Five genius changes that saved the KC Chiefs season

Kept a patient approach

For all the issues exhibited during the team’s 3-4 start to the season, the most notable aspect of the organizational culture was the slow-yet-steady approach to making any and all changes. For some in Chiefs Kingdom, changes came too slow (and we’ll get to those changes), but it needs to be said first of all that the team was patient in its approach because they knew it was the right one.

Maturity is often measured in reaction, which is why it was nice to see a veteran team like the Chiefs, led by a future Hall of Fame head coach in Andy Reid, take things in stride, even when it meant losing ground in the AFC. Calmer heads could prevail in Kansas City because they’d built the sort of organizational culture that’s the envy of most of the NFL. That’s made even more possible when a team makes it to the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons yet doesn’t lose a single coordinator or vital assistant coach in the process.

Instead of panicking as some teams would do in order to cave to the emotions of fans’ or the whims of analysts, the Chiefs largely stayed committed to the same group of players and trusted them to work things out. They knew new faces needed time like Jarran Reed upfront. They knew injuries would heal like Frank Clark or Willie Gay Jr. They knew the chemistry would develop and communication would improve. They also knew that even when issues seem large, it often only takes a small change to make a big difference.

The maturity of Chiefs’ leaders to avoid any reactionary moves and trust the process is what has allowed them to seize control of the AFC West once again.