Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has suggested that retirement is on the horizon for him, indicating that he will likely step away from the game long before his star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, concludes his career. Reid, who signed a five-year extension with the Chiefs in April 2024, stated his focus is on the present season and not on finding a successor for Mahomes.
"I don't worry about it because he'll be here a lot longer than I am," Reid told reporters when asked about his future. Mahomes is entering his tenth NFL season under Reid's guidance.
Despite the Chiefs' offseason moves, including drafting Garrett Nussmeier and trading for Justin Fields, Mahomes remains the centerpiece of the team's prospects. He has made a full recovery from a torn ACL sustained in December and was cleared for training camp. Last season, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012, leading to questions about Reid's future, though he maintained his intention to return.
"I mean, I think I'm coming back, right?" Reid said in a video call last season. "If they'll have me back, I'll come back. You never know in this business. That's a tough one. But I plan on it, yeah."
Mahomes, meanwhile, has expressed his desire for a long career, citing inspirations like Tom Brady and LeBron James. "As long as I can play, and have fun, and my family's enjoying it, I'll play," Mahomes stated previously. He also noted the advantage of football having a home city compared to sports like baseball, allowing his family to be more involved.
Mahomes' most trusted teammate, tight end Travis Kelce, has previously stated his loyalty to Reid, indicating he would retire if Reid does. "Coach Reid knows how much I love to play for him, how much I love to be a product of his coaching career," Kelce said. "I'm not playing for anybody else but Big Red. If he calls it quits, I'm out there with him, man."
Reid, however, believes Mahomes has a significant runway ahead. "Yeah, he looked pretty good today, I thought. Strong," Reid commented on Mahomes' recent performance in training camp. "You see the strength in his legs, which is important with a leg injury. You kind of look at that first. See how his feet are moving, feet are moving well. So, I thought it was positive. I mean, I thought he looked well."