about getting out there making people laugh and giving people that joy?

Rob Riggle: It’s just a deep love of comedy. I love acting. I really do, and I love comedy, and I love when the two get together. I also love — I’ve done a couple dramas this past year where you know that’s not normally what I get offered, but I’ve been able to to do that because they weren’t making a lot of comedy so I’ve been able to do some dramas and absolutely loved it. Loved it. I think it’s just in your blood. If it’s something you’re passionate about and care about, if you’ve got it, you got to find a way to do it. And I do love comedy, I guess. I grew up on comedies and and yeah. I hope I get to do it as long as they’ll let me.

Tomer Azarly: You have a memoir which is named, ‘Grit, Spit and Never Quit.’ I feel like that title is a strong one. Why did you want to tell your story and what excited you most about being able to tell your story with with so much experience that you have?

Rob Riggle: You know, you get to a point where you tell enough stories and people go, ‘hey you should write a book!’ And then you go, ‘oh okay.’ And you hear that enough times that you’re like, ‘huh, yeah. Maybe I should.’ And then I write down my goals every year at the beginning of the year and so I wrote down, ‘I’m gonna write a book,’ I’m gonna write this book. I’m gonna write this book.’ But for years, it was the one goal that didn’t get accomplished. It just kept rolling over and rolling over and rolling over until finally I was ashamed of myself and I said, ‘Bahh! Write this book!’ And so I did. I finally just put pen to paper and did it. It took a lot longer and it was a lot harder than I thought it was gonna be, but I’m really glad it’s done. It talks about my time in the Marine Corps, my time serving at Ground Zero in Afghanistan. It talks about my time on SNL and the Daily Show and making movies and growing up in the Mid-West and I hope it’s a motivational memoir that people will read and they’ll be able to see things in my life that is maybe happening in their life and they can at least see, ‘well, this is how Rob Riggle dealt with it.’ And hopefully it’ll help.

The Guac Guru sees two comebacks – your team's rally and your tenth trip to the irresistible bowl of guacamole. Both are destiny! https://t.co/3UBmGCFlbg #GuacGuru #AvocadosFromMexico pic.twitter.com/oUG02lrVQW

— Avocados From Mexico (@AvosFromMexico) February 2, 2026

Tomer Azarly: How long did it take you to write the memoir?

Rob Riggle: About two years. And you’ve got to remember now, it’s not like I just locked myself in a log cabin and sat down and wrote. That’s not how it works. I got to go out there. I eat what I kill. So I’m out there hustling for work every day. And if I get a show or if I get a movie, I got to go do that. And everything gets put on hold. So it takes time to grind out a book.

Tomer Azarly: Wow. Well, congratulations. That’s really awesome. Is there anything else you want to say for readers before we wrap up?

Rob Riggle: Yes, okay, so people, make sure to go to avocadosfrommexico.com/biggame, there’s some opportunities to win some cash. There’s $60,000. It’s Super Bowl 60, so $60,000. I’ve made some predictions. If those predictions come true and you’re registered, you’ve got a chance to win. Also, between now and the Super Bowl, Avocados From Mexico is giving away three golden chips, like 14 karat gold chips. So if you go to AFM (avocados from Mexico) double dip, so afmdoubledip.com, you can register for the golden chips. And they’re really cool. They’re a solid 14 karat gold chip. People are going to love it. It gives bragging rights. It’s a cool conversation piece, and it’s worth a lot of money. So hopefully, people will check that out. But make sure you register, because if they register, they get a chance to win all this stuff.

The post Rob Riggle talks Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, Super Bowl LX in new “Guac Guru” role appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Chiefs sign former 4th-rounder as Patrick Mahomes injury insurance

Ben Strauss — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:03:14 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs encountered their worst nightmare during the 2025 season. Not only did Kansas City go 6-11 on the season, but superstar QB Patrick Mahomes went down with a season-ending ACL tear. The Chiefs added a new quarterback on Monday who can offer some depth behind Mahomes in 2026.

The Chiefs are signing former Saints quarterback Jake Haener to a contract, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Haener, a former fourth-round pick by the Saints, was on the team’s practice squad to end the 2025 season. His contract expired and he chose to head to Kansas City.

Now the Chiefs have one more quarterback who can fill in for Mahomes during the 2026 season. Haener and veteran Chris Oladokun are the only quarterbacks currently on the roster behind Mahomes. Gardner Minshew, last season’s backup quarterback, is set to hit free agency this spring.

Haener appeared in game games, but only managed one start during his three-year career in New Orleans. He went 18-of-39 for 226 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception in those outings.

It is good to see that Kansas City is adding other quarterbacks to the roster this offseason.

Mahomes wants to return for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. His rehab has apparently been going well and he would like to participate in OTAs and training camp later this summer.

That all sounds good, but there is no guarantee that Mahomes will be cleared to play by then. Even if he is back on the field, he may not be back to his old self for quite some time.

The upcoming offseason will be incredibly important for the Chiefs as a whole. Kansas City is currently $54.53 million over the salary cap, leaving them plenty of work to do just to be cap compliant.

It will be interesting to see if Kansas City adds more quarterback depth during the offseason. They would also be smart to upgrade their offensive line to give Mahomes some more protection.

Either way, Chiefs fans will have plenty of storylines to follow this spring.

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Tony Gonzalez slaps Chiefs with ‘tough’ reality after Patrick Mahomes’ ACL tear

Ben Strauss — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:31:25 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the most surprising seasons in the NFL last fall. Kansas City finished the regular season 6-11 and on a six-game losing streak. It certainly did not help that QB Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL during Week 15, ending his season.

Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez issued a warning to his former team ahead of the offseason. When asked if the Chiefs will be contenders in 2026, Gonzalez could not commit to the idea.

In fact, Gonzalez warned that the 2026 offseason “will be tough” for Kansas City.

“It’s gonna be tough this offseason,” Gonzalez said, per DJ Siddiqi. “Who are they going to bring back with the cap money they got? They got to re-sign some players. They’re gonna have to cut some good players. (Trent) McDuffie the corner, he’s one of the best corners in the league. Are you gonna give him that big max contract? Chris Jones, is still there making it.”

The Chiefs are currently $54.53 million over the 2026 salary cap. That alone presents a tough task that will require some contract restructuring, and perhaps a few cuts, just to get cap compliant. But Kansas City will have to go even further if they want enough cap space to actually add players this offseason.

Gonzalez wants the Chiefs to upgrade in the trenches, but especially on the offensive line.

“I always like offensive line,” said Gonzalez of where the Chiefs need to upgrade. “I think if you give Patrick time, he’ll give you the world, he will dominate. You want to keep him healthy so he doesn’t have to scramble that much. He got hurt when he was out there running around. My biggest thing is always build that offensive line. He’ll make average receivers look good, he’ll make good receivers look great. They’ll make great receivers at the Hall of Fame type level.”

Ultimately, Gonzalez thinks this is the right time for Kansas City to rebuild with an eye on the future.

“There’s a lot of things they have to address,” Gonzalez added. “This is going to be an interesting offseason for the Chiefs. I think it’s time. It’s that rebuilding time. But Brett Veach and Andy Reid… I couldn’t think of a better duo to get that job done and still put out a really competitive team next year.”

It will be exciting to see what moves Kansas City makes throughout the offseason.

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Tony Gonzalez interviewed Chiefs’ Travis Kelce on Christmas. What does he think about the retirement decision?

Yago Antunes — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:43:13 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are facing a major decision regarding the future of star tight end Travis Kelce. While owner Clark Hunt recently expressed that there is no doubt in his mind that Kelce can still perform at an elite level, the 11-time Pro Bowler remains undecided. Despite the team missing the playoffs for the first time with Patrick Mahomes, Kelce turned in a strong 2025 season with 76 receptions, 851 yards, and five touchdowns.

One factor drawing him back is the hiring of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whom Kelce described as one of his favorite coaches. However, the physical toll of 10 surgeries and lingering discomfort continues to weigh heavily on his mind, as he has previously admitted to thinking about retirement more than anyone could imagine.

Tony Gonzalez, who interviewed Kelce on Christmas for Card Player, believes the tight end is truly conflicted. During their conversation, Kelce admitted, “I really don’t know” when asked about another year.

Gonzalez, who played 17 seasons, understands the legacy Kelce has built and noted that because he is about to get married and has three rings, he does not need the game for money or fame.

He contrasted Kelce with Jerry Rice, who played until the wheels fell off because he needed football. Gonzalez believes Kelce is grappling with whether he wants the game, especially since the Chiefs are no longer favorites.

“It’s not fame, it’s not money, it’s not opportunity, it’s not Super Bowl rings, it’s not records,” Gonzalez explained regarding the decision.

Amid this uncertainty, Kelce continues to expand his off-field portfolio by becoming an investor in Sleep Number Corp. This new partnership involves national TV commercials and digital content for social platforms, showing that he remains booked and busy regardless of his NFL status.

