After their triumphant Super Bowl victory parade through downtown Kansas City, Chiefs coach Andy Reid wasted no time in looking ahead to next season. Reid expects his staff to return to the building after a week off and start working on their quest for a three-peat.
Reid, who had consistently dismissed rumors about retirement leading up to the Super Bowl, made it clear that he is not ready to call it quits. The 65-year-old coach was already back in his office, discussing plans for the upcoming season. Winning one Super Bowl is a challenge in itself, but winning back-to-back titles is even more difficult. Reid acknowledged the effort and unity of his players, expressing his satisfaction as a head coach.
While the Chiefs' success has been remarkable, it does come at a cost. Making deep playoff runs often means sacrificing downtime for coaches and staff. Immediately following their victory parade, the players will enjoy a break before offseason conditioning begins. However, the coaching staff, scouts, and general manager Brett Veach's team will dive straight back into work. The period for teams to use the franchise tag starts next Tuesday, but the crucial date is February 27 when the NFL's weeklong scouting combine kicks off in Indianapolis.
March brings the start of free agency, followed by the annual league meeting at the end of the month in Orlando, Florida. Teams will then focus on finalizing their draft plans, with the NFL draft scheduled for April 25-27 in Detroit. These upcoming months will be crucial for the Chiefs as they aim to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
One of the team's priorities is retaining All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, both of whom are set to hit free agency. However, re-signing them could have significant implications for the team's salary cap. In addition, the Chiefs have several other players on the verge of free agency, including left tackle Donovan Smith, safety Mike Edwards, offensive guard Nick Allegretti, linebackers Willie Gay Jr. and Drue Tranquill, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and pass rusher Mike Danna. Some players may return on cost-effective deals, while others may secure lucrative contracts elsewhere.
In addition to addressing free agency needs, the Chiefs will also look to upgrade their wide receiver corps, which struggled throughout the season and led the league in dropped passes. The upcoming free-agent class offers a deep pool of talent, including Michael Pittman Jr., Tee Higgins, Marquise Brown, Calvin Ridley, and Gabe Davis.
While the draft presents an opportunity to address some of their needs, the Chiefs will have late-round picks once again due to their success. Reid emphasized that after a brief break, the coaching staff will need to prepare for the combine and get back into the swing of things.
But before diving into the offseason activities, the Chiefs will savor one last celebration. During a meeting with the team, Reid cautioned his players to have fun but also be responsible during the impending parade.
As the Chiefs bask in the glory of their recent championship, the focus shifts quickly to the future. With a determined coach at the helm and a talented roster, the team has its sights set on achieving the historic feat of winning three straight Super Bowls.
