Chiefs Shake Up Coaching Staff After Disappointing NFL Season

The Kansas City Chiefs, a team synonymous with postseason glory in recent years, find themselves at a crossroads after a season that veered far from the script. For the first time since Patrick Mahomes took the reins as starting quarterback back in 2018, Kansas City missed the NFL playoffs, finishing the 2025 campaign with a 6-11 record—their first losing season since 2012. The disappointment is palpable across Chiefs Kingdom, and the aftershocks have triggered a sweeping overhaul of Andy Reid’s coaching staff, culminating in the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and the return of Eric Bieniemy to the fold.

It’s hard to overstate how much the fortunes of the franchise changed in just a few short months. The Chiefs have played in five of the last six Super Bowls, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy three times, including two championships with Bieniemy orchestrating the offense. Yet, the 2025 season was marred by inconsistency and, most painfully, the loss of Mahomes to a torn ACL in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before his injury, Mahomes had managed to post respectable numbers—completing 315 of 502 passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. But without their star under center, Kansas City’s offense sputtered, and the team lost its final stretch of games, sealing their fate outside the playoff picture.

The coaching carousel began spinning as soon as the regular season ended. Matt Nagy, who had returned to Kansas City in 2022 after a stint as Chicago Bears head coach, was widely seen as a frontrunner for several NFL head coaching jobs. Reports from The Athletic and other outlets linked him most prominently to the Tennessee Titans, where, for months, he was considered the favorite to replace Brian Callahan. Dianna Russini’s reporting fueled speculation, but the Titans ultimately hired San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, bypassing Nagy despite his supposed frontrunner status. Other teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and Baltimore Ravens, reportedly showed interest, but as of January 23, 2026, Nagy remains without a new post.

The uncertainty surrounding Nagy’s future was only one piece of the puzzle. The Chiefs also parted ways with several offensive assistants—running backs coach Todd Pinkston and wide receivers coach Connor Embree were let go, while defensive quality control coach Louie Addazio and assistant defensive line coach Alex Whittingham left for college football. Offensive assistants Mark Deleone and Kevin Saxton also quietly exited, their profiles removed from the team’s website. The shakeup, while abrupt, seemed inevitable after a season in which the offense was criticized for its lack of creativity and inability to adapt without Mahomes at the helm. Some analysts even pointed to Nagy as a significant factor in Mahomes’ statistical downturn, a narrative that gained traction as the season wore on.

With Nagy’s contract expired and his departure confirmed on January 23, 2026, the Chiefs wasted no time in finding a replacement. Enter Eric Bieniemy—a familiar face and a proven winner in Kansas City. Bieniemy previously served as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, helping guide the team to two Super Bowl victories and establishing himself as one of the most respected offensive minds in the league. After leaving Kansas City, Bieniemy took a lateral move to the Washington Commanders, working under Ron Rivera. That stint ended when the entire Commanders regime was dismissed, leading Bieniemy to a brief role as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA before he landed with the Chicago Bears as running backs coach under Ben Johnson in 2025.

The NFL coaching carousel is notorious for its unpredictability, and Bieniemy’s journey exemplifies that. Despite interviewing with roughly half of the league’s franchises—some more than once—he was repeatedly passed over for head coaching jobs. According to reporter Josina Anderson, Bieniemy "has had other options at HC & OC on the table that he’s been weighing, prior to his flight to KC this morning." Whether those opportunities were in the NFL or collegiate ranks remains unclear, but the Chiefs’ decision to bring him back speaks volumes about their desire to restore stability and innovation to their offense.

The news of Bieniemy’s return was met with optimism from Chiefs fans and players alike. Patrick Mahomes, who has worked closely with both Nagy and Bieniemy throughout his career, took to Instagram to thank his departing coordinator, writing, "Thank you coach for everything! Made me a better player and man!" The sentiment was echoed by the organization itself, which posted a tribute to Nagy on social media: "Forever a Super Bowl champ. Thanks for everything, Coach Nagy!" The public farewell signaled a mutual parting, rather than a hasty dismissal, and underscored Nagy’s contributions to the Chiefs’ recent run of success—including two Super Bowl rings during his tenure.

From a league-wide perspective, Kansas City’s shakeup is viewed as a necessary reset after their most difficult campaign in years. The Chiefs’ decision to bring back Bieniemy reflects not only a comfort with his offensive philosophy but also a sense of urgency to rebound quickly. Bieniemy’s previous tenure saw the Chiefs maximize Mahomes’ strengths, blending explosive passing with timely ground attacks and creative play-calling. With Mahomes expected to recover in time for the 2026 season, the hope is that Bieniemy’s return will reignite the offense and restore the Chiefs to their familiar perch atop the AFC.

Of course, questions remain. Will Bieniemy’s second stint as offensive coordinator recapture the magic of his first? Can Mahomes return to MVP form after a significant injury? And will the new-look coaching staff find the right chemistry to navigate a league that’s catching up to Kansas City’s once-unstoppable attack? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the Chiefs are betting on continuity, experience, and a proven track record as they look to turn the page on a rare setback.

As offseason programs approach, all eyes will be on Mahomes’ rehab and the final pieces of Andy Reid’s coaching puzzle. With Bieniemy back in charge of the offense and a renewed sense of purpose throughout the organization, Kansas City is determined to prove that 2025 was an outlier—not the beginning of a decline. The stage is set for a compelling comeback story, and Chiefs fans have every reason to believe that their team will be back in contention when the 2026 season kicks off.