The Chiefs thought they just needed better play-calling.
The NFLPA’s 2026 report card suggests the problems run deeper.

Andy Reid Gets Reality Check as NFLPA Grades Expose Bigger Issues in Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t just tweak their coaching staff this offseason — they overhauled it.

Now, the timing makes sense.

The NFLPA’s 2026 report card has added a new layer of meaning to Andy Reid’s aggressive reset, and it’s clear the issues in Kansas City weren’t limited to the win-loss column.

After finishing 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, the Chiefs were already facing uncomfortable questions. But when the leaked NFLPA grades surfaced, they revealed something even more concerning: cracks inside the building.

And players noticed.

The Coaching Shake-Up Suddenly Makes Sense

The most glaring football-related grade? Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s C+, the lowest among Kansas City’s three primary coordinators.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo earned an A.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub received a B.

The imbalance was obvious.

Not long after, Reid parted ways with Nagy and brought back Eric Bieniemy — the architect behind Patrick Mahomes’ earlier Super Bowl runs from 2018 to 2022.

That move now looks less like nostalgia and more like necessity.

Kansas City’s offense has been sliding quietly for years:

2022: No. 1 offense in the NFL, Super Bowl champions
2023: 15th in points, 9th in yards (still won Super Bowl)
2024: 15th in points, 16th in yards
2025: 21st in points, 20th in yards, no playoffs

The decline wasn’t sudden.

It was gradual.

And the C+ grade only amplified what fans already felt: the offense had lost its edge.

More Than Just the OC

Reid didn’t stop at offensive coordinator.

Wide receivers coach Connor Embree was let go, replaced by three-time Super Bowl champion Chad O’Shea.

Running backs coach Todd Pinkston was replaced by DeMarco Murray, stepping into his first NFL coaching role after developing backs at Oklahoma.

Assistant defensive line coach Alex Whittingham departed for Michigan, with Joe Cullen stepping in.

This wasn’t cosmetic change.

It was structural.

Reid is trying to rebuild from within — and fast.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

The coaching staff wasn’t the only issue exposed.

The Locker Room Grade That Stung

The Chiefs’ locker room received an F — the worst grade in the league.

Let that sink in.

Players reportedly described the facilities as outdated and in need of renovation. The NFLPA findings cited complaints about the home game hotel being the lowest-rated in the league, with “uncomfortable beds” and “dirty and sticky” floors.

This isn’t new.

2024: Locker room graded F
2025: Locker room graded D-
2026: Back to F

Players have pushed for renovations before. A reported post-2023 renovation never materialized, and team owner Clark Hunt publicly stated there had been a “miscommunication” about any promise to upgrade the facilities.

In a league where environment matters — and where elite talent expects elite treatment — that disconnect sends a message.

And not a good one.

Other Red Flags

The NFLPA report card also hit Kansas City in multiple areas:

Team travel: D-
Treatment of families: C
Food and dining area: C+
Ownership (Clark Hunt): C+

For a franchise built on stability and championship culture, those grades are jarring.

Especially considering the star power in that locker room.

Reid’s Rebuild Has a Blind Spot

Andy Reid clearly recognized the offensive decline.

He made bold changes.

But the NFLPA report suggests the rebuild must extend beyond X’s and O’s.

Facilities. Player comfort. Organizational transparency.

These aren’t minor details.

They shape morale.

They influence retention.

They affect how players recruit other players.

The Chiefs’ fall from perennial contender to 6-11 disappointment was about more than scheme. And while Bieniemy’s return may reignite the offense, a true reset requires internal alignment.

Kansas City wants to return to dominance.

But the report card reveals an uncomfortable reality:

Fixing the playbook isn’t enough.

The building itself needs attention.