Kansas City Chiefs are currently in panic mode and for good reason. From making five of the last six Super Bowls to ending their latest season with a losing 6-11 record, the team’s graph wasn’t just tragic. It was the kind that left many dumb founded, including Andy Reid. But he’s not going to sit on it, wondering what went wrong. The head coach, often termed a perfectionist demanding high standards from his team, is fully committed to pulling off an overhaul, including his latest two firings.

“They have fired RBs coach Todd Pinkston and WRs coach Connor Embree,” The Kansas City Star‘s columnist Sam 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 two terminations were not out of the blue. Take the running game, for instance. Proving to be one of the weakest spots, the team averaged 106.6 rushing yards per game, ranking 25th in the league. While running back Kareem Hunt offered short-yardage efficiency leading the offense with 163 carries for 611 yards, it was a noticeable downtick from last season’s 200 carries over 728 rushing yards, though his number of touchdowns last season (7) was less than this season (8).

It was clear that the team was missing a speed element, making it easy for defenses to limit Hunt and Pacheco. In fact, the running game got so bad at one point that even analysts were stunned.

“The 2025 Chiefs currently have an explosive rush rate on RB carries of 2.6%,” ESPN data analyst Benjamin Solak wrote on November 17. “Just an unacceptable lack of investment in the running game in Kansas City. Scheme and personnel imo.”

Former NFL RB Maurice Jones-Drew also didn’t mince words, ranking Hunt at No. 33 and Pacheco at No. 47 out of 64 starting backs in 2025. “The Chiefs didn’t have much of a run game in 2025 as the team shuffled through backs frequently,” Jones-Drew wrote. “This backfield needs a reset.” Still, Pinkston’s departure weighs heavily when considering his recent success. He arrived in Kansas in 2023 and was part of the team’s successful run that ended in a Super Bowl win.

Long before transitioning to coaching in 2016, he served as a wide receiver in the NFL. In his seven-year NFL career, which concluded in 2007, Pinkston played for the Eagles, Vikings, and Commanders. With no significant improvement in the rushing attack from the previous year, he had to go. Meanwhile, Connor Embree’s exit followed similar frustrations. 

After dedicating seven years to the organization in multiple roles, his position as a wide receiver coach didn’t pay off. The team led the NFL in drops in 2023 and improved its ranking last season. However, the issue persisted this year as players struggled with drops during clutch moments. 

Now, the Chiefs begin their search for new coaches for the running back and wide receiver roles. As the team awaits some other developments on offense, Mahomes has weighed in on what he wants.

Andy Reid’s QB shares his thoughts on the potential OC hiring

 While Nagy has been a “tremendous” coach, Reid needs someone to match his energy. As the team continues to revamp the offensive group, Mahomes has shared his own checklist while speaking to reporters for the first time since sustaining a torn ACL. 

“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.”

Furthermore, the 30-year-old acknowledged that the coaching market is crowded with several head coach vacancies. So, he wants things to flow naturally while putting his faith in Reid. 

“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. 

Currently, there are eight NFL franchises hiring for a head coach position. And Nagy has interviewed with four of them. Meanwhile, Mahomes’ college head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, recently parted ways with the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator. So, he could emerge as a potential candidate to replace Nagy.

Now, Andy Reid’s team enters a crucial offseason. Their next offensive hire could determine how quickly the Chiefs bounce back to contender status.