For more than a decade, Andy Reid has been the architect of one of the NFL’s most dominant eras.
Alongside superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs built a dynasty that included multiple Super Bowl appearances, three championships, and nine straight AFC West titles.
But after a disappointing 2025 season, critics are beginning to wonder if that magic is fading.
The Chiefs’ 6-11 finish marked their first playoff miss since 2014, a stunning fall for a franchise that had become synonymous with consistency and success.
Injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear for Patrick Mahomes, certainly played a role. Yet analysts argue that the issues ran deeper than bad luck.
The scrutiny intensified when NBC Sports analyst Patrick Daugherty released his latest coaching rankings, placing Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams ahead of Andy Reid.
It was a notable shift, especially considering Reid’s long-standing reputation as the league’s top coach.
“Andy Reid is one of the greatest coaches in the history of football,” Patrick Daugherty wrote.
“This was true even before he found Patrick Mahomes. If you want to say he’s still the best current coach, you could easily win the debate. Now, is he still the most dynamic? That would be harder to argue.”
That question, whether Reid’s approach still carries the same edge, has become central to the conversation.
A changing league and growing concerns
The 2025 season exposed several cracks in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ foundation, particularly on offense.
Long known for its explosive, creative schemes, Kansas City’s attack appeared unusually stagnant.
Despite solid individual numbers from Patrick Mahomes, 3,587 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, the team ranked just 20th in total offense, averaging 320.6 yards per game.
For Patrick Daugherty, the issue wasn’t just execution, it was identity.
“For as much as 2025 was about bad luck, unfortunate injuries, and sometimes both… it was the lack of dynamism and adjustments that stood out more,” he noted.
“I am not a ‘football mind.’ I know there is always an overarching strategy that might not be immediately apparent to my civilian understanding.”
“But I feel I am qualified to ask: What is the thesis of this passing game? How has watching Patrick Mahomes become boring? Then I might follow up, if it is forces beyond Reid’s control holding back the aerial attack… why is it being supplemented by nothing on the ground?”
Such criticism highlights a broader concern: that the Chiefs’ once-revolutionary offense may no longer be keeping pace with the rest of the league.
Meanwhile, Sean McVay‘s adaptability with the Los Angeles Rams, leading them to a 12-5 record and an NFC Championship appearance, has been cited as an example of the evolution required to stay ahead.
Still, it’s impossible to overlook Andy Reid‘s legacy. Since taking over in 2013, he transformed a struggling franchise into a perennial contender.
The culture he established laid the foundation for sustained success, something Patrick Mahomes himself acknowledged in the past.
“It’s the culture we’ve built here,” Patrick Mahomes said in a 2023 interview. “That started before I even got here with Coach Reid… This is how we’re going to work, this is how we’re going to prepare, and this is how we’re going to win.”
Now entering his 13th season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Reid faces a new challenge: adapting once again.
The team has already made changes, including replacing offensive coordinator Matt Nagy with Eric Bieniemy, in an effort to reignite their attack.
Whether these adjustments will be enough remains to be seen. For the first time in years, the Chiefs are no longer the unquestioned standard of excellence, and Andy Reid must prove that his coaching brilliance can evolve with the times.
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