Shhh … Don’t Tell AFC West, but Chiefs Content Being Hunters

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kyle Brandt had a bone to pick with the NFL on Tuesday.

“Why in the hell is Andy Reid in the back row?” Brandt asked on Tuesday’s episode of Good Morning Football, pointing out Reid’s position in the annual head-coach photo. “Why is he with the steerage? Why is he not front and center where he belongs? I don't care who the new kid on the block is. I don't care what the Chiefs did last season.

“When Jack Nicholson attends the Academy Awards, he sits in the Jack Seat. He would not show up next year if you put him behind an Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo … It's the Jack Seat. I don't care if the Chiefs went 0-17 next year. That's Andy's seat. And he can sit in that seat when he's done coaching. He can show up as the 33rd coach in perpetuity, and just sit there whenever he wants. That's his seat. He's earned it.”

2025 head coaches photo at NFL Annual Meeting at Arizona Biltmore .... Harbaughs & LaFleurs side by side pic.twitter.com/VZ6AV0m2Yo
— Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD) March 30, 2026

Like a predator hiding in tall grass

Perhaps Reid was simply lying in the weeds. The Chiefs are no longer the hunted after their 6-11 season in 2025. Now, they’re the hunters. And Reid strategically chose to stand between Kyle Shanahan and Zac Taylor, and directly behind Mike LaFleur, Joe Brady and Kevin Stefanski.

From that position, if a brawl broke out like last season’s fracas after the Chiefs’ win over Detroit, Reid would’ve had the advantage in posture and leverage, able to flip any of his younger adversaries because he saw them coming.

reid, dan campbel — Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell shakes hands with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Last-place Chiefs?

And those are five important foes on the Chiefs’ 2026 schedule: Shanahan’s 49ers, Taylor’s Bengals, LaFleur’s Cardinals, Brady’s Bills and Stefanski’s Falcons (possibly in Spain). Rams coach Sean McVay didn’t appear in the photo, possibly choosing to devote the time to scouting his AFC West opponents this season.

In all seriousness, not many people are seeing the Chiefs coming this year. Clark Hunt even expects the NFL to give away the prime Week 1 kickoff game to another Seahawks opponent.

But Adam Schefter and Pat McAfee are sounding the Chiefs’ horn.

They're saying you're not good @PatrickMahomes

NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE CHIEFS#PMSLive https://t.co/6M3MtH3Pb7 pic.twitter.com/cpeGqjDImY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 31, 2026

“Well, first of all, when Clark Hunt says that, he knows that,” Schefter explained on Tuesday’s edition of the Pat McAfee Show. “So, that tells me that the Seahawks are not going to be hosting the Chiefs in that Wednesday opener. The Chiefs will be off the table. So, the league will spare Patrick Mahomes and give him the extra time to try to get ready.”

And regarding the social-media post Mahomes shared, showing him executing a seven-step drop just 100 days after surgery, Schefter said a doctor reached out to him to point out that Mahomes was favoring his knee.

QB1 back in the lab 👀 @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/F9BXzqzyr6
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) March 25, 2026

“He's like, ‘Watch the way that he puts his foot down; it's not all there yet,’” Schefter said. “But I wouldn't expect it to be all there yet. And he's not playing now; he's playing in five-plus months. … Give this guy five more months and he's gonna be there on opening day. That's what I expect. This is a guy, when he dislocated his kneecap, he’s playing the next week, right? So, five more months to come back after this type of surgery. As significant as that knee injury was, he's coming back from it.”

One potential Chiefs opener is an AFC West clash with the Raiders, who’ve had their own news-worthy offseason. Unlike the Chiefs, Las Vegas is no longer expected to make multiple first-round picks in the April draft.

crosby, mahome — Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts after being sacked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Raiders’ agreement to send Maxx Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round choices fell through after Baltimore reportedly had concerns over Crosby’s knee. One of the doctors the Ravens consulted was Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ head team physician, who ironically performed surgery on Mahomes Dec. 15.

Baltimore signed edge rusher Trey Hendrickson as a free agent and Crosby is now expected to play for the Raiders in 2026. Hendrickson (6½) has the most career sacks of Mahomes among active players, including postseason. Crosby is second with six.