NFC East club among first to interview key Kansas City Chiefs position coach for defensive coordinator vacancy

Joe Cullen could be the next coach poached from the Kansas City Chiefs’ staff.

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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The Kansas City Chiefs could have further changes to their position coaches for the 2026 NFL season.

The Chiefs chose to move on from WR coach Connor Embree, and they’ve already lost their assistant defensive line coach, Alex Whittingham. Now, another member of the defensive coaching staff appears to be a hot candidate for defensive coordinator vacancies.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chiefs D-Line coach Joe Cullen completed an interview for the Washington Commanders’ defensive coordinator vacancy. Remember, Cullen was rumored to have been considered for some college coordinator positions just last season. He appears ripe for an opportunity outside Kansas City, whether by design or otherwise, and this may not be the final defensive coordinator interview he takes during this coaching cycle.

The players in K.C. love and respect Coach Cullen, but it’s possible that he’s run his course with the team, and they go in a different direction moving forward.

Joe Cullen interviews with the Washington Commanders for defensive coordinator vacancy

Cullen has been a defensive line coach in the NFL since 2006, coaching for teams like the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens. Cullen was formerly the defensive coordinator for the Jaguars in 2021. He has been the defensive line coach for the Chiefs since the 2022 NFL season, earning two consecutive Super Bowl titles in Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. Cullen’s interview with the Commanders comes after they fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. following a disappointing 2025 NFL season. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is a defensive-minded head coach himself, so it’s certainly an interesting dynamic. Cullen fits the old school approach that Quinn seems to appreciate in his staff.

Where would the Chiefs pivot if Joe Cullen lands a defensive coordinator job

With Whittingham no longer on the staff as well, the Chiefs would likely have to stray outside the organization for a defensive line coaching hire. They could promote someone like Matt House (senior defensive assistant) or Chris Orr (defensive quality control), but a fresh voice might make more sense after the defensive line vastly underachieved in 2025.

I’ve already mentioned I’d be fond of going after the Cleveland Browns’ defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, who got his start under another Andy Reid disciple, Buffalo Bills HC Sean McDermott. Another name who could be brought back into the fold is former assistant defensive line coach Terry Bradden Jr., who left Kansas City to join the Nebraska Cornhuskers last year.

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