Andy Reid Signals Return in 2026 as Chiefs Navigate Mahomes Injury and Kelce Future

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is expected to return to the sideline in 2026, even as the team navigates Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending left ACL and LCL injuries and questions about Travis Kelce’s NFL future, according to NFL Network.

Reid, 67, has spent nearly his entire adult life in coaching, guiding the Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles since taking over in 2013. A report published Saturday cited people who know him well, stating there have been no indications he plans to retire at this stage. The network noted that Reid will have a full offseason to recharge, and one person close to him said, “Coach Reid ain't going out like this.” The piece underscored the likelihood that Reid will be back on the sideline in 2026, providing a measure of continuity for a franchise navigating a difficult injury landscape.

The Chiefs face a critical offseason following Mahomes’ injury, with surgery addressing damage to his left ACL and LCL. The team publicly stressed optimism about the quarterback’s rehab, and Reid said Mahomes would attack the process with the same intensity he applies to every challenge. While specific timelines vary, people familiar with Mahomes’ recovery have suggested a realistic target of a Week 1 return in the 2026 season if the rehab proceeds smoothly and without setback. The quarterback underwent surgery after sustaining the injury earlier in the season, and the organization indicated confidence in his ability to regain peak form given his work ethic and surrounding medical staff.

Kelce, 36, has continued to be a central figure for Kansas City, producing 797 receiving yards on 67 receptions through 14 games this season—a pace that would not reach his typical 1,000-yard mark if sustained. The tight end’s NFL future has been an ongoing topic since the Chiefs’ loss to the Eagles in February’s Super Bowl. Kelce’s status appeared more uncertain last offseason when he suggested his plans might evolve, though ESPN host Pat McAfee later revealed that Kelce texted him to confirm a return in 2025, a message that added a layer of unpredictability to the contract-year discussions around him.

The Chiefs’ offensive system and personnel are another area of focus this offseason. Matt Nagy is in his second stint as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator, but he is entering the final year of his contract, creating questions about whether the continuity Reid has built will extend beyond the 2026 season. The network noted that any decision on Nagy’s long-term status may hinge on how the quarterback-receiver dynamic evolves during Mahomes’ recovery and how the organization plans around Kelce’s role and productivity in the coming years.

Reid has cited Mahomes’ mental toughness and appetite for rehabilitation as a positive signal for a potential quick return, and his own outlook has remained forward-looking despite the upheaval around the roster. In remarks earlier this season, Reid said Mahomes would “attack it, just like he does everything else,” underscoring the quarterback’s proven ability to overcome injuries and resume high-level play when healthy. The off-season in Kansas City is expected to center on balancing the timelines of Mahomes’ return, Kelce’s future, and the long-term plan for a coaching staff that has become a pillar of the franchise’s sustained success.

As the Chiefs prepare for Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, the organization faces the broader challenge of managing the transition that comes with a star quarterback’s injury and a veteran tight end’s evolving tenure. The NFL Network report maintained that Reid’s plan to return in 2026 remains his current posture, with the implication that the head coach intends to continue steering the franchise for at least one more season, even as decisions about assistants and supporting players unfold.

The situation illustrates a broader dynamic in Kansas City: a franchise that has grown accustomed to high expectations and sustained success must now navigate a post-peak window of the Mahomes era without a definitive timeline for when it will return to full strength. For Reid, the question is not simply whether he can continue coaching, but how the Chiefs will preserve their competitive edge while Mahomes rehabs and Kelce weighs how long he intends to play.