Changes were already coming to the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff in 2026 after a disastrous 6-11 showing this season. Andy Reid will remain as head coach, but changes from the coordinator level and further down the organizational pyramid were expected coming out of Week 18. However, some more shifts might be coming than expected.
On Friday, NFL reporter Adam Schefter broke the news that Joe Cullen, the Chiefs' defensive line coach, will be interviewing with the Washington Commanders for their defensive coordinator position.
Cullen has long been a leader of men in the trenches as an experienced and respected coach of defensive linemen. He spent several years with the Baltimore Ravens in such a role, not to mention stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cullen earned a promotion to defensive coordinator with the Jags, but the Urban Meyer era cost him after one year on the job.
Joe Cullen's potential departure would completely wipe the Chiefs' coaching slate clean for the defensive line.
Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo hired Cullen after Jacksonville's decision to clean house and added him as the defensive line coordinator. He moved Brendan Daly to linebackers in the process, after Matt House moved on to join the LSU Tigers. Cullen has been entrenched ever since, coaching up Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and company through some of K.C.'s championship seasons.
Now, Cullen might be getting a second chance at the coordinator level as head coach Dan Quinn remakes the coaching staff. The Commanders have already installed David Blough as offensive coordinator after firing Kliff Kingsbury.
Beyond the potential of losing Cullen, the Chiefs are also watching both coordinators interview for multiple head coaching positions apiece. Spagnuolo has earned looks from the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans, while offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is also in talks with the Titans along with the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals.
Oh sh!+……. https://t.co/8b0bG5pSpR
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) January 9, 2026
The Chiefs aren't just being passive in their approach to coaching changes this offseason. Andy Reid already made the decision to fire wide receivers coach Connor Embree as well as defensive quality control coach Louie Addazio.
For Chiefs' defensive linemen, the potential loss of Cullen would completely clear the leadership slate. Alex Whittingham was the team's assistant DL coach, but he was hired away to coach linebackers at the University of Michigan to join his father, Kyle, who was named the team's new head coach after Sherrone Moore was fired.
More moves might be coming, but it's possible the Chiefs are already looking at two new coordinators and several new positional coaches and assistants. After years of continuity on the sidelines, K.C. is bracing for major changes with plenty of roster shakeup on the way.