Chiefs Use Lengthy Offseason to Reset After Missed Playoffs

After the Chiefs finished a mandatory minicamp, the team entered a 42-day hiatus before training camp opens at Missouri Western State. “It's been a while since I've had this long of a break with football,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran and said the early-January exit, the first time the franchise missed the playoffs since 2014, “bothered everyone” “The overall season, I think, bothered everyone,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran. Players are using that disappointment, including a 1-9 record in one-score games, as fuel for the upcoming season.

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General manager Brett Veach bolstered the roster with former Super Bowl talent: running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl LX MVP; defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, a key contributor to New England’s recent Super Bowl run; and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who returns after 13 playoff appearances and two championships with Kansas City. Jones praised Sneed’s “physicality” and expects him to help the secondary dramatically “I love that we brought Sneed back,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran.

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The draft added four defensive prospects—cornerback Mansoor Delane, defensive tackle Peter Woods, defensive end R Mason Thomas, and cornerback Jadon Canady—all slated to compete for rotational roles. Jones highlighted the energy of a hungry rookie class “I think it's fun when you've got a lot of young guys that's hungry,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran.

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Head coach Andy Reid noted higher attendance at voluntary offseason meetings and praised the leadership of veterans such as linebackers Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill, center Creed Humphrey, and guard Trey Smith. “They know what it takes and the discipline that it takes,” — Andy Reid, signs for coach.

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Quarterback Patrick Mahomes expects a demanding camp, noting that “they still haven’t seen EB yet” “They still haven't seen EB yet,” — Patrick Mahomes and anticipating “plenty of yelling and shouting” from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose detail-oriented style helped the Chiefs rank among the league’s top offenses from 2018-2022.

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• “It's been a while since I've had this long of a break with football,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran

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• “The overall season, I think, bothered everyone,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran

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• “They know what it takes and the discipline that it takes,” — Andy Reid, signs for coach

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• “There were a lot of variables," Tranquill said in late May.” — Drue Tranquill

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• “They still haven't seen EB yet,” — Patrick Mahomes

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• “I love that we brought Sneed back,” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran

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• “I think it's fun when you've got a lot of young guys that's hungry," Jones said.” — Chris Jones, a 10-year veteran

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