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The Kansas City Chiefs make new coaching hires official
The Chiefs posted the following message on X Friday evening, confirming the multiple reports of hirings:
We have added the following coaches to our staff for the 2026 season:
DeMarco Murray — Running Backs Coach
Chad O’Shea — Wide Receivers Coach
Terry Bradden Jr. — Assistant Defensive Line Coach
Nate Pagan — Offensive Quality Control
CJ Cox — Defensive Quality Control
What type of player can the Chiefs land at No. 9 in the NFL Draft? | The Kansas City Star
2023: The Philadelphia Eagles select defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
No. 8 overall: Atlanta selects RB Bijan Robinson | No. 10 overall: Chicago selects T Darnell Wright.Kansas City unfortunately knows Carter well from Philadelphia’s domination up front in Super Bowl LIX. While Carter didn’t make the box score, KC chose to double-team him frequently, opening up the door for his linemates to register multiple sacks.
Carter was a second-team All-Pro in 2024, and his attention in the trenches can be compared to a young Chris Jones.
There is a running back in this year’s draft who has drawn analysts’ comparisons to Robinson, who was taken at No. 8 in 2023: Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Some have expected the Chiefs to go in that direction. There were outstanding players littered throughout 2023’s first round, including Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12), Christian Gonzalez (No. 17) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 20).
The Chiefs used their 31st-overall pick to take defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
One Chiefs Veteran Quietly Fighting for His Job This Offseason | KC Kingdom
Chamarri Conner Will Be Fighting for Job with Chiefs in 2026
Connor has been a contributor for the Chiefs over the last three seasons, playing on defense and special teams. Last season, Connor saw a career-high 1,022 defensive snaps. He was asked to play all over the field, including slot corner, free safety, and in the box.
While he recorded 117 total tackles and four tackles for loss in 2025, Connor left a lot to be desired in coverage. He allowed 56 receptions (68 targets) for 643 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Pro Football Focus graded Connor 53.2 overall (82nd among 98 graded safeties) and a 46.7 coverage grade (86th among 98 graded safeties).
Connor also had a 63.5 run-defense grade (75th among 98 graded safeties). The Chiefs gave him an expanded role, but there clearly were areas in which he struggled. The Virginia Tech product is entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, placing more pressure on the coaching staff to get this right as veteran Bryan Cook is set to hit free agency in March.
Brees Tells Chiefs’ Kelce Classic Story About Schottenheimer | Sports Illustrated
The year before Schottenheimer arrived in San Diego, the Chargers drafted Drew Brees in the second round. And even though Brees beat out Flutie in 2002, Schottenheimer made every day a job interview for Brees. The new Hall of Famer shared the story with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on this week’s edition of New Heights.
“He backed me up for three years after that,” said Brees, referring to Flutie. “I was benched three times in those three years with Marty Schottenheimer. Yeah, the first one, I deserved it. The second one, kind of. The third one, I didn’t think I deserved it, and I was pissed.
“And had a knock-down, drag-out screaming match with Marty Schottenheimer on the sideline in December, at Pittsburgh, and then in the hallway after, and then in his office the next day.”
Kelce is saddened by the thought of the Chiefs leaving GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, but he fully understands why CEO and chairman Clark Hunt would move the team across the state line.
“The owners, they get so much more opportunity getting to the outskirts of the city,” Kelce said. “And it’s hard to argue with those opportunities, and we’re dealing with it right now in Kansas City. We’re going over to Kansas, but at the same time, it’s like, if you look at that deal in terms of an owner, like that’s one of the greatest opportunities you could ever get as an owner.
“And I think it’s going to be unbelievable once it’s finally set in stone. But it is going to be kind of heartbreaking knowing that the Chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead and that Missouri side of Kansas City.
“It’s just a part of the old, you know, professional sports. It is a business at the end of the day.”
Around the NFL
NFL wins grievance against NFLPA regarding report cards | ESPN
The NFLPA has conducted and distributed the results of anonymous player surveys since 2023 — and had already collected surveys throughout the 2025 season for the latest installment of the report cards to be published in spring 2026. The league filed its grievance to stop the practice in the fall, saying it violated the agreement clause that states NFL owners and the union must “use reasonable efforts to curtail public comments by club personnel or players which express criticism of any club, its coach, or its operation and policy.”
Instead, the memo states, teams should continue to solicit feedback from their players directly, and the NFL’s Management Council will work with the NFLPA to design and conduct a survey that collects players’ opinions regarding the “adequacy of medical care under the CBA.”
Prior to Friday’s ruling, players across the NFL expressed their support for the report cards.
Best trade fits for Maxx Crosby: Potential landing spots for Pro Bowl pass rusher | NFL.com
Maurice Jones-Drew
NFL.com Analyst
PICK: Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars made big strides in 2025, winning the division after having just four victories in 2024, but their pass rush needs a boost if they want to continue that upward trajectory next season. Jacksonville just ranked 21st in pass defense and 27th in sacks, with Josh Hines-Allen leading the way with eight QB takedowns. Crosby would provide a much-needed boost to the defensive line and another dynamic pass rusher opposite Hines-Allen. With Crosby, the Jags could be true Super Bowl contenders.
The Team USA snowboarder — who is aiming to become the first ever to “three-peat” and win her third gold in the halfpipe at the Olympics — was cheered on by the Cleveland Browns defensive end, as seen in a video and photos shared by the franchise and the NFL on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
In the images, the two-time NFL defensive player of the year, 30, poses with his 25-year-old girlfriend. A video captured her soaring up and down the halfpipe.
According to ESPN’s SportsCenter, Garrett, toted a camera to take pictures of Kim’s historic run and repeatedly said “she’s so amazing, she’s so amazing,” as he watched from the stands in Livigno, Italy.
Kim was the only competitor to score above 90. She will be joined in the final round on Thursday, Feb. 12 by Team USA competitors Maddie Mastro and Bea Kim, who finished third and 10th in qualifying. Teammate Maddy Shaffrick did not advance to the final, finishing in 15th.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs 2026 offseason: Rank the positions of need before free agency
1. Defensive Line
The Chiefs’ defensive line struggled during the 2025 season, and heading into the offseason, the position is depleted. The team needs a combination of capable pass rushers and big bodies to stuff the run.
With a premier pick in the NFL Draft and a loaded defensive line class, Kansas City has a chance to pick one of the top defensive ends or tackles, but with multiple top-100 picks, the organization could double up and add multiple players to the defensive line.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones and defensive end George Karlafitis need help up front, and the draft will be a great spot for the Chiefs to replenish talent in the trenches.
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