After 13 legendary seasons, his 2025 performance proved he can still produce at a high level, yet the question of whether he will return for a 14th year remains open.

Ultimately, as Gonzalez noted, Kelce has the rare opportunity to write his own ticket, whether he chooses to stay in the locker room or move to the broadcast desk.

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Chiefs center Creed Humphrey nominated for top NFL honor

Josh Davis — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:57:07 +0000

Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey continued to collect league-wide recognition this week following another dominant season in the trenches.

Humphrey was officially named a nominee for the NFL’s newly established Protector of the Year award, an honor designed to recognize the league’s top offensive lineman and spotlight elite trench play often overlooked in traditional awards voting.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the nomination Wednesday evening on X (formerly known as Twitter), citing a league source and confirming Humphrey as one of six finalists for the inaugural award.

“Chiefs center Creed Humphrey is a nominee for the NFL’s protector of the year award, per league source.”

The nomination reflects a season defined by consistency, durability, and technical dominance. Humphrey started all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and logged nearly every offensive snap, anchoring an offensive line that dealt with injuries and frequent personnel changes around him. Despite the instability elsewhere, interior protection remained a constant strength.

Advanced metrics further validate the recognition. According to Pro Football Focus, Humphrey finished the season as the highest-graded center in the NFL, allowing minimal pressure and surrendering just one sack. His command of protections, line calls, and pre-snap adjustments consistently elevated Kansas City’s offensive efficiency.

This honor continues to expand a rapidly growing resume. The former Oklahoma standout earned AP All-Pro First Team recognition earlier this month and secured All-AFC honors as well, joining Travis Kelce as the only other Chief to receive the distinction this season. His accolades now span from PFWA rookie honors to consistent All-Pro recognition.

A panel of legendary former offensive linemen, including Hall of Fame center Will Shields and former Philadelphia Eagles standout Jason Kelce, will decide the Protector of the Year award. The league will announce the winner during the NFL Honors ceremony on February 5 in San Francisco.

For the Chiefs, the nomination reinforces the organization’s success in developing elite offensive line talent. For Humphrey, it positions him to potentially become the first player to win the Protector of the Year award, further cementing his status as the premier center of his era.

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Eric Bieniemy reveals what he’s most excited for in Patrick Mahomes reunion

Zachary Draves — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:09:15 +0000

It’s been over a week since the Kansas City Chiefs brought back Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator. Plus, he is coming to terms with the “tough decision” to leave his previous position with the Chicago Bears.

Nevertheless, Bieniemy is all gung-ho about returning to his former team. On Wednesday, he provided insight into a recent conversation he had with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, per KC Sports Network.

More than anything, he is just excited about coaching them again.

“I’ve had just a small, minimal conversation with both, but more than anything, it’s just the excitement of reuniting … I’m looking forward to getting back in the grind and chopping wood with them.”

Eric Bieniemy on his communication with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce:

“I’ve had just a small, minimal conversation with both, but more than anything it’s just the excitement of reuniting … I’m looking forward to getting back in the grind and chopping wood with them.” pic.twitter.com/eYtaKydMuH

— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) January 28, 2026

Furthermore, Bieniemy gave a glimpse into how he will conduct business next season.

“We’ll be disciplined and detailed in everything in how we handle our business,” he said. “There’s a standard of performance and excellence that will be expected.”

"We'll be disciplined and detailed in everything in how we handle our business. There's a standard of performance and excellence that will be expected.

– Eric Bieniemy on taking over as the Chiefs' OC pic.twitter.com/X6x3vl387Y

— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) January 28, 2026

The Chiefs are coming off a season in which they went 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. From 2013 to 2022, Bieniemy was on the Chiefs’ coaching staff. He was the offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022. It was during that stretch that the Chiefs won three Super Bowl titles (2020, 2023, and 2024).

Furthermore, Kansas City achieved the third most points in NFL history with 565 in its first year as OC. Plus, Mahomes became the first QB since Peyton Manning to throw for 5,000 yards and throw 50 touchdowns in a single season.

This past year, Bieniemy was the Bears’ running backs coach. Prior to that, he had coaching stints with the Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, and his alma mater, the University of Colorado-Boulder.

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Eric Bieniemy breaks silence on leaving the Bears for the Chiefs return

Yago Antunes — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:31:56 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are officially aiming to recapture their championship magic by bringing back a familiar face. After suffering through the worst season of the Patrick Mahomes era, reports from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero confirm that Eric Bieniemy has been hired as the offensive coordinator. This reunion brings Bieniemy back to the sideline where he helped secure two Super Bowl titles against the 49ers and Eagles.

His return comes after a journey that saw him serve as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, where the unit ranked 21st, followed by a difficult stint at UCLA, where the offense fell to 117th in total yards.

Most recently, he worked with running backs for the Chicago Bears, but the allure of Kansas City proved too strong to ignore.

Breaking his silence on the move, Bieniemy candidly discussed the emotional weight of his choice. According to Nate Taylor, the coordinator admitted it was a “real, real tough decision” to leave his post with the Bears.

However, the excitement of the reunion prevailed, with Bieniemy stating he is “fired up for this opportunity.” He expressed that rejoining Andy Reid and Mahomes felt akin to returning home.

Regarding the on-field product, specifically the running game, Bieniemy emphasized a pragmatic approach. He acknowledged being exposed to various schemes but stressed the importance of identifying and executing exactly what the current personnel does best.

The move signals a changing of the guard, as Andy Reid addressed the departure of Matt Nagy with brutal honesty. Reid confirmed that despite the split, the two remain on excellent terms. He acknowledged that outsiders might question the decision but insisted that he knew Nagy desired a chance to run his own show again.

Reid passionately defended Nagy’s resume, citing his past Coach of the Year honors and stating he deserves a head coaching role.

While the offense performed solidly in 2025 during an MVP-caliber run from Mahomes before his ACL injury, the team ultimately missed the playoffs, prompting this decisive pivot back to Bieniemy.

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Chiefs’ Gardner Minshew receives massive offseason injury update

Ben Strauss — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:44:59 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs had a disastrous 2025 season. Kansas City took a huge step back, finishing the regular season 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. To make matters worse, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury that could linger into 2026. But another Chiefs player got a positive injury update just one month after the regular season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped a surprise update on Gardner Minshew’s injury status on Wednesday.

“As it turns out, Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew did not tear his ACL as initially feared, per source. It turned out to be a bone bruise that did not require any surgery. Minshew didn’t suffer any long-term damage to the knee and he already is back to full strength as he prepares to head to free agency.”

Minshew was knocked out of Week 16 against the Titans just one week after Mahomes’ ACL injury.

Kansas City initially feared that Minshew had also suffered an ACL tear. But further testing revealed that Minshew’s ACL was completely intact.

The update that Minshew is already back at full strength is great news heading into the offseason.

As Schefter noted, Minshew is currently slated to enter free agency. However, he could be a tempting player for Kansas City to re-sign.

Mahomes is bound to miss some time as he recovers from his torn ACL. The Chiefs could certainly benefit from a wily veteran like Minshew who can hold down the fort while Mahomes recovers.

Minshew’s prior experience in Kansas City could give him an edge over other quarterbacks.

Either way, Kansas City’s offense could look a lot different when the 2026 season kicks off. The Chiefs replaced Matt Nagy with Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator.

Bieniemy is a familiar face in Kansas City, but the roster could look a lot different on Week 1. Especially if Mahomes is on the sidelines.

There’s also the question of whether or not Travis Kelce will retire from the NFL.

Good or bad, there’s no doubt that the 2026 offseason will be full of surprises for Chiefs fans.

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Chiefs’ 7-round 2026 NFL Draft according to PFF mock draft simulator

Tim Crean — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:12:43 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs head into the offseason in a wildly unfamiliar spot. Not only are they picking ninth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they also face a future with Patrick Mahomes recovering from knee surgery and Travis Kelce mulling retirement. Amid these Chiefs’ issues, we asked the PFF mock draft simulator who KC will take in April. Here are the six picks it made for the team through all seven rounds.

Round 1, Pick 9: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Peter Woods is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Coming off his impressive 2024 campaign, draft pundits thought Woods could be a top-five pick. After the entire Clemson team disappointed in 2025, Woods may have slipped to a mid-first-round selection.

In this Chiefs’ NFL mock draft, via the PFF mock draft simulator, Woods hangs on to his top 10 status, heading to Kansas City at No. 9. At his best, Woods is a versatile, powerful, athletic 6-foot-3, 310-pound lineman who can do a little bit of everything on the defensive line.

With Jerry Tillery, Derrick Nnadi, and Mike Pennell free agents this offseason, the Chiefs must address DT in the 2026 NFL Draft, and drafting a player whose ceiling is the next Chris Jones makes a lot of sense, even if his floor is much lower.

