As things currently stand, the Kansas City Chiefs likely will have a new offensive coordinator during the 2026 NFL season.

Kansas City has already lost one defensive assistant before the season even came to a close, and an even bigger loss could be next. Chiefs OC Matt Nagy has an expiring contract and there is currently no indication that Kansas City will seek to renew that deal. Andy Reid has endorsed Nagy to receive another head-coaching opportunity, and some recent changes with the Tennessee Titans could put him at an advantage to become their next head coach.

But what happens if Nagy doesn’t get a head-coaching job? Well, it still sounds as if a return to Kansas City won’t be a priority for the 47-year-old.

Matt Nagy may not return to the Chiefs even if he doesn’t land a head-coaching job elsewhere

The Chiefs and Nagy seem to be heading for a split, no matter what happens in his pursuit of an NFL head-coaching job. The offense in Kansas City remains Andy Reid’s baby, and the role of those who hold the title of offensive coordinator is often diminished because they don’t get “true” play-calling experience. That’s something that Nagy seems to desire in his next role, according to a recent report from NFL Network.

“If he doesn’t get a head job, leaving to take over as a primary play-caller elsewhere is also possible,” Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero wrote of Nagy.

Exploring Chiefs’ in-house offensive coordinator candidates

Chiefs pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier: Bleymaier has climbed the ladder in Kansas City after spending a decade with the team. He spent two seasons as an offensive quality control coach (2016 & 2017), was promoted to pass game analyst and assistant QBs coach (2018-2020), and spent two seasons as wide receivers coach (2021 & 2022). In 2023, he became the team’s passing game coordinator, a role he’s held for the last three seasons. Bleymaier has had his hands on some iconic plays with what Andy Reid calls the “Joe Files.” He also has plenty of experience building advanced scouting reports on opponents during his time as an analyst.

Chiefs QB coach David Girardi: Another coach who has climbed the ranks in Andy Reid’s system, Girardi began his career with the Chiefs as an offensive quality control coach (2018-2020). He was promoted to pass game analyst and assistant quarterbacks coach in 2021. He held that role for two seasons before becoming the team’s quarterbacks coach in 2023.

Former Chiefs coaches seem to headline the list of outside candidates

Bears RB coach Eric Bieniemy: Bieniemy served as running backs coach with Kansas City for five seasons (2013-2017) before being promoted to offensive coordinator (2018-2022). It’s hard not to look at what Bieniemy has done with the Chicago backfield in 2025 and say the Chiefs couldn’t use some of that injected into the offense. What they might also need more of is his coaching style, which demands accountability from the players and those around him. It’s also hard not to notice that Patrick Mahomes’ best seasons came with EB as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka: Kafka served three roles during his first tenure in Kansas City, joining as an offensive quality control coach in 2017 before being promoted to QB coach in 2018, and adding the passing game coordinator title beginning in 2020. At one point, Kafka was considered the offensive-coordinator-in-waiting for Kansas City. He left perhaps a year too soon to join Brian Daboll’s staff with the New York Giants as their offensive coordinator in 2022. After a few years away and an interim head-coaching stint this season, Kafka could bring valuable experience and new ideas to the Chiefs’ offense. That is, of course, if he doesn’t get a head-coaching opportunity elsewhere.

Former NFL head coach Doug Pederson: Pederson hasn’t coached in the league since being dismissed as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach in 2024. He was Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator from 2013-2015 before jumping ship to become head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, where he helped lead the franchise to its first Super Bowl win in 2017 (LII). Pederson hasn’t ever worked with Patrick Mahomes before, but he could certainly be an option for Kansas City.

Other names to know for a Chiefs offensive coordinator vacancy

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden: This is one not on many people’s radar, but it should be. There’s definitely some murkiness here due to Gruden’s pending lawsuit against the NFL stemming from the email scandal that led to his resignation as head coach in Las Vegas. Gruden may still want to coach in the league, but he also may have to jump through hoops to secure another head-coaching opportunity. Andy Reid is known for giving folks second chances, and jump-starting his career with a season or two as offensive coordinator in Kansas City could certainly be in play. Remember, Gruden coached alongside Reid in Green Bay. Gruden turned some heads when he visited Chiefs training camp in 2024, decked out in K.C. attire.

Rams passing game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase: This has been a popular name to come up for Kansas City fans because he’s got ties to the area as a former standout quarterback at Rockhurst High School. He joined the Rams in 2024 as an offensive assistant and pass game specialist after spending six seasons at Iowa State as a position coach and offensive coordinator. If the goal is to bring in some youth and fresh ideas to the coaching staff, they could do a lot worse than Scheelhaase.

Jaguars QB coach Spencer Whipple: One of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NFL season has been the improvement from Jags QB Trevor Lawrence, who has the highest career touchdown percentage, second-lowest interception percentage, and has tied his career-high mark in fourth-quarter comebacks. Spencer’s dad, Mark Whipple, was on Andy Reid’s coaching staff in Philadelphia in 2008, helping the team to a record-setting offensive season. If they seek to inject some fresh blood into the coaching staff, this is a name to watch.

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury: The Commanders have not dismissed Kingsbury yet, but it is something that the media have floated as a possibility. It feels like there are worse ideas out there than reuniting Patrick Mahomes with his former college head coach for what may be his most challenging NFL season yet. The big question is whether Andy Reid and Kingsbury could co-exist as offensive play-callers.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel: Again, McDaniel has not yet been dismissed, but after a rocky season in Miami that saw GM Chris Greer fired, the new front office brass may want to bring in its own head coach. There are no ties to the Chiefs organization here, but McDaniel is known as one of the league’s most innovative offensive play-callers. He faces the same question as Kliff Kingsbury regarding Coach Reid.

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