Chiefs, Mahomes Could Dramatically Improve Offense With 1 Simple Change

Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky says the Chiefs need to put Patrick Mahomes under center more to boost their offense.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes could dramatically improve their offense by having Mahomes take more snaps from under center, according to former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Orlovsky believes the Chiefs have relied too heavily on Mahomes operating out of the shotgun formation, and that putting him under center more often could lead to better results.

Why it matters

The Chiefs' offense has been one of the most explosive in the NFL in recent years, but it took a step back last season as the team finished with its first losing campaign under head coach Andy Reid. Improving the offense will be a top priority for the Chiefs this offseason, and Orlovsky believes getting Mahomes under center more often could be a key part of that.

The details

Orlovsky pointed out that when Mahomes has taken snaps from under center during his career, he has posted a 110.7 passer rating and an 8.1 yards-per-attempt mark, compared to a 99.6 rating and 7.6 yards per pass when operating out of the shotgun. Mahomes has only taken around 10% of his career snaps from under center, but Orlovsky believes increasing that percentage could benefit both Mahomes and the rest of the offense.

  • Last season, the Chiefs put Mahomes under center at the lowest rate of his career.
  • The Chiefs finished the 2025 season with their first losing campaign in Andy Reid's tenure as head coach.

The players

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs who has been one of the most productive passers in the NFL in recent seasons.

Eric Bieniemy

The offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs who is tasked with improving the team's offense this offseason.

Andy Reid

The head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs who has led the team to consistent success during his tenure.

Dan Orlovsky

A former NFL quarterback who has provided analysis on how the Chiefs can improve their offense.

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What they’re saying

“Go under center more, put bigger bodies on the field. That doesn't make him a lesser player. I still think he's going to be at the highest end. He just doesn't have to do 45 snaps a game. And so, and I think it helps everybody else. It doesn't just help Patrick.”

— Dan Orlovsky, Former NFL quarterback (WHB)

“It was like a slow fade with Patrick in Kansas City, where you can just see over the course of, let's call it the last two-and-a-half years or so, the demand for him to kind of constantly do more and bear more and burden more.”

— Dan Orlovsky, Former NFL quarterback (WHB)

What’s next

The Chiefs will need to evaluate their offensive scheme and tendencies this offseason to determine how they can best utilize Mahomes' skills, including having him take more snaps from under center.

The takeaway

Improving the Chiefs' offense and getting Mahomes back to his MVP-caliber level will be a top priority for the team this offseason. Increasing Mahomes' snaps from under center could be a simple but effective change that helps the team return to its explosive ways on offense.