As the NFL enters the height of its coaching carousel, the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves at a rare and uncomfortable crossroads. For the first time in nearly a decade, the organization is navigating a January without a playoff game on the schedule, allowing insiders Matt Derrick and Nick Jacobs to take a deep, unfiltered look at the state of the coaching staff. On the latest episode of the 41 Is the Mic podcast, the duo explored how the “John Harbaugh sweepstakes” and a league-wide desire for “Chiefs culture” could lead to a significant exodus of talent from Andy Reid’s sideline.
The headline of the coaching circuit is undoubtedly John Harbaugh. Derrick and Jacobs noted that nearly half the teams in the league would likely fire their current head coach for a chance at Harbaugh, who is reportedly waiting until after the divisional round to conduct interviews. This delay is strategic, as it allows Harbaugh to see which high-profile jobs—potentially including Buffalo or Green Bay—might open up depending on playoff outcomes. If these “premium” jobs become available, it could trigger a domino effect that reaches directly into Kansas City.
One of the most discussed names in this cycle is Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Derrick described Nagy as the “stalking horse” for the Tennessee Titans job, suggesting that the Titans’ front office is looking for a leader who speaks the same “language” of success established in Kansas City and Green Bay. Whether Nagy lands a head coaching role or seeks a lateral move to run his own offense elsewhere, his departure would leave a massive void. Jacobs argued that this might be exactly what the Chiefs need: “They need an infusion of new ideas. The league has caught up to this offense, and they need someone to push Mahomes and hold the backup quarterback accountable in a way we haven’t seen lately.”
The potential turnover isn’t limited to the offensive side of the ball. The podcast highlighted that several coaches, including defensive line coach Joe Cullen, are already interviewing for defensive coordinator positions across the league. Jacobs was particularly critical of the defensive line’s performance in 2025, noting that stars like George Karlaftis haven’t reached the next level of dominance expected for the financial investment made in that unit. “You need a D-line coach that can tap into that potential,” Jacobs said, suggesting that fresh leadership might be necessary to revitalize the pass rush.
Perhaps the most provocative part of the discussion centered on the need for “discomfort” within the organization. Derrick suggested that the 2025 team may have become too comfortable with their previous successes, leading to a lack of urgency. A new coaching staff, with no prior allegiances to the current roster, would force players to raise their game or risk being left behind. “A new staff will definitely make you uncomfortable,” Derrick noted. “It gets guys thinking, ‘This guy doesn’t know anything about me. I better be at my best.'”
While the Chiefs traditionally wait until their entire staff is finalized—often as late as March or April—to make formal announcements, the “nuggets” of information are already starting to surface. Between virtual interviews and the inevitable reshuffling after the divisional playoffs, the 2026 Chiefs coaching staff is likely to look vastly different from the one that ended the 2025 season. For a franchise built on stability, this upcoming “rude awakening” might be the very thing required to spark a new era of dominance in the AFC.