Round 2, Pick 40: EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

The Chiefs also have free agent issues at edge rusher, with Charles Omenihu and Janarius Robinson no longer under contract. Plus, despite spending a significant amount of draft capital on the position in recent seasons, the team’s pass rush still leaves a lot to be desired.

R Mason Thomas is another polarizing player, for different reasons than Woods, though.

If Thomas were 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he’d be a top 10 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, at 6-foot-2, 249 pounds, scouts worry about his length in dealing with massive NFL offensive tackles.

What Thomas can do, though, is explode out of his stance and bend around a tackle, unlike almost any other player in this class. With 22.0 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks the last two seasons, the former Sooner can absolutely get into the backfield and cause chaos.
Can he play the run in the NFL? Maybe not. But if he can get the QB on third down with regularity, he’s worth a Round 2 pick for KC.

Round 3, Pick 74: EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan

The Chiefs stay on the edge rusher issue in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft as well, according to the PFF mock draft simulator. With this pick, they take Michigan pass rusher Derrick Moore.

At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, Moore is similar to Thomas in that he is mostly a pass-rush specialist at the next level. He is well built, though, and a solid athlete. Moore put up 10.0 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss this past season, which hints at production at the next level as well.

In one fell swoop, the Chiefs would create a fearsome third-down pass rush with Thomas and Moore, and with George Karlaftis in the mix still as well, they can figure out the first two downs next season.

Round 4, Pick 109: OT Austin Barber, Florida

Austin Barber played both left and right tackle at Florida. At 6-foot-6, 314 pounds with limited athleticism and sometimes suspect pass blocking, though, he projects as more of a guard in the pros.

As a starter, the Chiefs do need a right tackle next season, so Barber can compete for that spot. However, in Round 4, if the team can pick up a swing tackle or all-around lineman who can back up four spots on the line, that’s a win.

Round 5, Pick 146: RB J’Mari Taylor, Virginia

Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

J’Mari Taylor is slight in stature at 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, but he’s exceeded expectations at every level, from FCS North Carolina Central to the ACC at Virginia.
Taylor is a powerful runner for his size and has excellent hands as a pass catcher. He led the ACC with 15 total touchdowns this season. While he’s not a bellcow back, he can do a little bit of everything, so don’t rule him out in the pros.

The Chiefs have had good luck in later rounds with backs over the years, and Taylor could be the next in that line.

Round 5, Pick 176: WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech

With Rashee Rice proving unreliable on and off the field and Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals both missing several games last season, the Chiefs need more depth in the wide receiver room.

Caleb Douglas is a 6-foot-4 deep threat who brings skills to the table that no other current Chiefs receiver has. His height makes him a big target who can help Worthy take the tops off of defenses and maybe even make up for missing Kelce in the red zone if he retires.

The biggest issue with Douglas is that he has been injury-prone as well in his time as a Red Raider, so drafting him may bring the Chiefs the same problem they have with their other wideouts.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce lands another gig amid retirement decision

Andrew Korpan — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:23:51 +0000

While fans still await Travis Kelce’s retirement decision, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has landed another endorsement — so expect to see more of him on your TV soon.

Kelce has reportedly landed a new deal with Sleep Number Corp., becoming an investor in the company (via Variety). Along with this partnership comes more commercials. According to Variety’s report, Kelce “will appear in national TV sports for the firm that sells mattresses and beds that offer users the ability to adjust the firmness, support[,] and temperature.”

Not only will he be in TV commercials, but Kelce will also appear in “digital content made for social platforms and other channels.” Kelce is receiving a financial stake in the publicly held company in exchange for his services.

Of course, the NFL has a pre-established relationship with Sleep Number. Kelce becomes the latest player to endorse the product with this deal.

“I’m intentional about where I invest and the brands I align with. I’ve slept on a Sleep Number bed for years, and it’s been a constant through different seasons of my career and life,” Kelce said of the partnership. “The ability to adjust the bed as my recovery needs change is something I’ve personally relied on, and it’s why becoming an investor felt like a natural next step.

“This partnership reflects my confidence in where the company is headed and the growing opportunity around sleep,” he continued.

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce’s looming retirement decision

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fans are currently waiting for Kelce’s decision on his retirement. He is coming off the 13th season of his legendary career, and there’s a chance he returns for a 14th.

Kelce rebounded in 2025 after a disappointing 2024. He had 851 yards and 76 catches and five touchdowns (his most since 2022).

The Chiefs, however, did not rebound from their Super Bowl 59 blowout loss. They went 6-11, their worst record with Patrick Mahomes under center, and missed the playoffs.

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Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snub gets ‘insane’ reaction from Patrick Mahomes

Matty Breisch — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:40:49 +0000

When news broke that Bill Belichick was not named to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, it took the NFL world by storm.

Fans questioned what one of the most successful head coaches in NFL history, a Super Bowl champion multiple times over with winning seasons, AFC East pennants, and other accolades galore, could have done to be placed in such elite historical company, with former players of his era blasting Hall of Fame voters for getting too cute with what should have been an easy vote.

One player in particular who took issue with the voters’ selections was one of Belichick’s Super Bowl foes, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who took to social media to point out the insanity of the situation.

“Insane… don’t even understand how this could be possible,” Mahomes wrote on social media.

What exactly does Belichick’s resume look like? Eight Super Bowl wins, an NFL record six as a head coach, plus two more as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, an NFL record nine conference championship wins, and an NFL record 31 playoff wins, plus the second-most regular season at 302, and the second-most total career wins at 333.

Belichick helped to establish one of the richest coaching trees in the NFL, with plenty of disciples still working to this day, the concept of a multiple defensive front, and helped to turn Tom Brady into a serious contender for the GOAT despite being a part-time starter at Michigan before being drafted on Day 3. If that isn’t the resume of a first ballot Hall of Famer, then Mahomes is right, the results are simply insane.

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Owner’s ‘no doubt’ mic drop on Chiefs’ Travis Kelce as he mulls retirement decision

Douglas Fritz — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:33:59 +0000

It depends on who you listen to when wondering if Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will retire. Some think a recent hire will lure him back for another year. And the Chiefs’ owner had a “no doubt” mic drop on Kelce as he mulls retirement, according to a post on X by Ian Rapoport.

“That’s a big endorsement.”

“@JABergman “Clark Hunt says on @gmfb that Chiefs “certainly hope” Travis Kelce will return in 2026. There’s no doubt in my mind that he can still play.”

Kelce turned in his 11th straight Pro Bowl appearance in 2025. He caught 76 passes for 851 yards and five touchdowns in a year where the Chiefs finally missed the playoffs despite having Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.

Will TE Travis Kelce return in 2026?

One thing that seems to pull Kelce toward a return is the hiring of Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. Kelce said it’s a big deal, according to a post on X by New Heights.

But Kelce acknowledged years ago that the NFL has been rough on him, mentally and especially physically, according to The Wall Street Journal back in 2023 via heavy.com.

“I think about retiring more than anyone could ever imagine,” Kelce said. “That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about … the discomfort. The pain. The lingering injuries — the 10 surgeries I’ve had.

Kelce added that he still feels “every single surgery to this day.”

But it’s the competitor in Kelce that has kept him on the field. That stretch of Pro Bowl appearances speaks highly not only about his ability, but also his durability and consistency.

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When Andy Reid knew Matt Nagy wanted to leave Kansas City Chiefs

Nukul Jashoria — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 02:37:50 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs’ decision to move on from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was not a sudden or reactionary call, according to head coach Andy Reid. Instead, it was a process that began well before the 2025 NFL season even kicked off, rooted in Nagy’s long-term ambition to step back into a lead role elsewhere in the league.

Speaking during a recent teleconference announcing Eric Bieniemy’s return as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator, Reid took time to defend Nagy and clarify the context surrounding his departure publicly. Reid made it clear that there was no breakdown in their relationship and no single moment that forced the Chiefs’ hand, but implied that he knew about his departure.

“If we left it that simple, that’s what I would tell you,” Reid said. “I know everybody’s going to question everything, and I get all that — it’s understandable. But Matt [Nagy] and I have a great relationship. Before the season, right before it even started here, I knew that he wanted an opportunity to have his own show.”

Nagy’s second stint in Kansas City came to an end after a disappointing season that saw the Chiefs miss the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. While the offense showed great show, including strong stretches before Mahomes’ ACL injury, the organization ultimately opted for change by rehiring Bieniemy, a familiar figure from their championship years.

Despite the separation, Reid emphasized that Nagy’s exit was not driven by animosity or a lack of respect. Nagy had reportedly turned down a contract extension the previous year, reinforcing the idea that he was already looking ahead to his next challenge.

