Andy Reid isn’t ready to hang it up just yet.
Despite a rocky season and swirling retirement rumors, the longtime Kansas City Chiefs head coach is planning to return in 2026. That decision ends months of speculation and gives the franchise some much-needed clarity heading into a pivotal offseason.
Let’s be real - this past season wasn’t what anyone in Kansas City expected. For the first time since 2014, the Chiefs missed the playoffs, officially eliminated in Week 15 after a loss to the Chargers.
It was a gut punch for a team that’s been a perennial contender under Reid and Patrick Mahomes. And Reid, never one to deflect blame, took accountability for some key missteps, including a must-win game earlier in the year that slipped through their fingers.
Things went from bad to worse when Mahomes suffered a major knee injury late in the season - a torn ACL and LCL. He’s already had surgery, but the road back is long and uncertain. The injury cast a shadow over the final stretch of the season and raised even more questions about the team’s future.
But Reid isn’t walking away from the challenge. According to sources close to the situation, the 65-year-old coach is determined to lead the Chiefs back into contention.
“Coach Reid ain’t going out like this,” one source told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. While Reid hasn’t made an official public statement, all signs point to him returning to the sideline next season.
That alone is a stabilizing force for a team that’s suddenly facing more uncertainty than it has in years.
The focus now shifts to recovery - both physically and organizationally. Mahomes is attacking his rehab with the same intensity he brings to the field, but there’s still no firm timeline for his return. Chiefs VP of sports medicine Rick Burkholder offered a general estimate, saying the recovery window is typically around nine months, though it could vary by a month or two in either direction.
“Every player is different, every sport is different, every position is different,” Burkholder said. “[Mahomes] is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker.” That’s encouraging, but the Chiefs know they’ll need to be cautious with their franchise quarterback.
Meanwhile, the coaching staff could look different in 2026. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy chose not to sign an extension and is set to hit the open market. He’s expected to be a hot name in the head coaching carousel, and if he doesn’t land a top job, he could still attract interest as a play-caller elsewhere.
If Nagy departs, Reid will be tasked with finding a new offensive coordinator - a significant move for a team that’s built its identity around offensive creativity and quarterback synergy. Several familiar names could be in the mix, including former Chiefs assistants like Eric Bieniemy and Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka.
So, while the Chiefs enter the offseason with more questions than they’re used to, they also have something they desperately needed: direction.
Andy Reid is coming back. And that means the foundation is still strong. Now it’s about healing up, retooling the staff, and getting back to what the Chiefs do best - chasing wins and making noise in January.