Chiefs’ Andy Reid tries to poach fierce rival’s assistant coach with close ties to top NFL Draft prospect
In what could be a strong indication of their immediate roster plans, the Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly requested an interview with the rival Las Vegas Raiders running back coach Deland McCullough.
McCullough is being considered for the same position in Kansas City, according to ESPN, which first reported Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s request.
Not only has McCullough spent the last year working with sixth-overall pick Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas, but he previously coached Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love, who happens to be available in this April’s NFL Draft.
Projected as a top-10 pick, Love became a Heisman finalist in 2025 while rushing for 1,372 yards and adding another 280 as a receiver, all while scoring 21 touchdowns on the year.
Significantly, the Chiefs hold the No. 9 pick in the upcoming draft by virtue of their disappointing, injury-riddled 6-11 season.
In another sign the Chiefs are doubling down on the run game in 2026, Reid is bringing back offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after he spent the year coaching the Bears backs in Chicago. McCullough previously worked under Reid and Bieniemy in Kansas City from 2018 to 2020.
The KansasCity Chiefs have reportedly requested an interview with the rival Las VegasRaiders running back coach Deland McCullough, who previously worked at Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love is a projected top-10 pick in April’s draft, where the Chiefs select at No. 9
Reid continues to call the plays in KC, but the Chiefs could have a new offense in 2026
Bieniemy famously left the Chiefs in 2023 to become assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in Washington, where he had more say in the play-calling. But after a disappointing season, Bieniemy was not retained by new Commanders coach Dan Quinn, and he wound up spending the following season at UCLA as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator.
The former Bengals and Colorado Buffaloes star seemed to revive his career as the running backs coach last year in Chicago. He was instrumental in the Bears running for more than 126 yards a game, fifth-best in the NFL, and helping first-year coach Ben Johnson go 11-6 and make the playoffs.
Bieniemy will be taking over a Chiefs offense that is coming off one of its worst seasons in recent history. They averaged only 320.6 yards per game, putting them near the bottom third of the league, and their rush offense was particularly bleak.
Things could look a whole lot different on that side of the ball next season, too.
Longtime tight end Travis Kelce is expected to announce in the coming weeks whether he is retiring. The Chiefs’ top two running backs, Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, are both free agents, while wide receivers Marquise Brown, Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster are also poised to hit the market when free agency begins in March.
The Chiefs also have some uncertainty at quarterback as Mahomes tries to rehab from surgery to repair two torn knee ligaments in time for the start of the season. The only other QB on the roster is journeyman Chris Oladokun.
