Andy Reid&#8217;s inner Chiefs circle decimated after brutal decision with right hand man also poised to jump ship

Jan 8, 2026 - 10:00

Things will look a little different for Andy Reid in 2026.

The Kansas City Chiefs coach is coming off a losing season for the first time in his 13-year tenure, after finishing with a 6-11 record.

Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs gestures to his players in the fourth quarter of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 — Reid will need to rebuild the Chiefs after a 6-11 finish signaled the end of KC’s dynasty

He will also likely have to contend without two of his biggest stars next fall, after Travis Kelce dropped yet another retirement hint, and Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in December.

But those might not be the only personnel changes in Kansas City.

Chiefs fire coach after dismal 6-11 season

Missing the playoffs for the first time in over a decade comes with consequences, and wide receivers coach Connor Embree has paid the price.

NFL insider Rapoport confirmed on Wednesday night that the Chiefs are moving on from Embree, who started his stint in Kansas City in 2019 as defensive assistant.

He won his first Super Bowl ring in that role, before being elevated to wide receivers coach in 2023, after a stint as the team’s offensive quality control coach.

Embree, though, failed to get the best out of a talented room this season.

The likes of Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, and Juju Smith-Schuster all underperformed in an offense that was ranked 20th in the league, while Rashee Rice only appeared in eight games after an early-season suspension and lingering concussion symptoms.

Announcing Embree’s departure, Rapoport noted that ‘there may be other changes to Andy Reid‘s staff’ ahead of next season too.

The offense, in fact, could face further disruption.

Kansas City OC to interview for head coach roles

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has been touted for a head coaching return, having revamped his image on Reid’s staff.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy of the Kansas City Chiefs waves before the game against the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium on December 07, 2025 — Chiefs OC Nagy will interview for at least three NFL HC roles in 2026

He had a four-year stint as Chicago Bears HC before being dismissed in 2022. In his first season back with Kansas City, Nagy worked as a senior assistant and quarterbacks coach, and won Super Bowl LVII.

The following year, he was promoted to OC for the second time in his Chiefs career, and helped the team win Super Bowl LVIII.

Nagy could return to the sideline as a head coach elsewhere in 2026, and is expected to be a ‘legitimate’ contender in the current cycle.

League insider Jordan Schultz reported on Wednesday that he already has interviews lined up with three teams: The Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.

“The former Chicago Bears HC is viewed as a real legitimate candidate in this cycle,” Schultz added.

Reid, then, could see his inner circle decimated during the offseason.

Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on in the first quarter of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 21, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. — Reid could be without Mahomes and Kelce next season, as well as offensive staff

Following a 6-11 finish, some form of rebuild was needed. But ‘Big Red’ may need to find a new OC, cover at quarterback, and a new wide receivers coach in the coming months.

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