Interest around the league remains, with several teams monitoring him for coordinator or potential head coaching opportunities. However for the Kansas City, the move signals a reset aimed at restoring offensive stability. For Nagy, it represents a chance to reposition himself and potentially re-emerge as a head coach in the near future, keeping his long-term ambitions firmly alive.

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Chiefs’ Andy Reid gets brutally honest on Matt Nagy’s departure

Jackson Stone — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:10:32 +0000

Recently, it was announced that the Kansas City Chiefs would be bringing back former coach Eric Bieniemy to be their offensive coordinator moving forward, hoping to rekindle the flame that existed in the late 2010s. This meant the team would be parting ways with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who is now a coaching free agent.

Now, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is getting real on the state of his relationship with Nagy after the breakup.

“We left it that simple, that’s what I would tell you,” Reid said, per Myles Simmons of NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. “I know everybody’s going to question everything and I get all that. It’s understandable. But Matt and I have a great relationship. And here he sits, and before the season, right before the season even started here, I knew that he wanted an opportunity to have his own show.”

At this point, Nagy has yet to sign with another team, although some head coaching vacancies still exist on the open market, including the Buffalo Bills.

“He’s been a head coach. He was coach of the year. I mean, all the things I’ve said about him, I still feel about him. There’s nothing different there. He deserves to have a head coaching job. And if not, it gives him an opportunity to go out and do his thing,” said Reid.

The Chiefs’ offense was mostly solid during the 2025 season, with the team frequently being let down by its defense amid an MVP-caliber year from Patrick Mahomes, who eventually went down with an ACL injury.

However, that wasn’t enough to keep the Chiefs from missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era, something that they hope Bieniemy will help them fix.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen where Nagy will end up after an underwhelming tenure in Kansas City.

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Chiefs 2026 NFL Mock Draft roundup with highest pick in 13 years

Tim Crean — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:06:27 +0000

After a half-decade of dominance, the Kansas City Chiefs had a nightmare season in 2025 and will now pick inside the top 10 for the first time since selecting No. 1 in 2013. Who will they take at No. 9? We surveyed top NFL draft experts from around the sports world in this Chiefs 2026 NFL Mock Draft roundup.

Kansas City has picked in the high 20s or thirties for almost a decade now after trading up to No. 10 in 2017 to take Patrick Mahomes. That means the young talent on the roster has dipped over the years. Add to that the fact that Mahomes is recovering from an ACL tear and superstar tight end Travis Kelce is mulling retirement, and this draft becomes incredibly important.

If they make the right picks, as the New England Patriots did in the middle of Tom Brady’s career, they can set themselves up for a second act to rival those Pats. If not, we may have seen the end of the Chiefs’ dynasty when they limped off the field after getting crushed in Super Bowl 59.

Either way, the NFL’s annual selection meeting in April will be a fascinating one for Kansas City, so let’s jump right into the Chiefs’ 2026 NFL Mock Draft roundup.

RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Tim Crean, ClutchPoints; Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN; Mark Schofield and James Dator, SB Nation

The most common pick in this Chiefs 2026 NFL Mock Draft roundup is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

While taking a running back in the top 10 is a dicey proposition that often doesn’t work out all that well, the Chiefs are a unique case where adding a star RB to their roster could be the missing piece they need to get back on track.

The RB situation in Kansas City has been rough for almost the entire dynastic run. The team hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt and Mahomes were rookies back in 2017. So, while this hasn’t been a dealbreaker in the past, with Mahomes aging and recovering from a major injury, it’s time to make that position a priority.

Love is a back who has it all. He is a bellcow back with good size at 6-feet, 214 pounds who also has sprinter speed and can run routes and catch as well. This is the type of player you can build an offense around, and with Mahomes coming back from injury, Andy Reid can do that starting at the beginning of next season.

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs have struggled to find a dominant pass rusher to pair with Chris Jones, despite using a fair amount of draft capital on the position in recent years.

General manager Brett Veach has selected edge players Ashton Gillote, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, and George Karlaftis in the past four drafts. While Karlaftis has turned into a solid starting defensive end, he’s averaging under 8.0 sacks per season. The other two have 4.5 sacks combined.

Rueben Bain Jr. is the most powerful pass rusher in this draft and showed that in Miami’s run to the national title game. At 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, he doesn’t have the length that most top EDGE prospects do, but his production on the field speaks for itself.

An elite pass rusher could turn the Chiefs’ defense into a menace next season and also help carry the offense while Mahomes gets back up to speed. If they believe Bain is that guy, this can be an incredible pick.

OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Dalton Wasserman, PFF

Francis Mauigoa is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds who held down the right tackle spot for the surging Hurricanes this college football season. What’s interesting about this 2026 NFL Mock Draft selection is that most pundits see Mauigoa as a guard, but he’d likely stay at RT for the Chiefs.

With Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Kingsley Suamataia at center and the guard spots, respectively, Kansas City has one of the best interior offensive lines in the league. However, promising left tackle Josh Simmons was injured in 2025, and they could use an upgrade at RT from Jawaan Taylor.

Whether Mauigoa sticks at RT or Suamataia slides outside (like he did in college), adding the Miami OL to a unit that is already a strength of the team makes a lot of sense. And if he does replace Taylor in the starting lineup, the entire KC O-line will be 27 and under for the start of next season.

WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Ayrton Ostly, USA Today

While the Chiefs’ running back situation is pretty bad, the wide receiver group may actually be weaker. Rashee Rice can’t be trusted to stay on the field (due to injuries or off-field incidents), and neither Xavier Worthy nor Jalen Royals looks like a WR1.
To get Mahomes a truly elite pass-catcher, taking Jordyn Tyson here does make some sense. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound pass-catcher looks like a true No. 1 and has the talent to reach that level, too.

The biggest problem here is that Tyson has injury issues, too, missing time in each of his four college seasons for various ailments. Adding an injury-prone wideout to a group that already struggles in that respect may not be the most helpful pick, regardless of talent.

EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Blake Brockmeyer, CBS Sports

The argument for picking a potentially elite edge rusher is the same for Keldric Faulk as it is for Bain. However, these are two polar opposite players.

While Bain has physical limitations but excellent production, Faulk has the type of body you think of when you think of a 6-foot-6, 285-pound edge rusher. However, with just 10.0 sacks in three seasons, Faulk has yet to show that he can be elite.

So, a pick like this over Bain comes down to what Veach and Reid value. Will they overlook some physical limitations after watching incredible tape? Or would they rather have the unteachable physical traits and figure out the rest later?

If the answer is the latter, Faulk is their man.

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Why Rueben Bain is labeled ‘favorite fit’ for Chiefs in new NFL.com mock draft

Gerard Angelo Samillano — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:08:51 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unfamiliar position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. Over the last decade or so, the Chiefs have always gone into the draft with a late first-round draft pick in hand. Their multiple trips to the Super Bowl and the AFC Championship have always given this result.

This year, though, things are a little different. The Chiefs hold the ninth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it’s not due to some trade that they made years ago. Kansas City missed the postseason completely this year due to a myriad of reasons. Now, the Chiefs have to confront the harsh reality that their roster isn’t enough to contend anymore.

The high draft pick is the perfect opportunity for the Chiefs to inject some new talent into their roster. There are a few areas that need to be addressed in the draft, and the ninth pick brings a lot of options to the table. Noted draft insider Daniel Jeremiah has the Chiefs addressing their ailing defensive line by drafting Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr.

“Bain is my favorite fit for the Chiefs,” Andy Reid has always had an appreciation for players with a junkyard dog mentality like Bain possesses, having coached Trent Cole and Brandon Graham in Philadelphia.”

Outside of George Karlaftis and the aging Chris Jones, the Chiefs have lacked firepower in the pass rush department. Steve Spagnuolo’s blitzing schemes have helped generate pressure, but nothing beats good pressure from a four-man rush. Drafting another pass rusher would help stabilize the Chiefs’ defense next season.

Bain would be an interesting choice for the Chiefs at the ninth overall pick. A junior from Miami, Bain recorded a sack and eight tackles in the Hurricanes’ loss to Indiana in the CFP Championship. The pass rusher finished the season with 9.5 sacks, 54 tackles, and one interception this season.

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Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes’ message to Matt Nagy after exit

Yago Antunes — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:12:19 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are entering a transformative offseason after a grueling 6-11 campaign that saw them miss the postseason for the first time in over a decade. The season’s low point came in Week 15 when star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury, leaving the franchise at a crossroads. In a move to recapture their previous dominance, the team has reunited with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. Before the hiring was even finalized, Mahomes signaled his approval by posting a photo with Bieniemy, accompanied by three flex emojis on social media.

Bieniemy, a cornerstone of the Chiefs’ dynasty from 2018 to 2022, returns after stints with the Commanders, UCLA, and the Bears to provide stability as Mahomes begins a long road to recovery.

