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Andy Reid has spent almost his entire adult life as a coach. For more than a quarter century, Reid has patrolled the sidelines as an NFL head coach, first guiding the Philadelphia Eagles and now the Kansas City Chiefs.
Reid cemented his legacy in Kansas City with three Super Bowl titles, but his age, Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury and uncertainty surrounding Travis Kelce’s future have fueled speculation that he could retire as early as 2026.
Despite those factors — including the Chiefs missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014 — it appears Reid wants to continue coaching in 2026, the NFL Network reported Saturday.
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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
“People who know Reid well say he has given no indication he will leave at age 67. For the first time in years, he will finally have a full offseason to recharge. As one person close to him said, ‘Coach Reid isn’t going out like that,'” the outlet reported.
CHEFS QB PATRICK MAHOMES CONSIDERING WEEK 1 RETURN IN 2026 AFTER ACL SURGERY
Even if Reid’s return to the sidelines seems likely, the continuity of the rest of the technical staff remains less certain. Matt Nagy, who is in his second term as offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, is in the final year of his contract.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reacts to a touchdown during the second half against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on August 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports)
Shortly before Mahomes underwent surgery to repair damage to his left ACL and LCL, Reid expressed confidence in the quarterback’s mindset regarding his rehabilitation approach.
“He’s going to attack him, like he does everything else,” Reid said of Mahomes’ upcoming rehab. “There’s been some really good quarterbacks that have had the same injury, and they’ve done pretty well after coming back. He’ll take care of it, and he’s got good people here to rehab him. He’ll be on top of it all.
“As long as the surgery goes well, as planned, I would expect a pretty quick recovery for him, just because of those factors.”
Kelce faced questions about retirement last season. He sparked more questions about his NFL future after becoming less definitive about his prospects for playing in 2025 following the Chiefs’ loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl in February.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, instructs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at the Oakland Coliseum on September 15, 2019, in Oakland, California. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)
But a few weeks later, ESPN host Pat McAfee revealed that Kelce had sent him a message confirming he would return in 2025, which read: “I’ll be back, for sure.”
Kelce, 36, has appeared in all 14 games so far this season, compiling 797 receiving yards on 67 catches. The receptions match Kelce’s career low since 2014, his first full season in the NFL. But he still has three games left to increase his total.
Kelce was drafted in 2013, but a preseason knee injury kept him sidelined for almost his entire rookie season, aside from limited action on special teams. The 2023 season broke Kelce’s streak of seven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Reid and the Chiefs travel to Nashville on Sunday for a Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans.
