Chiefs firing coach after missing NFL playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 4:44 PM ET

Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs are not going to be part of the NFL Wild Card Weekend. This is the first time since 2014 that the Chiefs have missed the playoffs, and it also marks the first time Patrick Mahomes will not see any postseason action in his nine years in the NFL.

It was a forgettable season for Mahomes and the Chiefs in 2025, to say the least. The two-time All-Pro quarterback did what he could for the team, but one of the issues Reid and the team faced was Mahomes’ lack of viable weapons throughout the campaign.

The wide receiver room, in particular, left a lot to be desired this past season. The inconsistencies at WR elevated to a systemic breakdown, with running-route errors, poor spacing concepts and repeated mental mistakes during crucial moments.

On paper, Mahomes had an excellent set of weapons at WR with the likes of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown all in the mix. However, none of them played at a consistent enough level to help lead the Chiefs to success this season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Someone has to take the fall for these major shortcomings, and it is now being reported that the burden will fall on the coach.

In this light, the Chiefs are reportedly set to make a major coaching decision after their troublesome season. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Kansas City is firing wide receivers head coach Connor Embree.

“The #Chiefs are moving on from WRs coach Connor Embree, source said. There may be other changes to Andy Reid's staff, but this talented group will have a new coach in 2026,” Rapoport posted on X.

The #Chiefs are moving on from WRs coach Connor Embree, source said. There may be other changes to Andy Reid's staff, but this talented group will have a new coach in 2026.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2026

Embree has been with the Chiefs since 2019, when he was first hired as a defensive assistant. He was promoted to wide receivers coach in 2023. Embree was part of all three of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl titles.

Reid and the front office will now need to find an able replacement for Embree. They could opt to promote someone from within the coaching ranks or decide to bring in a fresh face as an external hire. Right now, though, there is considerable uncertainty for the WR room heading into the offseason.

It also remains to be seen if there will be more coaching changes in Kansas City in the coming months.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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