Patrick Mahomes writes a special message as the Chiefs officially part ways with Matt Nagy, according to a report from The Kansas City Star. Matt Nagy’s biography is no longer on the Chiefs website, and the team shared a quick farewell message Friday on social media to their now-former offensive coordinator. “Forever a Super Bowl champ,” the team wrote on X. “Thanks for everything, Coach Nagy!”

Around noon on Friday, the Chiefs made it officially official, as Eric Bieniemy has been hired to replace Nagy as offensive coordinator. Nagy’s next landing spot is unknown. He was not hired by the Titans for their head-coaching position, as some pundits thought might happen. But Nagy interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who are searching for an offensive coordinator.

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!”

To further aid Mahomes’ return, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. suggests a major addition to the backfield in his latest mock draft. Kiper projects the Chiefs will use their number nine overall pick to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

Love is described as a “game-changer” with elite speed and vision, having racked up 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Adding such a versatile weapon would alleviate the pressure on Mahomes as he works back from surgery, ensuring the Chiefs’ offense becomes multidimensional once again.

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WWE legend Mark Henry reacts to doppelgänger Eric Bieniemy returning to Chiefs

Andrew Korpan — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:15:51 +0000

Some fans have noticed how similar WWE legend Mark Henry looks to Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, which became relevant as he returned to the team this offseason.

Henry, who was known as the “World’s Strongest Man” in WWE, responded to a fan who joked that their favorite team “lost the World’s Strongest Coordinator back to the Chiefs!”

The WWE legend responded, “You better stop playing!” to the post. Several fans found this interaction amusing. One fan even commented by posting the Spider-Man pointing meme.

Damn we lost the World’s Strongest Coordinator back to the Chiefs! @TheMarkHenry https://t.co/5OsSGtOpVQ

— D’Lo Brown (@dlobrown75) January 23, 2026

The comparison makes sense when shown pictures of Bieniemy during the 2025 season. He sported a grey beard, similar to the one Henry has.

Eric Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs after 3 seasons

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

One of the Chiefs’ earliest moves of the offseason was bringing Bieniemy back as their offensive coordinator. Bieniemy helped the Chiefs win two Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes as the offensive coordinator.

After he left, the Chiefs did win another Super Bowl and make another, but the offensive production slipped. Now, they hope to pick up where Bieniemy left off.

He left the Chiefs to become the Washington Commanders’ assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. The following year, he had the same role with UCLA.

In 2025, Bieniemy joined the Chicago Bears as the running backs coach. The Bears made it to the NFC Divisional Round before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. He is now back with the team he spent nearly a decade with from 2013 to 2022.

Mahomes had his last MVP season with Bieniemy as his offensive coordinator. In 2022, Mahomes passed for a career-high 5,250 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He hasn’t thrown 30 or more touchdowns in a single season since Bieniemy’s departure. He will be coming off a torn ACL injury, so hopefully, Bieniemy’s return can help him get back to form.

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What Pat McAfee said about Travis Kelce potentially returning to the Chiefs

Zachary Draves — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:57:11 +0000

At 36, Travis Kelce has reached an advanced athletic stage. However, there is no real evidence to imply that he intends to retire from the Kansas City Chiefs.

In fact, Kelce laid out certain conditions that would compel him to return, as he said on his New Heights Podcast with his brother Jason Kelce. If he has the confidence and ability to recover smoothly, then he would.

Additionally, the Chiefs’ bringing back OC Eric Bieniemy to the staff gave Kelce enough excitement about what lies ahead.

On Thursday, Pat McAfee discussed the possibility that Kelce would return to his show, per The Pat McAfee Show. Essentially, based on all the evidence available, he is coming back, said McAfee, as well as co-host A.J. Hawk.

“He’s allowed to make any decision he wants,” McAfee said. “He’s earned it, and obviously, he can make any announcement he wants. But him saying that and that going out, he knows that people are going to immediately think to themselves, wait, you are going to be back in the building then? That’s what that means. We’re excited for that. We would like for the Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes show to roll along. But we understand that life after ball is certainly waiting, and I think it’s going to be fantastic.”

It sounds like Travis Kelce is gonna be BACK in the Kansas City Chiefs building #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/CDnCUdGOrm

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 22, 2026

Off the field, Kelce is in his prime. He is engaged to Taylor Swift, the New Heights Podcast is booming in popularity, and he is extremely marketable on a multitude of levels.

The Chiefs are coming off a disappointing 6-11 season and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Plus, Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury.

Kelce and company led Kansas City to three Super Bowls (2020, 2023, 2024).

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Eric Bieniemy’s Chiefs return has Tyreek Hill noticing

Jackson Stone — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:14:25 +0000

Recently, it was revealed that Eric Bieniemy would be returning to the Kansas City Chiefs to reassume his role as the team’s offensive coordinator. Bieniemy was at the helm for the Chiefs‘ early dynastic days at the beginning of the Patrick Mahomes era, and Kansas City will hope that he is able to infuse some of his magic back into the team after they missed the playoffs in 2025.

One person who is taking notice of Bieniemy’s return is former Chiefs and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to weigh in.

“EB to the chiefs hm,” he wrote.

It should be noted that Hill also had a similar reaction when it was revealed earlier in the day that Mike McDaniel, Hill’s former coach in Miami, would be going to the Los Angeles Chargers to be their new offensive coordinator.

“Mike to the chargers hm,” he wrote.

Many expect the Dolphins and Hill to be headed for a divorce this offseason after a few unsuccessful years together. It remains to be seen how much Hill has left in the tank after suffering a brutal leg injury that ended his season prematurely in 2025. Even before that setback, he seemed to have lost a step from his prime days with the Chiefs and Dolphins.

Still, if he were to become available, the Chiefs certainly might have interest, considering how explosive their offense looked when Hill was a part of it in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Kansas City has taken a step back in that department over the last few seasons, and the team will likely be willing to pull out all the stops in order to add more talent this offseason after their disastrous 2025 campaign.

However, as Hill noted on X, there are multiple options on the table.

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Patrick Mahomes endorses Eric Bieniemy reunion with 3 emojis

Zachary Draves — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:44:28 +0000

On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs were able to pick themselves up from a disappointing season, in part, and brought one of their own back. They agreed to bring back Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator.

Before that was even confirmed, Patrick Mahomes called for it with a three-emoji message, per Harold R. Kuntz of Fox4KC. In a post featuring Mahomes alongside Bieniemy, he included three flex emojis—no explanation needed.

Think a picture is worth .. well you know how QB1 Patrick Mahomes feels about an Eric Bieniemy hire. #Chiefs

Pic: IG/Patrick Mahomes pic.twitter.com/kCk4xhjzcZ

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 21, 2026

Bieniemy was the Chiefs’ OC from 2018-2022, during which they won two Super Bowls. He was with the organization from 2013-2022, which included four years (2013-2017) as running backs coach. Afterwards, he had coaching stints with the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and UCLA football. Meanwhile, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, finishing 6-11. A sign that the once great Kansas City dynasty may be experiencing its last hurrah.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mahomes sustained a season-ending ACL injury that required surgery. Altogether, Mahomes finished the season with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and a QB rating of 89.6. Plus, he had a pass completion percentage of 62.7%.

Bieniemy played in the NFL from 1991 to 1999 as a running back. In total, he played for three teams, including the then San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles. After he retired, Bieniemy took up an assistant coaching job at Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver in 2000.

From there, he had coaching stints at his alma mater, the University of Colorado-Boulder, and later with the Minnesota Vikings. Bieniemy was the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.

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Eric Bieniemy officially returns to Chiefs as offensive coordinator

Lorenzo J Reyna — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:54:51 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs sparked reunion rumors with Eric Bieniemy on Monday. Now Andy Reid is helping lure back the Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator.

NFL Network insider Tom Peliserro reported that Bieniemy to Kansas City is a done deal as of Wednesday evening.

“Coming off the worst season of the Patrick Mahomes era, Andy Reid brings back a familiar face in Bieniemy, who was part of two Super Bowl wins in KC,” Peliserro posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

Bieniemy was OC during the early Chiefs runs of the 2019 season and then 2022 — beating the San Francisco 49ers then Philadelphia Eagles.

Where was Eric Bieniemy since Chiefs departure?

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Bieniemy bounced around multiple places since leaving after Super Bowl LVII.

He accepted the offensive coordinator job with the Washington Commanders for the 2023 season where he was also assistant head coach.

However, his offense struggled throughout the ’23 season — ranking 21st overall. And Bieniemy even was given full play-calling reins, which he didn’t have under Reid. Dan Quinn eventually took over as head coach in replacing Ron Rivera and never retained Bieniemy.

UCLA ultimately landed him in 2024, handing him the same position. The move brought Bieniemy back to the college game for the first time since the 2010-2011 season with Colorado. But that stay became truncated as the Bruins fell to 5-7. The UCLA offense ranked 117th in total yards that 2024 season.

