Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Discusses Potential Chiefs Fit

Love met with Kansas City at NFL Combine, sees opportunity to join former Notre Dame coach Deland McCullough

Feb. 27, 2026 at 8:18pm

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Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, discussed the possibility of joining the Kansas City Chiefs during media availability at the NFL Combine. Love met formally with the Chiefs and is intrigued by the chance to play for his former Notre Dame position coach Deland McCullough, who is now with the Chiefs. Love believes he can be an every-down back in the NFL and highlighted his blocking ability as an underrated part of his game.

Why it matters

The Chiefs are picking in the top 10 for the first time in over a decade after a disappointing 6-11 season in 2025. Adding a dynamic running back like Love could help unlock their offense led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and provide a much-needed boost to their backfield production.

The details

Love, who is expected to be a top-10 pick, said he "did meet formally with the Chiefs" at the combine. He is intrigued by the chance to join the Chiefs' system and play for his former Notre Dame position coach Deland McCullough, who is now on the Chiefs' coaching staff and won a Super Bowl with the team. Love believes he can be an every-down back in the NFL, highlighting his ability as a runner, receiver and blocker.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in the coming months.
  • Love met with the Chiefs during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Friday.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A running back prospect from Notre Dame who is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Deland McCullough

The running backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs who previously coached Love at Notre Dame.

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Brett Veach

The general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kenneth Walker III

A running back who was the Super Bowl MVP.

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What they’re saying

“I did meet formally with the Chiefs. Being able to join that system would mean a lot; being able to join any system would mean a lot. The Chiefs in general, my running back coach [Deland McCullough], from my freshman and sophomore years at Notre Dame, he coached there [in Kansas City] and won a Super Bowl with them [Chiefs]. It would be cool in his eyes for me to go there and be able to play for 'Chiefs Kingdom', as [McCullogh] says. They have a great coaching staff over there, and I would be blessed to go there.”

— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Running Back

“I feel right being an every-down [running] back. I can do it all. I can receive. I can block. I can run. You name it, and I'm going to do anything for any team to have success. Running backs are very valuable. I feel like that's just being more and more recognized as of today. Kenneth Walker III [was] the Super Bowl MVP. Running backs like him are continuing to pave the way for guys who are just coming into the league or who are already in the league. Just making a bigger name for running backs as a whole.”

— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Running Back

“Blocking. Nobody's really beaten me in blocking. I've pretty much dominated everybody that's tried to rush me.”

— Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Running Back

What’s next

The Chiefs will continue evaluating Love and other top prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, where they hold the 9th overall pick.

The takeaway

Love's potential fit with the Chiefs, who are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 season, highlights the importance of running backs in today's NFL and the value of adding a versatile, every-down back to an offense led by a star quarterback like Patrick Mahomes.