ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is not accustomed to this type of national narrative — at least not lately.
After the Chiefs’ 6-11 finish last season, some football analysts have begun questioning whether the 68-year-old Reid still has his fastball offensively.
Is the Chiefs offense getting stale? Predictable? Can Reid elevate offenses like he once did?
Speaking with reporters in his makeshift office in a Missouri Western dorm room on Wednesday, Reid was asked how he approached a recent stretch in which his offense — and his own ability — was being questioned.
“That’s OK. That was the case in Philly every day, so I get it,” Reid said with a half-smile, referring to his 14 seasons with the Eagles before changing tone. “But you’re only as good as the next play, and it’s important that we do well. I’m the biggest evaluator and critic of it. I don’t have to worry about others and how they feel. I analyze it and see it and stay up on it and see how it rolls.”
Eric Bieniemy returns to action with the Chiefs
Jesse Newell
Last month, Reid was ranked the sixth-best offensive play caller in The Athletic’s poll of NFL defensive coaches and play callers — down from fourth place last season. Notably, one NFC defensive coordinator said he believed the Chiefs offense had gotten “a little predictable” before saying specifically of Reid, “I don’t necessarily have the same ‘I’m staying up all night’ feel with him.”
It’s the same type of media criticism that, historically, has helped fuel quarterback Patrick Mahomes to perform at his best each season.
So does this kind of buzz fire up Reid?
“It fired me up that we didn’t do well, and I’m not good with that,” Reid said. “I don’t like to lose, and I don’t like to not be productive. That’s not how I roll. I want to make sure that gets changed around.”
The Chiefs have made some offensive changes in training camp after last year’s disappointment. The team brought in top free-agent running back Kenneth Walker III and has gone with more under-center snaps, with greater emphasis on the screen game, too.
Andy Reid is the oldest head coach in the NFL at 68, but he doesn’t sound like he’s thinking of retiring soon. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Chiefs president Mark Donovan previously said discussions to fix things for 2026 began on the team’s plane ride back from its Week 18 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Reid, for his part, said at that point on the flight, “I knew what needed to be done, so I started just going about it then.”
Offseason personnel changes included bringing in offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to replace Matt Nagy, as well as hiring new assistant coaches Chad O’Shea (receivers) and DeMarco Murray (running backs).
“I’m not gonna say your mind wasn’t churning before that (flight), but you want to correct the wrong that took place. That’s how we went about the offseason,” Reid said. “That last game wasn’t pretty football.”
What potential improvement areas circled Reid’s mind most? One was the execution of plays, which he “didn’t think was at a high standard with what we had going, what we expect.” Getting extra months in the offseason — with no postseason appearance — also provided extra time to evaluate the offensive scheme.
“You can go back and you can really analyze and hopefully make the changes you think need to be made. It’ll give you a chance to get on with this,” Reid said. “I love the attitude, the way the guys approached the offseason.”
Reid also wanted to be sure players were held accountable with the small details that can determine the success of each play. Reid can’t be around for every part of every meeting, and he believed, from working with Bieniemy before, that one of his new OC’s great strengths was harping on those finer points.
“(Nagy) was good, too. I don’t want to take something away from him on how he went about it,” Reid said. “I just like the chemistry that is going on right now.”
It’s an important year for Reid, especially as he reaches the twilight of his career. Reid, the oldest active NFL head coach, is entering his 14th season with the Chiefs.
Reid said his love of the game was only reinforced during his monthlong vacation away this offseason.
“I get around the Fourth of July, and I’m going, ‘Man, I gotta get back,’” Reid said with a grin. “So between those 14 grandkids bossing me around and my beautiful bride bossing me around … get back to the dorm.”
Reid said he’s looking to cherish the time he does have left in his coaching career.
“I know I’m on the downhill of it, so I enjoy it,” Reid said. “I think when you get on that downside of it, you bust your tail. You go, ‘Man, I have everything set up for retirement.’ Then you get there, and you go, ‘Man, I appreciate every day I get to do this.’
“I don’t know when that time is, but I know I’m on the other side of it.”
Reid’s immediate focus is getting the Chiefs back to the top of the NFL. And he says no one is more committed to that vision than he is.
“I don’t think anybody was happy with the way the whole season ended up. And I know I wasn’t,” Reid said. “I haven’t had a lot of those, and don’t like when we do.”
