There’s an odd sense of quietness around Andy Reid‘s Kansas City Chiefs this summer. Not the usual calm-before-the-storm vibe, but more like the uneasy quiet when a well-oiled machine starts making weird noises. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs aren’t spiralling, but something feels… off. You can hear it in the way analysts spit out their praise, or how rival coaches suddenly sound a little more optimistic.

Meanwhile, about 1,500 miles west, the vibe is entirely different: loud, bold, and pure Harbaugh. Then came the twist: a former Super Bowl champ just tossed out a wild prediction that’s got fans (and probably a few division rivals) doing double-takes. Suddenly, the AFC West isn’t just about Patrick Mahomes anymore… and that’s got everyone talking.

On the Speak podcast, Keyshawn Johnson made a statement that might just flip the entire AFC West on its head. Let’s just say, the Chiefs fans wouldn’t be too excited about it. Johnson didn’t sugarcoat it. “Any program Harbaugh takes on, it tends to get better,” he said, nodding to the Chargers‘ potential this season. He then switched to the Chiefs, and he wasn’t too optimistic.

“I think even though Kansas City has retooled their offensive line, they got Rashee Rice back, Travis Kelce has lost weight, they got a nice defence, they didn’t lose too much. But one of the problems for the KC has been the offensive line. Can that OL stand up? I just don’t think we are going to see the same Chiefs,” he said. In a suddenly spicy AFC West? These words matter. A lot. Sleeping on the Chiefs is a bold move, and Keyshawn is clearly a very bold man. But when you think about it? It makes sense.

Johnson wasn’t just throwing shade; he put forward some valid concerns. The Chargers under Jim Harbaugh? Solid in 2024. And now they’ve added some serious help. Tyler Conklin’s a sure-handed tight end (zero drops last season!), and rookie Joe Alt is already getting hype after dominating in college. Add in a fully locked-in Justin Herbert and that classic Harbaugh fire. Yeah, this team isn’t just improving, they’re here to win.

At the same time? The Chiefs are still trying to patch things up up front after that rough Super Bowl loss. Joe Thuney’s shifting spots, Trey Smith got the franchise tag, and they brought in Jaylon Moore (who hasn’t started much at left tackle) and rookie Josh Simmons? He isn’t even fully fit yet.

Sure, Creed Humphrey’s still holding it down at the centre, but that blindside battle is a big question mark. And let’s be real: even Mahomes needs protection to do Mahomes things. And Keyshawn shared a similar concern. “Can that OL stand up? Can they hold up the whole course of the season so Patrick Mahomes is not running around getting beaten up?” Because if they can’t do that, that’s it for them.

Right now, the Chiefs are still sitting near the top of ESPN’s AFC power rankings, and sportsbooks aren’t betting against them just yet. But let’s be honest, it all comes down to the O-line. Harbaugh’s fine-tuning in L.A. versus Reid’s full-on O-line rebuild in KC has set up an interesting AFC West encounter. But wait, the Chiefs’ offseason struggles do not end with X’s and O’s.

Distractions in KC? Mahomes faces criticism

While the Chargers were quietly loading up on depth and talent, the biggest Chiefs headline of the offseason? A shirtless photo. Yes, seriously. Patrick Mahomes was just living his best life, grilling, laughing, probably debating ketchup flavours. And somehow that turned into a radio meltdown. Local host Kevin Kietzman saw the photo and decided to go on a rant, calling the two-time MVP “fat” and “an embarrassment.” Wait, what?

Cue the trainer. Bobby Stroupe wasn’t about to let that Mahomes slander slide. In a now-deleted tweet that basically said, “Step outside,” Stroupe fired back: “Send me your location… You don’t have a clue what it takes.” And honestly? To be fair, Mahomes doesn’t need those abs or Gyllenhaal-like biceps. He needs to dodge 280-pound edge rushers and keep dragging the Chiefs deep into January.

However, still, for a team already fielding questions about a shaky O-line, a boom-or-bust receiver room, and now getting side-eyed over their QB’s beach bod? That’s noise. Noise the Chiefs don’t need. The kind of off-field nonsense Harbaugh-coached teams tend to avoid like the plague. He isn’t worried about how Justin Herbert looks with a tank top; he’s only worried about keeping him upright.

Well, yes, it’s funny. We can all laugh at the BBQ bod banter. But it could matter. In a division like the AFC West, where the margins are razor-thin, even a little distraction can turn into a real crack in the armour. Especially when Jim Harbaugh’s out here building a dynasty.

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