Andy Reid's coaching staff is already looking very different this winter, with seismic changes on the offensive side and some slight alterations on the defensive side. But if the Chiefs wanted to really put the cherry on top, so to speak, they might want to entice a former franchise hero to begin his coaching career.
Tyrann Mathieu was only officially on the Chiefs roster for three seasons, from 2019-2021, but those were pivotal years in which defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was installing a championship defense. Mathieu was a coach on the field in the secondary and a punishing defender who made receivers think twice about their assignments. Those same traits are what would make him an ideal coaching addition to Andy Reid's staff.
Mathieu has been a leader of men since his days at LSU, so it's no surprise he was such an influential player during his 12-year playing career. Reid recognized that special spark as a leader when asked about Mathieu's retirement in 2024, saying, "The game will miss him, miss his energy—definitely an energy giver, a great leader." When asked about his coaching potential, Reid said he'd be "tremendous" in the role before adding, "Hopefully, he gets into coaching, because he'd be a heck of a coach if he decides to go that way."
A familiar voice with championship credibility could be the perfect final touch as Andy Reid reshapes his staff for the next era in Kansas City.
If Mathieu is even remotely interested in a coaching career, it's hard to imagine he'd scoff at the opportunity to do so in Kansas City. He has plenty of experience elsewhere—including five years with the Arizona Cardinals and three seasons with the New Orleans Saints—but Mathieu has a clear fondness for Reid and his staff. In fact, he recently said Reid and Spagnuolo were the top two coaches he'd ever played for, going back to his high school days.
Getting Mathieu to join Reid at this juncture would be ideal timing. The Chiefs have leaned on Dave Merritt in the secondary to coach up prospects on an annual basis, but it's hard to imagine he's not going to get a serious look at coordinator opportunities once he's open to it. Merritt has two children still in high school, and he's stated before that he's committed to seeing them complete their education while remaining in K.C.
Spagnuolo is also getting older, as is Reid, and it's also hard to tell exactly how long the Chiefs' leaders will remain in their current posts. Getting someone younger into the fold to blossom as a novice coach could plant seeds for something more meaningful down the road. The Chiefs already added some youth with former Coastal Carolina defensive backs coach C.J. Cox landing as a quality control coach this offseason.
Of course, all of this is contingent upon Mathieu being interested in a coaching turn in the first place, but few players have exhibited such obvious traits about making the eventual transition. Perhaps he's enjoying his post-NFL days enough to stay off the sidelines, but if he ever felt the game calling him back into the organizational fold, the Chiefs would be wise to make the call to gauge his interest.