Kansas City’s head coach joined media members for a Monday Zoom call.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid met with the media via Zoom on Monday, which marked the first day of the team’s offseason program.
In his opening statement, the head coach spoke about some of the team’s roster additions and subtractions ahead of the NFL Draft.
He then opened it up for questions, which we have rounded up in four takeaways:
Reid mentioned he is “excited to get going again.”
In Phase One, teams can hold meetings with the players, which the Chiefs choose to do virtually.
“It’s been fun to go back in and dig in on the season and either come up with new things and/or correct the things that we still like and are bringing back,” said Reid. “I think it’s a great time for the players. It’s slowed down to where they get to see all the videos and cutups and work that the coaches put in to do these evaluations and to teach and to learn from the players’ standpoint. It’s also good communication, so they can share ideas — players and coaches. They can ask questions, feel free about that, and there’s no rush to do so. At the same time, they get their lifting in and running in that they need to, to build that base to get them through the season.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes annually hosts on-field workouts with his fellow offensive skill players in his home state of Texas. Reid said that he can’t provide guidance for the workouts per NFL rules, but the quarterback is more than capable of handling it himself.
“Pat doesn’t need that with the experience he has and the experience the receivers have that have joined him,” said Reid. “Last year, when we had some new faces or young guys in there, it was a little different. He had to really prep for that. This year, he can go out and work on the things he knows the guys need work on — the routes and that. I think it’s an even better situation this year than it was last.”
Reid made some initial comments about Patrick Mahomes’ new backup quarterback.
Kansas City signed 28-year-old Gardner Minshew to serve as Mahomes’ primary backup for the 2025 season.
“He’s a good football player,” said Reid of Minshew. “I think it will be a good relationship between the two of them. They both know of each other and respect each other. I think they look forward to working together. They can speak more on that when you have a chance to talk to them.
“Gardner’s a humble kid with a great personality, loves to play the game and all of those [are] the same things that Pat has, too. It should be a good working relationship there.”
Reid is comfortable with where the roster stands ahead of the NFL Draft.
With key signings, including left tackle Jaylon Moore, cornerback Kristian Fulton and running back Elijah Mitchell, general manager Brett Veach has put the roster in a solid position ahead of this week’s NFL Draft.
“When you’re sitting here like we have the last couple years — fortunate to be sitting in that position because of the wins that have taken place — but you have to discipline yourself to take the best player,” said Reid. “With that, you’ve got to evaluate every position and you’ve got to put all this time in, and Brett’s done a great job with that.
“I think he’s very comfortable with it right now, if we had to do it today. He and his guys are working overtime and making sure we have all the bases covered, and we’ll come out of there with a good football player.”
Reid shared what he could on wide receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Jared Wiley.
Rice suffered his significant knee injury during the Chiefs’ Week 4 matchup, and Wiley tore his ACL during practice in early November.
“I can’t necessarily give you the [return date],” said Reid. “They’re doing well. That’s taking place right now, but I can’t tell you when they will be back exactly here. Both have been busting their tail, they’re running, which is good. We’ll just see how it goes going forward here. We don’t have them here on the field right now with us, so we’ve got to see the football part of it as we go.”