​There has been no shortage of coverage surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs’ disappointing 6-11 campaign. Much of the discussion has fallen into two camps: either head coach Andy Reid should be replaced, or his extensive résumé should be trusted rather than doubted. Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Reid will be the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach, and it’s almost a given that the upcoming year will help delineate the direction of the 68-year-old coach’s career. Is Andy Reid becoming a liability for teams built around the Chiefs’ offense?
Patrick Mahomes, who was injured late in the season after finishing 6-8 prior to his torn ACL, nevertheless underscored a broader issue: even before Mahomes went down, the offense under Reid had begun to underperform in what feels like a rare departure from the typical Chiefs offensive dominance. The team finished the year ranked in the bottom half of the league in points per game (21.3) and yards per game (320.6), prompting questions about whether Reid’s approach is limiting the Chiefs’ passing-game chain and modernizing the offense in ways that resonate with today’s defenses.
As the AFC West prepares for 2026, a prevalent storyline centers on the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator role and how it has been perceived for years as secondary to the star power of Mahomes and Reid. That perception may have been overstated. During Eric Bieniemy’s five-year tenure as offensive coordinator from 2018 through 2022, the Chiefs consistently ranked near the top in scoring and yardage—never finishing worse than sixth in the league for either category, with two seasons recording the most points and three seasons leading in total yards. In the three seasons following Bieniemy’s departure, the Chiefs’ averages have dipped to around 17th in scoring and 15th in yardage, suggesting that the OC position can be highly influential and merits reconsideration in a system built around a dynamic quarterback and a coaching staff that capitalizes on that talent.
The Chiefs have also seen notable personnel decisions that have sparked reflection among fans and observers. Leo Chenal, a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft from Wisconsin, quickly showed promise and had the potential to be a transformative presence, even drawing consideration for MVP-level impact in Super Bowl 58. Yet Chenal was not retained by the team that drafted him, a decision that continues to sting for some fans who felt his development would have aligned well with the Chiefs’ long-term defensive plans.
In addition to linebackers, wide receivers have drawn scrutiny and anticipation. Cyrus Allen, a receiver with Kansas City, flashed notable potential with an average of 16.2 yards per catch across his collegiate career, along with 13 touchdown receptions this past season. His quickness and route-running ability have generated buzz, especially as Rashee Rice continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. Allen’s combination of speed and route-savvy has the Chiefs’ fan base and observers eager to see what he can bring to training camp, where many expect him to seize opportunities to push for a meaningful role.
On the offensive line, expectations for improved performance remain a focal point of preseason analysis. The Chiefs added Jaylon Moore as a major free-agent signing before the 2025 season, and he appeared in 15 games with six starts in his first year in Kansas City. The hope is that Moore’s presence will bolster the line’s protection and run-blocking capabilities, contributing to a more balanced attack that can better complement Mahomes and the passing-game weapons.
As the Chiefs prepare for the next cycle, questions about Reid’s long-term impact and the team’s ability to sustain offensive excellence persist. Will the offense rebound under Reid’s leadership and with a more cohesive supporting cast, or will the evolving defenses across the league challenge the Chiefs in ways that demand strategic adjustments at multiple levels? With a franchise quarterback, a coaching staff accustomed to maximizing high-end talent, and a broader set of weapons at their disposal, Kansas City remains positioned to recalibrate and push back toward the upper echelon of NFL offenses in the seasons ahead.