The Kansas City Chiefs‘ 2025 NFL season ended in disappointment, revealing cracks that had gone unnoticed in past years as senior players had to step in to help out the coaching staff.
The veteran 36-year-old Travis Kelce quietly became a pivotal figure trying to stabilize the team as they slumped to a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs.
The report comes from ESPN‘s Nate Taylor, who explained that players were increasingly frustrated with coaching this season, with wide receivers struggling under their position coach, Connor Embree.
That prompted them to seek guidance elsewhere from the likes of DeAndre Hopkins in 2024, as well as Kelce – despite the latter being a tight end.
“I know the receivers themselves were frustrated with their own position coach,” Taylor said. “Xavier Worthy, you can look at it, and it’s factual.
“Xavier Worthy, as a receiver in his rookie season, got better the absolute moment DeAndre Hopkins arrived.”
The 22-year-old Worthy and 25-year-old Rashee Rice ultimately leaned heavily on Hopkins and Kelce for advice, bypassing their official coaching structure.
It’s a particularly shocking revelation as Hopkins had joined the Chiefs midway through 2024 before departing prior to this season, but his and Kelce‘s mentorship shaped development.
Taylor suggested that the influence of the players outweighed that of Embree, who rose from defensive assistant in 2019 to positional coach in 2023.
However, the results were underwhelming as Kansas City missed the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 2014 and finished third in the AFC West.
Embree has since been fired, leaving uncertainty across the coaching staff, with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy also reportedly exploring other opportunities. The Chiefs appear poised for major roster and coaching changes in the offseason.
Will Matt Nagy Leave Kansas City for Tennessee?
Nagy is reportedly a strong candidate for the Tennessee Titans‘ head coaching vacancy, marking a move away to Nashville.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Nagy is expected to be considered when the team begins interviews shortly.
The OC has long been linked to the Titans, with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini noting in December that he remained a serious candidate.
His prior rapport with Mike Borgonzi (general manager), built during two stints in Kansas City, strengthens his case for the job.
If hired, Nagy could bring several offensive pieces, including wideout Hollywood Brown, who joined the Chiefs in 2024 to stretch the field, and Isiah Pacheco, though injuries may end the running back’s tenure after a steep drop in production this season.
Nagy‘s potential move would leave defensive assets like linebacker Leo Chenal as key retention targets for the Chiefs, given his reliability in tackles and consistent play across 65 games since 2022. It’s unlikely KC can pay Chenal a big contract.
With Nagy‘s contract expiring, Kansas City faces both the possibility of losing him and the challenge of retooling the offense.
Changes are likely, as the Chiefs work to stabilize coaching and player development for a return to playoff contention.
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