It's amazing just how much continuity in leadership the Kansas City Chiefs were already able to bring back to the table year after year despite their run of sustained success. Whether teams are uncertain about how much credit to give someone apart from Andy Reid or whether the Chiefs always play too late into the postseason for some franchises to want to wait, the truth is that K.C. has retained their leaders at an alarming rate.
Not that anyone is complaining.
One assistant coach who was making waves as a potential staff member who could be hired away has instead been retained. According to NFL reporter, the Chiefs were able to come to terms with defensive line coach Joe Cullen on an extension to keep him in Kansas City for at least another year.
The Chiefs are bringing back everyone for a run at a threepeat.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but here's a video of the interview with Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show.
"The Chiefs are gonna run it back with a lot of this team intact..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 12, 2024
I don't think Chris Jones is gonna wanna leave unless there's some huge offers out there"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/GIiKztf5EK
"Even their defensive line coach, Joe Cullen, was in demand by other NFL teams and college teams and very quietly last week, they got an extension done for him to make sure he doesn’t leave. So they ensure continuity on their staff and the players are going to be back. So yeah, overall, the majority of this team is back to run it back in ’24," said Schefter.
Given his work with Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, among others, it's easy to understand why the Chiefs were keen to bring him back. The maturation of Felix Anudike-Uzomah beyond this season is another reason to want to keep stable leadership around.
Just last week, Cullen was a hot name for some NFL teams and at least one college program as rumors connected him to the University of Michigan as well as the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders. Now, however, those teams will have to look elsewhere as Cullen remains in place.
It will be interesting to see if Cullen gets a promotion to, say, assistant head coach or something else. For now, however, the good news is that Cullen is back for another year.