He spent last season working with the running backs for the Chicago Bears under Ben Johnson. But former Chiefs offensive lineman and Super Bowl winner Mitchell Schwartz endorsed Bieniemy’s return before Wednesday’s news.

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Did Travis Kelce just tease 2026 return after Eric Bieniemy’s Chiefs return?

Andrew Korpan — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:37:43 +0000

Even amidst the rumors of his retirement, could Travis Kelce return to the field in 2026 after the Kansas City Chiefs brought Eric Bieniemy back?

Talking about the hire on New Heights, Kelce seemed pumped that the Chiefs were bringing Bieniemy back as the offensive coordinator. His verbiage suggested that he could come back and reunite with his former offensive coordinator.

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce raved. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time; one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy, and it’s gonna be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo, baby.”

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building he’s one of my favorite coaches of all time”

Travis shared his thoughts on (a possibly shirtless) Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs pic.twitter.com/MRmdNAcIar

— New Heights (@newheightshow) January 21, 2026

Kelce never explicitly said he was coming back. However, what he said suggested that he appears eager to reunite with the coach. Either way, Kelce believes the two sides will be able to pick up where they left off after Bieniemy left in 2023.

Travis Kelce should be hyped the Chiefs brought Eric Bieniemy back

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Bieniemy left the Chiefs after being with them for nearly a decade. He started as the team’s running backs coach in 2013. In 2018, the first year with Patrick Mahomes as the starter, he was promoted to offensive coordinator.

He remained in that position until 2023, when he became the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. That would only last a year, and Bieniemy would then join UCLA as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. In 2025, he joined the Chicago Bears as their running backs coach.

Kelce last had 1,000 yards under Bieniemy in his last year with the team. Since then, Kelce has had 984, 823, and 851 yards in his seasons without Bieniemy. He has also only scored 13 touchdowns in that stretch after scoring 12 in 2022. If he chooses to come back, expect Kelce to return to form.

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Mel Kiper gives Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs a ‘game-changing’ RB in new mock draft

Jackson Stone — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:25:52 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are in an unfamiliar spot, having to watch the NFL playoffs from home after missing them for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era this season. The Chiefs’ disastrous 2025 season reached a new low when Mahomes went down with a torn ACL in the final weeks, meaning that the pressure is on for the front office to turn things around ahead of next season.

Recently, Mel Kiper of ESPN released his latest mock draft, and projected that the Chiefs will be adding some much-needed help in the backfield for Mahomes with their number nine selection, predicting that they will pick Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

“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,” noted Kiper.

Indeed, the Chiefs’ running game left much to be desired throughout the 2025 season. In fact, for a considerable chunk of the campaign, Mahomes himself was the team’s leading rusher, by virtue of his ability to scramble and make plays with his legs.

However, that certainly isn’t something that the Chiefs will want to rely on too heavily moving forward, especially now that Mahomes will be coming off of an ACL injury.

“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,” noted Kiper.

Adding a player with Love’s talents would give the Chiefs an immediate boost on the offensive side of the ball and also potentially allow Mahomes to ease back into things whenever he returns from the injury, which seems to be up in the air at this point.

The NFL Draft is set for April from Pittsburgh.

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Chiefs rumors: What Albert Breer is hearing about Andy Reid’s Eric Bieniemy plan

Douglas Fritz — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:01:20 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are filling out their coaching staff, and all signs point to Eric Bieniemy returning as the offensive coordinator. And here is what Albert Breer is hearing about Andy Reid’s plan for the return of Bieniemy, according to Sports Illustrated.

“Eric Bieniemy’s potential return to Kansas City is interesting,” Breer wrote. “As I understand it, Andy Reid would like to have Bieniemy on his 2026 staff, adding a layer of accountability, and may need to use the coordinator title to get him out of Chicago. Where that leaves Nagy, who’s on an expiring contract, is another layer to all of it. And Mike Kafka, who Reid loves, could be another piece of the equation. Reid has spoken glowingly of Kafka to teams considering him as a coordinator candidate.”

What did Eric Bieniemy bring to the Chiefs?

The Chiefs moved the football with consistency under Bieniemy. They were No. 6 or better in points and yards in all five of his seasons as the team’s offensive coordinator. And they finished first in yards three times and first in points twice.

Now that’s a solid resume. It makes sense Reid would want Bieniemy back. With Matt Nagy in that role for three years, the Chiefs cracked the top 10 in yards or points only one time.

It certainly piqued the interest of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, according to ESPN. He spoke about the qualities that the Chiefs need. And Mahomes learned many of those things from Bieniemy.

“For me, I just want someone that loves football, that cares about football, that wants to give everything they can to win, to hold people accountable, and then to bring new ideas every single day,” Mahomes said. “That’s something that we have to continue to do if you want to continue to be great in this league. You have to continue to evolve.”

One thing the Chiefs desperately need is to find a way to move the football when defenses put more defensive backs on the field and still create pressure on Mahomes.

“The one part of having so much success is teams watch a lot of film on you, so we try to have good game plans of how to combat what you do and what you’ve done well,” Mahomes said.

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Chiefs’ Andy Reid makes addition to coaching staff before Eric Bieniemy hiring

Alex House — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 22:23:08 +0000

After winning two Super Bowls with limited pass-catching weapons, the Kansas City Chiefs were unable to overcome their fairly thin wide receiver room this season. The organization is desperate to maximize superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ talents and will presumably make changes on offense. While it is unclear how the roster will look, KC is modifying its coaching staff. Andy Reid will have a new WR coach next season, and he is a familiar yet unconventional candidate.

The Chiefs are hiring Chad O’Shea, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He started climbing his way up the NFL ranks back in 2003, when he served as a volunteer assistant for Kansas City. The former Houston Cougars QB was later promoted to assistant special teams coach and ultimately won three rings while leading the New England Patriots’ WR room from 2009-18. There were some lows after those champagne showers, however.

O’Shea spent just one year as Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator in 2019 and just finished a six-year stint as the Cleveland Browns WR coach and passing game coordinator. The AFC North squad ranked in the bottom-three in passing yards, total yards of offense and points during the 2025-26 campaign. One may have expected the Chiefs to scour another team for an offensive jolt, but they clearly believe in this assistant’s capabilities.

Hopefully, O’Shea will be able to get the best out of KC’s receivers, just as he did with the Patriots’ largely unheralded group. Rashee Rice notched 571 yards and five touchdowns in just eight games. Xavier Worthy is far more inconsistent (42 catches for 532 yards and one TD in 14 games), but he boasts elite speed.

Chad O’Shea will be tasked with helping them realize their full potential, for their respective contributions will become even more important if legendary tight end Travis Kelce retires. He will try to prove that his Cleveland output is just a product of being… well, in Cleveland. The return of extolled offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could be of great benefit to O’Shea moving forward.

Chiefs Kingdom is overflowing with intrigue, and the offseason has not even officially started yet.

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All signs pointing to Eric Bieniemy-Chiefs reunion, per reports

Matty Breisch — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:55:27 +0000

As rumors swirl that the Kansas City Chiefs could soon lose offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to the Tennessee Titans, Andy Reid has reportedly tabbed his successor in the form of a regular blast from the past.

Taking to social media to inform fans of the team that “all signs are pointing towards,” NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero shared that the Chiefs are in contact with ex-offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to return to his former role after spending time with the Washington Commanders, UCLA Bruins, and Chicago Bears.

“Reunion: All signs are pointing towards Eric Bieniemy returning to the Chiefs as their offensive coordinator, sources say,” Pelissero wrote. “With Matt Nagy out of contract and in the head coaching mix, Kansas City plans to bring back Bieniemy, a valued member of Andy Reid’s staff from 2013-22.”

Initially playing for Reid as a running back all the way back in 1999 with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bieniemy reunited with his former coach in 2013, serving as a running backs coach from 2013-17 before being elevated to offensive coordinator from 2018-22. From there, Bieniemy was hired as an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the Commanders in 2023 before taking the same role at UCLA in 2024. Bieniemy returned to the NFL in 2025, coaching the Bears’ elite running backs unit on the way to the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL Playoffs.

While only time will tell what the future holds for Nagy, be that a head coaching gig in Tennessee or another offensive coordinatorship elsewhere, the Chiefs appear interested in bringing back a fixture of their Super Bowl rosters in the hopes of getting back to the promised land in 2027.

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Ex-Chiefs Super Bowl winner endorses Eric Bieniemy’s return

Lorenzo J Reyna — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:33:55 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are offensive coordinator hunting, sparking Eric Bieniemy rumors again. Head coach Andy Reid has the ball in his court on “EB.” One ex-Chiefs Super Bowl winner, though, strongly endorses Bieniemy’s return.

Retired offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz took to the social media website X, formerly Twitter, to share why “EB” deserves another chance.

