Chiefs’ 2026 season could be doomed before it even starts

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Chiefs' 2026 season could be doomed before it even starts

By Paul White | Last updated Jul 28, 2026 10:59 AM ET

Andy Reid has cemented himself as one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history.

He spent 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he appeared in five conference championships and one Super Bowl before finally being fired following the 2012 season. From there, he moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he’s won three championships and is becoming a serious threat to Bill Belichick as the greatest coach ever.

Besides the recent playoff dominance, the most impressive part of Reid’s resume is how he staves off losing records. He’s only suffered through four losing seasons in his 27 years as a head coach, with his latest one coming in 2025 after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL late in the season.

However, Kansas City made some moves that inspired optimism in the offseason, signing Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency and bringing back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The beloved Chiefs coach was expected to reenergize the formerly high-flying offense that he helped create from 2018-22, but some big roadblocks were thrown in the way.

Chiefs facing loads of adversity as training camp kicks off

Bieniemy’s wife was shot and hospitalized over the weekend, so Reid allowed him to step away from the team to be with his family. Obviously, the terrifying nature of the incident takes precedence over everything, but it’s just brutal timing for a team just beginning training camp and looking to learn an offense that is foreign to most of the offensive players, as they weren’t around for Bieniemy’s last stint.

Not only will Kansas City be without its offensive coordinator for an unspecified amount of time, but it has to worry about the looming threat of wide receiver Rashee Rice’s legal issues. His troubles with the law seem to be over for the time being, but there’s always the possibility of the NFL stepping in to take action against him.

The threat of a suspension and a lingering knee injury means that Rice will have his mind on a lot more than just football during training camp. Then, he’ll have to continue learning a new offense when he gets back that was crafted by a man who’s currently away from the team.

To add to the hailstorm of drama for the Chiefs, there is still some concern about Mahomes’ knee because of how quickly he decided to come back. Just a few months ago, it seemed like Kansas City was poised to take the league by storm with the dynamic, big-play offense the league had become accustomed to over the years. It’s still possible, but there are far too many variables at play right now to be sure that this season won’t end similarly to last year.

Paul White

Paul White is a contract writer from Philadelphia who attended Penn State University. He has contributed hundreds of stories about the NFL and NBA over the years and now brings that experience over to Yardbarker. He is a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan looking to bring the same passion from his city to sports media.

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