The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into the 2026 season with a shake-up on the offensive coaching staff - and while the future of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy remains uncertain, some changes are already confirmed.
The team has parted ways with two key assistants: running backs coach Todd Pinkston and wide receivers coach Connor Embree. Embree’s exit had been rumored earlier, but now both departures are official.
Pinkston, a former NFL wideout, wrapped up his third season coaching Kansas City’s running backs. He joined the staff in 2023 when Nagy took over as OC, and his backfield featured a rotation of Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Kareem Hunt during his tenure.
While there were flashes - most notably Pacheco’s 935-yard rookie campaign under Pinkston in 2023 - the run game never quite found consistent traction. Over the past two seasons, no Chiefs running back eclipsed the 750-yard mark, and the ground attack often played second fiddle to Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered passing game.
Pinkston’s path to Kansas City was unique. After an 11-year NFL career as a wide receiver, he transitioned into coaching with a stint at Austin Peay State as a wide receivers coach, followed by a role as associate head coach at Stockbridge High School in Georgia. He got his NFL coaching break through a 2022 internship under Andy Reid - a connection that ultimately led to his role with the Chiefs.
Still, despite his playing pedigree and offensive background, the fit in the running backs room never fully clicked. Coaching a position you didn’t play isn’t unheard of in the NFL, but in this case, the results on the field didn’t back the experiment.
Then there’s Embree, who coached the wide receivers - the very position Pinkston once starred in - despite having a playing background more rooted in the backfield. Embree was a two-star running back recruit out of Blue Valley West High School and played at the University of Kansas, where he was listed as a running back. He even played quarterback his senior year of high school, showing his versatility, but his coaching resume didn’t bring the kind of results Kansas City was likely hoping for in the receiver room.
The Chiefs’ offense has long been defined by its creativity, speed, and execution - and while Mahomes and Travis Kelce continue to be the engine, the development of skill players around them is crucial. With the wide receiver group under scrutiny in recent seasons, Embree’s departure signals a desire to reset and refocus that unit.
Now, the attention turns to what’s next. The Chiefs haven’t announced replacements yet, and Nagy’s own status remains up in the air. But one thing’s clear: Kansas City is looking to retool its offensive staff with coaches who are more traditional fits for their respective rooms - and perhaps more in tune with the development needs of a team still chasing championships.
In a league where margins are razor-thin and continuity is key, these moves suggest the Chiefs are intent on keeping their edge - not just on the field, but in the meeting rooms and position groups that shape every Sunday performance.