The Kansas City Chiefs will be missing a pair of assistant coaches when they face the Denver Broncos on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 13. The team announced on Saturday that both offensive line coach Andy Heck and defensive quality control coach Alex Whittingham will miss the game after being placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
Heck is in his ninth season as the offensive line coach in Kansas City. He’ll be replaced by assistant offensive line coach Corey Matthaei, who is currently in his fourth season in that role. It’ll be something to monitor given the situation at right tackle with Lucas Niang ruled out of the game. Matthaei could have to make some personnel decisions during the game.
Additionally, defensive quality control coach Alex Whittingham will miss tomorrow’s game due to COVID protocols. His role will be absorbed by multiple members of the defensive staff.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 4, 2021
As for Whittingham, the team says his responsibilities will be absorbed by multiple members of the defensive staff. He is in his third season as a defensive quality control coach and his fourth season with the team.
This is the first time this season that any coaches will have missed a game for Kansas City due to COVID or otherwise. Chiefs HC Andy Reid commented on his staff and their vaccination rate back in July.
“100 percent of the staff, they’ve all been vaccinated,” Reid said. “So that’s a positive.”
