As the 2026 NFL Combine creeps closer, Kansas City Chiefs fans were looking forward to the chance to hear from head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach from the podiums in Indianapolis as they make their annual remarks. As it turns out, Reid met with reporters the week before with a special media session on Friday that provided updates on a few fronts while also leaving some questions unanswered.
The single biggest concern for Chiefs Kingdom remains the future plans of tight end Travis Kelce. Whether or not the future Hall of Fame tight end is going to retire is the first order of business for the Chiefs' offseason, and Reid was asked about whether or not he had a read on what Kelce might decide. Reid didn't have a lot to say in that regard.
Andy Reid discusses Travis Kelce's future
"No, but there is communication, though," said Reid. "That’s the main thing. I’ve said this before to you, but as long as there’s communication, that means people want to move forward. I think that’s where Trav is. I’m not trying to put words in his mouth at all, and I try to give him some space here. He’s been doing this a long time. He can sort all of that out as he goes forward, but we’re proceeding with that, and there is communication."
Kelce just completed his 13th season and has considered retirement before, so it's natural for him to want to take some time following a frustrating season (with a final 6-11 record) to make up his mind. However, the Chiefs also need clarity for the sake of mapping out offseason needs. Without Kelce, the cupboard at tight end is rather empty, and Veach will have to go shopping for some impact talent if he decides to call it a career.
That said, Reid didn't seem too concerned on that front, and it's possible that his casual demeanor at least gives some indication that the Chiefs feel just fine about the time taken by Kelce to decide and their readiness for whatever happens.
Addressing the latest developments with Rashee Rice & Tyreek Hill
Beyond the questions surrounding Kelce's future, Reid was also asked about some of the latest developments at wide receiver. Rashee Rice is facing a civil suit featuring allegations of domestic violence, while former Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill was recently released by the Miami Dolphins.
Reid didn't offer anything of substance in either arena, which is to be expected considering how the process in both instances has to play out as Rice faces legal issues and Hill is recovering from a severe knee injury. "I can’t comment on Rashee’s situation. It’s in law enforcement’s hands, so I can’t comment there," said Reid.
Reid went into a bit more detail when referencing a potential reunion with Hill, but there's little to take away from his comments. "I don’t even know if Tyreek is healthy right now to do anything. I’m sure he’s working hard on that part of it and trying to get that all straightened out. But listen, we talk about everything. There’s nothing happening there, but we know what you know—that he’s out there and cranking away, trying to get himself back to where he can play, period."
Reid explains the Chiefs' coaching changes
Reid also spoke about the offseason's biggest coaching additions, something that the Chiefs' head coach had previously put off. It wasn't that long ago that K.C. held a special press conference following Eric Bieniemy's arrival as offensive coordinator. Reid stated then that he wanted to keep the focus on EB's return to the team and that there would be time to discuss other staffing changes at a later date.
On Friday, Reid spoke specifically about the hiring of running backs coach DeMarco Murray, wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea, and defensive backs coach Andre Curtis. Reid noted O'Shea's Super Bowl experience with the Patriots as a strong asset and praised his extensive body of work.
For Murray, the Chiefs were previously linked to a potential reunion with Deland McCullough, who was the RB coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in '25. However, the Chiefs hired Murray instead and McCullough replaced him at the University of Oklahoma. "I just thought his coming in in this position would be a strength to that, not only from an experience standpoint, but also the way he goes about teaching things. I think he’s a nice addition there," said Reid.
Curtis provided the most interesting feedback from Reid, who explained that he's attempted to lure him onto the staff in years past. "I’ve tried to hire Andre before when Steve [Spagnuolo] came in. They’ve been together at three different places, and he’s actually worked with every member of our defensive staff and it was an easy one to plug in and go," said Reid.