The season fell apart for the Kansas City Chiefs, so it’s reasonable that Andy Reid finally admitted his frustration. After all, the Chiefs’ standard at Arrowhead Stadium does not include January on the couch. So, what is the mood inside the locker room? One Chiefs star has shared that on camera.

Despite the early end to the season, Nick Bolton made it clear that nothing shifts mentally inside that room. Instead, he framed it as business as usual, even after missing the playoffs.

“I think just the mindset and goals are obviously the same, but, yeah, we have the result we wanted this year. So I think, I guess you could say we’re going to the offseason a little bit, a little bit pissed off,” he said.

At the same time, Bolton admitted that this ending hits different in its own way.

“Not much different than last year when we get the result that we wanted. We’re not in that fashion. So, but yeah, man, just kind of add a little fuel to the fire. If you’re a little tired in the set, they might be able to bust out real quick. So other than that, the mindset’s the same. I want to go out there and compete for a Super Bowl next year.”

This season, there were a lot of issues in Andy Reid’s team. The run game never found its footing. Finishing 25th in rushing at just 106.6 yards per game told the story. Kareem Hunt carried the load with 611 yards and eight scores. After that, the drop was sharp. Isiah Pacheco added 462 yards, while Patrick Mahomes scrambling chipped in 422. Beyond them, there was nothing steady, and the defenses knew it.

Because of that, everything else tightened up. Defenses adjusted fast, clogging the middle and daring Kansas City to grind it out. As a result, the Chiefs averaged only 232.2 passing yards per game, even with Mahomes under center. For this franchise, that is simply not enough. Close losses piled up, big plays dried out, and eventually, Reid’s frustration spilled into public view.

Now, the locker room knows exactly why this offseason matters.

Andy Reid gives a blunt response to the Chiefs

Appearing on Sports Radio 810, the Chiefs’ head coach opened up about how the season ended and what followed inside the building. From the outside, it looked quiet; inside Arrowhead Stadium, it was anything but. Reid explained that before exit interviews even began, he gathered the locker room and laid everything on the table.

“We had a meeting before a team meeting before the interview, so I was able to get my points across to them there. I tried to be as direct as I possibly could with them, knowing that part of the room won’t be coming back, but at the same time, making sure that they understood expectations going forward. So, so we’re able to talk about that, then I can meet with them individually and talk about individual thoughts and also listen to what they have to say.”

After that, Reid made it clear that nothing was getting brushed aside. The offensive problems were addressed head-on. Expectations for next season were spelled out without confusion. Before anyone talked about contracts or futures, the Chiefs had to confront what failed and why it failed. That meeting framed everything that followed in those exit interviews.

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“Those core veteran players and the core group, they were very focused on figuring out the problems and not excusing themselves from it. Taking accountability and making sure we fix it going forward,” he said. The frustration in his voice was palpable.

Still, the situation demanded seriousness. This was not a small stumble, as the Chiefs saw 10 straight playoff trips end. Their nine-year grip on the AFC West was broken by the Broncos. Even the seven-year run of conference title games is now over.

Because of that, this season could not be blamed on luck. The players had to feel it, and the front office has work to do. And Reid sounds fired up by it all.