Emmett Johnson was an exhilarating player to watch last season. After listening to Andy Reid's appreciation of him, it's going to be difficult for Kansas City Chiefs fans to contain their excitement to watch him at the next level, too.
Johnson is now an official member of the Chiefs roster, as the fifth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft—the desired target of one of two trades up in the draft order by general manager Brett Veach. The Nebraska running back became a superstar in the Big Ten a year ago after leading the conference with 1,451 rushing yards and 12 TDs on the ground. He caught another 46 passes and 3 more scores in the passing game. The end result was a first-team All-American honor and a decision to enter the draft early.
The Chiefs are fresh off of their '26 rookie minicamp, and Johnson was a natural talking point for head coach Andy Reid when taking questions from reporters. The Chiefs only made two offensive additions in this draft class—Johnson being the first, along with Cincinnati wide receiver Cyrus Allen—and Johnson is the latest to join the one position undergoing the greatest overhaul.
While Reid didn't specifically say that Johnson is a clone of an all-time great, the fact that he even referenced LeSean McCoy when asked about the rookie is a big hit. Reid would know as McCoy's former coach, but younger Chiefs fans should know that McCoy has a real shot at making the Pro Football Hall of Fame with six Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro nods, and status as the leading rusher of the 2010s.
Andy Reid's comments about the Chiefs' rookie running back is going to have fans excited to see what he can do.
"First of all, he's got a good feel for things," said Reid when asked about Johnson. "Smart kid. Good kid. He's got that lateral quickness. We had LeSean McCoy here for a bit. He's got a little bit of that to him, where he can shift gears and still get himself up field quickly. I like the way he pass protects. I like the way he catches the football. And it looks like he can do that here. We're not doing live stuff, but the catching part, he does easy.Â
"Probably most of all, I just like his smarts. He's going to help on special teams, too. Dave [Toub] has him in that up-back position on the punt team. He'll be able to make all the calls and get guys going in the right direction."
Reid was then asked about Johnson's ability to catch the ball and whether or not that was a major reason for securing him in the draft. Reid agreed, while emphasizing that he can do it all. "It's important in this offense that you're able to catch the ball. You've got to be able to block. He showed that. At the same time, you've got to be able to run the ball. So the more you can do, we'll utilize you in those areas. And it puts pressure on the defense."
Johnson's the third and final piece in a backfield that holds the potential to be one of the NFL's best overall after years of ranking among the worst. Kenneth Walker was signed as the explosive new lead back, fresh off of a Super Bowl MVP win. Emari Demercado is another option with excellent burst and agility whose dynamism adds another layer, while Brashard Smith holds promise as a holdover from last season.
Given how important Zach Charbonnet was for the overall success of Seattle's ground game with Walker, it's clear that Johnson is going to be given a chance to be a nice tandem performer alongside the Chiefs' biggest free-agent catch. Reid's praise makes it clear that the organization believes he's up to the task, which should give fans another element to watch in training camp.
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