Head Coach Andy Reid has built a strong reputation with the Kansas City Chiefs, and much of that has come from the way he connects with the people inside his team. The Chiefs head coach recently explained what he looks for when bringing players and coaches into his organization.

Speaking with former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett on the “Coach2Coach” podcast, Reid said his first priority is finding people who genuinely love the game.

“Coaches, I look for teachers, for guys that I don’t worry about off the field and that are that love the game. Players, very similar. I try to find guys that love the game,” Andy Reid said on 26 August.

When it comes to players, Reid looks beyond what they can do between the lines. He wants smart players who take the game seriously and don't bring unnecessary problems with them.

“And you got to spend time with these guys to do that in the different environments that you’re allowed to do before the draft,” Andy Reid said on 26 August on the Coach 2 Coach podcast.

In the 2025 NFLPA team report cards, Reid received an A-plus grade from Kansas City players.

“Try to find guys that love the game, that were smart and that didn’t have a ton of problems off the field preferably,” Reid added.

A Covers.com survey of 5,022 NFL fans found Reid was the coach most fans would want their team to poach, with 14.58 percent picking him. Among Chiefs fans, 80.9 percent said they wouldn't trade Reid for another head coach, according to the Kansas City Star.

“So, you’re not always going to be right on that. You know, so, but try to make that happen,” Reid added.

Reid enters his 14th season in Kansas City and 28th as an NFL head coach.

He has 307 career wins, including the playoffs, along with three Super Bowl titles and five Super Bowl appearances with the Chiefs.

That same approach to putting the right people in the right situation can also be seen in how Reid is handling Mahomes’ return.

Will Patrick Mahomes play against Seattle?

Patrick Mahomes will not play Friday as he continues his recovery from the torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee.

The quarterback has been at every practice since being cleared for training camp and said earlier this week that his recovery is moving in the right direction, according to Heavy.

Even so, Reid has opted not to put Mahomes on the field for the final preseason game. Mahomes has been eager to play whenever possible, but the Chiefs have remained careful with his return.

With the veteran quarterback out, rookie Garrett Nussmeier is expected to start against Seattle. The seventh-round pick has been getting valuable first-team reps during training camp and will have another chance to show what he can do.

Reid also ruled out Josh Simmons, Jack Cochrane, Ashton Gillotte, Jimmy Holiday, Chris Oladokun and C.J. Hanson for Friday's game.

For Mahomes, the focus now shifts fully toward the regular season. Kansas City opens against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14, giving the quarterback a little more time to get ready for his return.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit