Chiefs Offense Faces Pivotal Offseason Shifts

Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy must adapt their attack around Patrick Mahomes' injury and new personnel.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:03am

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The Kansas City Chiefs face major strategic questions this offseason as they look to retool their high-powered offense around Patrick Mahomes' recovery from knee surgery, the addition of star running back Kenneth Walker, and the need to find new receiving threats to complement Travis Kelce.

Why it matters

The Chiefs have been one of the NFL's most dominant offenses in recent years, but defenses have started to find ways to slow them down. With Mahomes' health in question and the departure of Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs must evolve their scheme to remain among the league's elite.

The details

The Chiefs signed Walker, the Super Bowl MVP, to bolster their ground game, but he is more of a traditional downhill runner than the speedy backs they've featured in their RPO-heavy offense. Additionally, Mahomes is rehabbing from surgery to repair both the ACL and LCL in his left knee, the most significant injury of his career. The Chiefs must determine how to best utilize Mahomes and Walker while also finding new receiving threats to replace Hill's production.

  • Mahomes underwent surgery on December 15, 2025.
  • Mahomes released footage of his first throwing session on March 29, 2026, exactly 100 days after his surgery.
  • The NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix begins on March 29, 2026.

The players

Andy Reid

The head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, known for his innovative offensive schemes.

Eric Bieniemy

The offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, who works closely with Reid to design the team's offensive game plans.

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is recovering from a significant knee injury.

Kenneth Walker

The Super Bowl MVP running back who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.

Travis Kelce

The star tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has led the team in receiving for the past four seasons.

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What’s next

The Chiefs will need to determine how to best utilize Mahomes and Walker in their offense, as well as address the need for new receiving threats, during the upcoming NFL draft.

The takeaway

The Chiefs' high-powered offense faces significant challenges this offseason, as they must adapt their scheme to account for Mahomes' injury, the addition of Kenneth Walker, and the departure of Tyreek Hill. Their ability to successfully evolve their attack will be crucial to their continued success.