Andy Reid begins offensive reset as Chiefs miss playoffs for first time since 2014, makes big coaching changes

The Kansas City Chiefs did not waste time once the season ended. After a year that felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable for a franchise used to January football, Andy Reid made it clear that changes were coming. Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014 forced the Chiefs to confront problems they could no longer explain away.Patrick Mahomes’ injury mattered, but it was not the whole story. The offense struggled to function consistently, and the results showed up in the standings. A 6-11 finish, six straight losses to close the season, and no postseason football pushed Reid into action. The first step was reshaping his offensive staff.The most immediate changes came at the position coach level. According to The Kansas City Star columnist Sam McDowell, Reid moved on from two offensive assistants while other staff members departed on their own. “They have fired RBs coach Todd Pinkston and WRs coach Connor Embree,” McDowell reported. “Louie Addazio chose to move on for the OL job at UNLV. Alex Whittingham has joined the Michigan staff. Could be more after the carousel settles, but there’s where it stands for now.”The firings were not surprising when viewed through the lens of performance. Kansas City’s offense finished 20th in the league, averaging just over 320 yards per game. While Mahomes still helped produce a strong efficiency mark in EPA per rush, the running game struggled badly.The Chiefs ranked 25th in rushing yards and tied for 18th in rushing touchdowns. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt both ranked near the bottom of the league in explosive run rate. Pinkston’s exit was notable because he joined the staff in 2023 and was part of a Super Bowl-winning run, but the lack of improvement made the decision unavoidable.Connor Embree’s exit followed a similar path. After seven years with the franchise in various roles, his time coaching wide receivers did not solve a lingering issue. Drops continued to show up in key moments, even after slight improvement the year before. Now, attention shifts to an even bigger question. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s contract is nearing its end, and he has interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs. Mahomes shared what matters most to him as the Chiefs look ahead. “For me, I just want someone that loves football, that cares about football and wants to give everything that they can to win to hold people accountable and bring new ideas every single day,” he said on Thursday. “I think that’s what we have to continue to do if you want to continue to be great in this league.”Mahomes also expressed confidence in Reid’s ability to handle the transition. “I know Coach (Andy) Reid, if Coach Nags is able to get another job - a head coaching job - he’ll have a good plan of who he wants to bring in,” he added.With eight teams currently searching for head coaches and Nagy involved in several interviews, change feels likely. Names such as Kliff Kingsbury have already surfaced as possible options.Also read: Chiefs at crossroads as rare, high-draft pick forces tough offseason decisions with Travis Kelce’s retirement still looming