The Kansas City Chiefs are in full reset mode this offseason, and one of the last major puzzle pieces in Andy Reid’s evolving coaching staff could soon fall into place. After a disappointing six-win campaign that left them watching January football from the couch instead of the field, the Chiefs are moving quickly to retool - and that includes a potential reunion with a familiar face in the running backs room.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kansas City has requested permission to speak with Las Vegas Raiders running backs coach Deland McCullough - a name that should ring a bell for Chiefs fans. McCullough previously held the same role in Kansas City from 2018 to 2020, a stretch that saw the team develop a strong ground game to complement Patrick Mahomes’ aerial fireworks.
McCullough’s coaching journey since leaving Kansas City has been a winding one, but it’s also added layers to his resume. After departing in 2020, he returned to the college ranks, first with Indiana as an associate head coach, then with Notre Dame for a three-year stint. Most recently, he made his way back to the NFL with the Raiders under Pete Carroll in 2025.
Now, with the Chiefs parting ways with running backs coach Todd Pinkston earlier this month, McCullough is emerging as a top candidate to reclaim his old post. And the timing makes sense.
The Chiefs have already kicked off a wave of coaching changes, including a notable move at offensive coordinator - bringing back Eric Bieniemy after Matt Nagy stepped away to pursue other opportunities. That hire signaled a return to some of the roots that made this offense hum in years past.
Bringing McCullough back would only deepen that sense of continuity and familiarity.
And let’s be honest - the Chiefs could use a steady hand in the running backs room. Pinkston, a former wide receiver, was an odd fit coaching the backfield, and the results showed.
The run game lacked identity and consistency, something McCullough helped establish during his first stint with the team. His familiarity with the organization, the offensive scheme, and Bieniemy himself makes him a natural fit to step in and hit the ground running - literally and figuratively.
The coaching shuffle didn’t stop there. The Chiefs also moved on from wide receivers coach Connor Embree, replacing him with Chad O’Shea, who brings a wealth of experience from his time with the Cleveland Browns and, before that, a decade under Bill Belichick in New England. That kind of pedigree should help stabilize a wide receiver room that struggled to find its footing last season.
In addition to the high-profile hires, Kansas City is also investing in its coaching pipeline. The team announced the additions of two quality control coaches: Nate Pagan, who was Villanova’s wide receivers coach, joins the offensive staff, while C.J.
Cox, previously coaching defensive backs at Coastal Carolina, will work on the defensive side. These moves may not grab headlines, but they’re part of a broader effort to refresh the staff with young, hungry talent.
At this point, the Chiefs’ offseason is shaping up as a blend of reunions and reinforcements. Bringing back trusted voices like Bieniemy - and potentially McCullough - suggests Kansas City isn’t just looking to change for the sake of change. They’re looking to recalibrate, to get back to what worked, and to surround Mahomes with coaches who understand how to maximize the pieces around him.
If McCullough does return, it won’t just be a nostalgic move - it’ll be a strategic one. Because after a year that fell well short of expectations, the Chiefs aren’t just tweaking around the edges. They’re aiming to rebuild the foundation.