Chiefs Make Double Coaching Decision on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jan 29, 2026 10:02 AM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff has undergone a major overhaul following head coach Andy Reid's first losing season since joining the organization in 2013. With a 6-11 record in the 2025 NFL season, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the second time under Reid, who has won three Super Bowls in the same time frame.

The need for change was clear, and Kansas City wasted no time this offseason. Seven members of the 2025 coaching staff have already left the organization since the season ended in January.

Those changes were highlighted by the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who was replaced by a Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce favorite, former OC Eric Bieniemy. News broke on Thursday that Reid and the Chiefs have decided who will fill two of the open roles.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid fist-bumps tight end Travis Kelce after Kelce scored a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Both new coaches in Kansas City come from college football. Per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, Nate Pagan will join the Chiefs as a quality control coach for the offense. Pagan spent nine years as an offensive assistant with the FCS Villanova Wildcats, including the last seven seasons as wide receivers coach. He produced at least one all-conference wideout at Villanova in six of his seven seasons as the team’s wide receivers coach.

The #Chiefs are hiring Villanova wide receivers coach Nate Pagan as a quality control coach, a source tells @CBSSports.

Produced at least one all-conference receiver at Villanova in six of his seven seasons as the team’s receivers coach. pic.twitter.com/Ai38BSe0ZD
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 29, 2026

On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs are adding C.J. Cox as a quality control coach to work with the defensive backs, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. Cox made his name as a cornerbacks coach and pass game coordinator with the Kent State Golden Flashes, which led to him being honored on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 Under 35 list in 2023.

Cox coached safeties for the UAB Blazers in 2024, then spent the 2025 season in the same role for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers before making the jump to the NFL to work under Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Sources: The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to hire veteran defensive backs coach C.J. Cox as a qualify control coach. He’ll work with the defensive backs. He’s worked at Coastal Carolina, UAB and Kent State in recent years. pic.twitter.com/TLo8Do9NcJ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 29, 2026

Kansas City's hiring strategy has been a mix of old and new as the Chiefs eye a return to the playoffs next season and a run at a fourth Super Bowl under Reid. They brought back a familiar face in Bienemy, who is trusted by the key members of the offense, while adding some new perspective down the coaching chain via Cox and Pagan out of the college ranks.

"I want to fix the problems that we had in all phases," Reid said in a press conference on Tuesday. "There will be people that move on, there will be people that come in. ... Change can be good sometimes for you, and that's what I'm specifically fired up about."

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

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