“Getting EB back is the best outcome given that the HC is the OC (one of the best of all time) and has offensive control,” Schwartz began. “EB brings the same traits that made him successful before: works his ass off and holds people accountable.”

Matt Nagy moved on from his OC duties with the Chiefs. He wasn’t the only coaching move, though, as Kansas City fired wide receivers coach Connor Embree.

Schwartz wasn’t through with the endorsement of Bieniemy, though.

How Eric Bieniemy can impact the Chiefs this time

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Schwartz won Super Bowl LIV with Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Bieniemy as the OC. Now he believes Bieniemy reenters refreshed following being around another notable offensive genius.

“This time, he comes back with intimate knowledge of Ben Johnson’s system. Which is as stylistically opposite of KC as just about anyone right now,” Schwartz said. “You’re not going to get much more from a hire than that combination.”

Reid and the Chiefs are aiming to shed the memories of a 6-11 season that ended on a six-game slide. Schwartz dove into why “EB” can fit one more time in K.C.

“He’s exactly what the team needs: a guy to coach everyone hard, a guy with new ideas and concepts from one of the best, and possibly the best RB coach in the league to groom [Brashard] Smith (and whoever else the team brings in),” Schwartz said.

Schwartz admits he liked former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel — who’s interviewing for OC and head coaching openings.

“But that’s not realistic when your HC is Andy Reid. And for good reason,” he said. “So get the guy back who knows the previous system and can bring fresh and new ideas (see what I did there) from a top offense.”

The 56-year-old Bieniemy was the running backs coach for the Chicago Bears this past season.

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Chiefs interviewing Eric Bienemy for potential reunion as OC

Gerard Angelo Samillano — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:52:30 +0000

The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up for life without Matt Nagy. With talks of Nagy getting another shot at being a head coach intensifying, Kansas City will more than likely lose their offensive coordinator. Because of that, the Chiefs are already interviewing a few candidates… including one that their fans might be familiar with.

Ian Rapoport reports that former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator and current Chicago Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy is being eyed for the Chiefs’ OC role. Bieniemy will be the first coach that Kansas City will interview for the potentially open spot.

Bieniemy was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for most of the Patrick Mahomes era. Taking over from Matt Nagy in 2017, Bieniemy is a two-time champion, helping lead the team to greater heights. Bieniemy had a hand in developing an offense that allowed Mahomes to play to his strengths while scheming open their passing threats.

After failing to land a head coaching job while with the Chiefs, Bieniemy decided to take on an offensive coordinator role with the Commanders in 2023. Bieniemy didn’t do too well with Washington, ranking 24th in total offense, 18th in passing yards, and 27th in rushing yards. Bieniemy wasn’t retained after the season.

Afterwards, Bieniemy returned to UCLA to be their offensive coordinator. After a 5-7 start where the Bruins ranked 117th in yards per game and 126th in points scored per game, Bieniemy was fired midseason. The former Chiefs offensive coordinator took on the running backs coach role this season, where he seemed to make a positive impact on Chicago’s running back room.

This season, the Chiefs’ offense was a bit of a disaster, to put it lightly. The Chiefs ranked a measly 20th in total offense, 16th in passing yards, and 25th in rushing yards. While part of their struggles was due to Patrick Mahomes’ torn ACL, that injury came later in the season. Kansas City was also struggling even with Mahomes healthy, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing the postseason for the first time in the Mahomes era.

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Ex-Chiefs star Tyreek Hill makes plea to return ‘home’

Andrew Korpan — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:56:02 +0000

After four years with the Miami Dolphins, it appears wide receiver Tyreek Hill is ready to return “home” and reunite with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hill may be open to coming back to the team that drafted him. His latest post may be the most obvious plea. He responded to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s “request” to become People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in the wake of reports that Dan Orlovsky would be open to becoming the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator.

“Since we putting in request[s],” Hill began, “I want to go home [smiling face with sunglasses emoji].”

Will Tyreek Hill return to the Chiefs?

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.

It’s unknown if the Chiefs have any interest in reuniting with Hill. Without him, they have made it to three Super Bowls and won two in four years.

Still, Hill is an explosive target who was a big part of the offense during Patrick Mahomes’ early years. During Mahomes’ rookie season, Hill logged 1,479 yards (a career-best at the time) and 12 touchdowns. He had over 1,000 yards in two more seasons before being traded to the Dolphins.

Hill took off with the Dolphins as well. In his first season in Miami, Hill had over 1,700 yards and seven touchdowns. The following year, he had 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns.

His 2025 season, like the Chiefs’ was disappointing. He only played in four games before he suffered a season-ending injury. In four games, he had 21 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown.

Now, he is rehabbing his injury. It’s unclear if he will still be the same player upon his return during the 2026 NFL season. Either way, there’s a chance he returns to the field with a new uniform.

Hill was a fifth-round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of West Alabama. In his rookie season, Hill caught 61 passes for 593 yards and six touchdowns. His bigger contribution came through returns. He returned 39 punts for 592 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned 14 kickoffs for 384 yards and a score.

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Eli Manning shares thoughts on Travis Kelce retirement rumors

Autumn Hawkins — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:02:58 +0000

Eli Manning is one of the latest NFL stars to give their insight on the rumors surrounding whether Travis Kelce will be retiring soon.

After 13 years in the league, his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs is ending this season, and the Chiefs not made it to the playoffs for the first time in a decade, there has been a lot of talk about whether the tight end will hang up his cleats. The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback weighed in on Kelce’s eventual decision and gave words of encouragement in the process.

“That’s his decision, that only he can make, and only he knows what his desire and commitment towards it is. And it’s one of those deals, as you get older, it’s not like you can do less and get the same result. You gotta work twice as hard to get half the results — the injuries, the buildup, you’re getting slower, the fast-twitch motions,” Manning told PEOPLE.

Manning added that he believes that whatever Kelce decides will be the best option for him. The former New York Giants

“I think as [Kelce] thinks over these next few weeks or months, he’ll kind of know like, ‘Hey, am I itching to get back there and start grinding and start training and start doing everything I need to do or am I ready for this next chapter?’ And he’s got other opportunities, he’s got other things that he can stay busy with,” he added.

When Kelce decides to make his retirement decision, it’s likely that he could make the announcement on his podcast, New Heights, which he co-hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce. On the Jan. 7 episode of New Heights, Kelce shared that the decision is still up in the air.

“It’s a tough thing to navigate, but at the same time, I think if my body can heal up and rest up and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18, 20, 21-week run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat,” he said. “I think right now it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and when it all settles down.”

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sets Week 1 goal for ACL recovery

Benedetto Vitale — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:49:49 +0000

Patrick Mahomes suffered an ACL tear in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 16-13 Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s an injury that could keep the star quarterback out for most of next season. However, Mahomes has a different plan in mind, as he sets an inspiring goal for the 2026-27 campaign.

Reports indicate that the 30-year-old quarterback has set a goal to return to action by Week 1 of next season, according to Omar Ruiz of the NFL Network. Mahomes claims that rehab is going smoothly and that the doctors informed him that his goal is possible, but it will largely depend on his road to recovery.

“Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says rehab is going great, doctors have to hold him back from wanting to push harder. He said his goal is to try to get ready for Week 1 and play without restrictions. He said his doctors said it’s possible, but a long way to go.”

The average recovery time from a torn ACL is anywhere between six and 12 months. As of this publishing, the three-time Super Bowl winner is one month removed from his injury. So, for Mahomes to accomplish his goal, he would likely need to be showing signs of healthy stability in his left knee by June or July.

Despite the Chiefs struggling throughout the 2025-26 season and missing the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes was playing on par with his efforts from the 2024-25 campaign. Through 14 games played this year, the six-time Pro Bowler recorded 3,587 passing yards and 27 total touchdowns (22 passing, five rushing) while completing 62.7% of his pass attempts.

His 256.2 passing yards per game put him on pace for 4,355 yards on the season had he not suffered the injury. That would have been good enough for the fourth-most passing yards in a single season in Mahomes’ career.

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Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy hits back at doubters after 2025 season

Allan Binoy — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:52:51 +0000

Xavier Worthy has heard the noise, and he’s ready to silence it. On Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver took to social media to send a message to his critics following successful shoulder surgery. After a 2025 campaign that fell short of expectations, both for him and the team, Worthy made it clear he’s using the negativity as fuel.

“Keep doubting me y’all are making a monster !” Worthy posted on X.

The surgery, which addressed a torn labrum, closes the book on a grueling sophomore season. Worthy originally suffered the injury in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers but opted to play through the pain rather than undergo immediate season-ending surgery. While the toughness was admirable, the injury clearly hindered his production.

Worthy finished the 2025 season with 42 receptions for 532 yards and just one touchdown over 14 games. Those numbers were a regression from his rookie year and drew sharp criticism from fans and analysts alike as the Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs.

