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Travis Kelce, Matt Nagy share stories on how Andy Reid changed the Kansas City Chiefs' culture from the previous regime

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Nick Roesch | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 7:08 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs revitalized their organization when they hired Andy Reid to be their head coach.

2007-2012 was one of the darkest eras in franchise history as the Chiefs suffered through five losing seasons, including twice going 2-14. Owner and chairman Clark Hunt knew he had to bring in someone who had a winning track record on the field and strong leadership qualities off of it.

Reid has proven to be that guy, never posting a losing season in 12 years as the Chiefs' HC, leading them to five Super Bowl appearances and winning three. While hosting Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on the New Heights podcast, tight end Travis Kelce talked about how Reid was able to change veteran players' mindsets when he took the reins in 2013.

"I remember in 2013 when you guys (Nagy and Reid) came in, we were such a veteran team," Kelce said. "The team may have just went 2-14, but we had Pro Bowlers. We had superstars. We had guys that were at the top of their game, like Eric Berry, Justin Houston, Jamaal Charles, Alex [Smith]. We had studs on both sides of the ball, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, I could keep going.

"It was crazy to me that this team went 2-14 the year before," Kelce continued. But when Coach Reid came in, I can tell the difference to this day of coach Reid's demeanor in having to come in and break that culture. I have no idea what the situation was with the coaches before that or anything, but I heard guys complaining non-stop about how much and how hard we were practicing. And nowadays you don't hear anybody complaining.

"It's the acceptance that this is the system, this is how you become great, and it works," Kelce continued. "It was a completely different situation back in 2013, the veterans that we had in there, and how they were used to working and doing things. Coach Reid came in and gave them a new perspective on it. That turnaround with that talent. you saw it immediately. We won the first 10 games right off the bat, because of how much those veteran guys knew the game of football and played well together when they had that work ethic. Everything came together. I can only imagine how tough it is to go in there and demand that discipline and that trust and trying to break a system that hadn't been working."

Nagy recalled how some of the top Chiefs players at the time reacted to Reid during their first team meeting.

"I'll never forget the first meeting that coach Reid had that year you're talking about," Nagy said to Kelce. "In 2013 we had our first team meeting. The entire team was in the team room, and those doors open, and he came walking in, and it was quiet. I remember I was sitting in the corner. I looked over and in the front row was Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Eric Berry, Dontari Poe, Dwayne Bowe, Jamaal Charles, all of them off. They were sitting up in their seat with their hands on their knees, and their eyes were huge. And they were just staring at this guy (Reid). And the second I saw that, I was like, they believe. This is what they needed. They believe. And then coach just took it from there."

The Chiefs went from 2-14 in 2012 to 11-5 and a postseason appearance in 2013. Reid laid the foundation that year for what would eventually become a dynasty. It's a shame none of those former great players that were in K.C. when Reid first arrived won a championship, but they certainly paved the way for the current crop of Chiefs greats.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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