The speedster faced heat for his inconsistency and lack of separation, but the revelation of the severity of his injury adds crucial context to his struggles. Playing through a torn labrum is no small feat, especially for a receiver reliant on range of motion and physicality at the catch point.

With the procedure now behind him, the focus shifts to 2026. A fully healthy Worthy is critical for a Chiefs offense looking to rebuild its identity. If his post-surgery declaration is any indication, he plans to return with a chip on his shoulder, literally and figuratively.

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4 head coaching jobs Mike Tomlin must keep an eye on after leaving Steelers

Douglas Fritz — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:04:30 +0000

It didn’t take long for Mike Tomlin to part ways with the Pittsburgh Steelers before rumors like Brian Flores replacing him hit the Internet. Or perhaps a college coach like Marcus Freeman might get the call. But Tomlin will likely have his own day, and here are four head coaching jobs Tomlin must keep an eye on after leaving the Steelers.

There has been speculation that Tomlin would not coach anywhere in 2026, taking a year off before deciding whether he wants to jump back into the fray.

So that means his options won’t be limited to teams like the Titans, Cardinals, Giants, etc. Outside of the Ravens, none of the current open jobs would be a premier organization that has the potential to win right away. And it would be weird for Tomlin to join the Ravens.

Let’s rank the best landing spots for Tomlin for the 2027 season:

No. 1 — Green Bay Packers

This fit makes the most sense. Tomlin would go from one hallowed organization to another. This franchise gives him the best opportunity to continue his streak of not having a losing season.

The Packers have a young and still emerging franchise quarterback in Jordan Love. They typically field one of the younger rosters in the NFL because they do such a good job of recognizing talent and pulling the plug on older players when needed.

Yes, the Packers are considering a contract extension with Matt LaFleur. And that will probably happen. But if the Packers fail to make any playoff noise again in 2026, LaFleur might find himself on the way out.

Even though Tomlin doesn’t have a great recent playoff record, he still has a Super Bowl title. And LaFleur hasn’t even gotten to the big game.

No. 2 — Philadelphia Eagles

Wouldn’t this be rich? Tomlin wouldn’t have to leave the state. The Eagles are another organization that does things the right way with its roster.

Despite winning the Super Bowl in 2024, Nick Sirianni has come under fire because of the way the Eagles looked throughout the 2025 season. And the playoff flop against the 49ers didn’t help matters.

The Eagles aren’t going to send Sirianni packing before the 2026 season. But what if things go poorly this year, and the Eagles miss the playoffs? That might be enough to hurt Sirianni’s chances of sticking around. And if Tomlin is still available, it’s a good fit for him.

Franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts is only 27 years old, so there’s plenty of time to build around him for another Super Bowl run.

No. 3 — Kansas City Chiefs

There have already been hints of Andy Reid’s retirement coming sooner rather than later. Will he try to stick around for 300 wins? It’s possible, which means he would have to coach into 2027, at least.

However, if Reid steps down, that’s an inviting door for Tomlin. The one downside is the age of Patrick Mahomes. He’s 30 with a lot of long seasons under his belt.

But you would have to assume Mahomes still has four or five very good years remaining. And having a quarterback like Mahomes would be the best avenue for Tomlin to erase postseason failures and perhaps even get that elusive second Super Bowl title.

No. 4 — Washington Commanders

This is a dark-horse pick because the Commanders’ organization hasn’t been a paragon of steadiness.

However, the Commanders have a young quarterback in Jayden Daniels who might catch Tomlin’s eye. And if Dan Quinn can’t get things going back in the right direction, the Commanders might send him packing before the 2026 season is gone.

Tomlin is a native of Hampton, Virginia, which is less than a three-hour drive from Washington.

However, Tomlin seemed to prefer the Cowboys growing up, according to The Mercury News.

“I grew up a Dallas (Cowboys) fan,” Tomlin said. “Particularly a Hollywood Henderson fan.”

However, it wouldn’t seem like Tomlin would be willing to relinquish some of the coaching control that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly seems to demand.

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Patrick Mahomes wearing Oregon jersey resurfaces after Dylan Raiola commitment

Zachary Draves — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:14:17 +0000

It has been a busy time for Oregon football. On Friday, their season came to an end when they lost to Indiana 56-22 in the College Football semifinal. Immediately after, Oregon recruited Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola.

As a result, a photo of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wearing a Ducks jersey has gone viral, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic.

The picture shows him wearing a Ducks jersey with an image of Raiola wearing his No.15 with Nebraska, which is also Mahomes’ number.

https://t.co/Ok71ZElXJ8 pic.twitter.com/ka0MtfEXsl

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 12, 2026

Ultimately, Mahomes lost a bet with his teammate, Jeffrey Bassa, an Oregon alum, after the Ducks defeated Texas Tech 23-0 in the playoff game. Raiola finished the season with Nebraska throwing 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns. Additionally, he had a 62.5 QB rating.

The Cornhuskers ended the season at 7-6 and lost to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl 44-22. Oregon finished their season with a 13-2 record. Before that, Raiola announced that he was entering the transfer portal.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Also, Mahomes sustained a season-ending ACL injury.

Bassa, LB for the Chiefs, played for the Ducks from 2021-2024. In Week 2 of the 2023 season, Bassa intercepted the ball and returned for a 45-yard touchdown against Texas Tech. A game in which they won 38-30. During his first two seasons, he achieved 110 tackles.

He was instrumental getting the Ducks to the 2024 Fiesta Bowl against Liberty University, in which they won 45-6.

In that game, he achieved eight tackles and was recognized with MVP defensive honors. Altogether, he accumulated 71 tackles on the year and joined the second-team All-Pac 12 team.

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3 perfect AJ Brown trade destinations with potential Eagles breakup looming

Christopher Hennessy — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:43:16 +0000

The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, 23-19. Their season and Super Bowl defense are over, and a massive offseason awaits them. After another spat with Nick Sirianni on the sideline, AJ Brown’s time with the Eagles could end in an offseason trade. These three teams should be calling with a bevy of draft picks ready to deal.

The Eagles traded a first-round pick and a third-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Brown at the 2022 draft. In the subsequent four seasons, he has cracked 1,000 yards in each year and scored 32 touchdowns. None of that includes his playoff numbers, which feature a Super Bowl touchdown last February. But now, it is time for a divorce, with a similar trade package coming back.

Each of these three teams either has a glaring need for a wide receiver or an extra first-round pick to bring in Brown. Which one should the Eagles take?

Getting Josh Allen another elite target

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills have already traded a first-round pick for a wide receiver once, bringing in Stefon Diggs. The shaky end to the run there should not stop them from making a trade for AJ Brown, as they desperately need to surround Josh Allen with talent. If they fall short of the Super Bowl once again this year, the noise will be loud around the Bills. Getting Brown would be one way to quiet that.

The Bills’ defense does need some renovations in the offseason, but a first-round pick to fix the wide receiver issue would be a great use of assets. They used a second-round pick on Keon Coleman, who has not developed, and a first-round pick on Dalton Kincaid, who has been great at tight end. But the best receiver move they’ve made in the Allen era was trading for Diggs. So they can redo that move with a Brown trade.

Getting the Chiefs’ dynasty back on track

In a similar vein, the Chiefs would be a great fit for AJ Brown this offseason. They have the ninth-overall pick and desperately need help on both lines. But a future pick heading to the Eagles could be a fair price to fix a massive issue for the Chiefs. Even if Travis Kelce returns, he is not the red zone target he once was. Getting Patrick Mahomes an elite red zone target would be a great way to move into the new era of the dynasty.

The Chiefs have a massive question looming over their head with Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury. Will the superstar quarterback be ready for the beginning of the 2026 season? It is possible he is not, and the offense has to manage without him to start the season. That would be even more of a reason to bring in Brown, as he would raise the floor of the offense with a backup in the game.

The Jets could swing a move for AJ Brown

The first two options have Brown going to a different Super Bowl contender. But after a trade deadline fire sale, the Jets have plenty of extra picks to pick up Brown and address the other holes on their roster. Garrett Wilson is under contract, but the receiver depth behind him is scarce, to say the least. Trading the Colts’ first-rounder, 16th overall, to the Eagles for Brown while using the second-overall pick would be a great move to start this rebuild.

Dante Moore did not have a great game in the College Football Playoff semifinal, meaning he may go back to school. That would cause the Jets to go into next season with another stopgap quarterback. The oft-frustrated Brown would probably not love that, but a Brown-Wilson combo would be a great way to break in a rookie quarterback in 2027. Is that long-term plan enough for the Jets to land Brown?

The Eagles would take on a big salary cap charge to trade Brown, but the locker room may necessitate a trade after a disastrous season. He still has value, and Howie Roseman could replace him immediately in the draft come April. If this trade happens, the last pass targeted at Brown was a brutal third-down drop on the final drive of the season.

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