Frustration had been brewing behind closed doors at the Kansas City Chiefs over the role of wide receivers coach Connor Embree for two seasons before he was eventually fired this week, it has been claimed.
Embree was shown the door after seven seasons with the team and three as the wide receivers coach, with head coach Andy Reid expected to conduct a dramatic overhaul after the team failed to reach the playoffs this season.
And according to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, mountains will not need to be moved for the offense to look more dangerous in 2026.Â
He claims that the likes of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice were so unhappy with the coaching they were getting from Embree, they relied on Travis Kelce and, last season, DeAndre Hopkins to help them improve.
Speaking on 96.5 The Fan, Taylor said: ‘I know the receivers themselves were frustrated with their own position coach.
‘Xavier Worthy, you can look at it, and it’s factual. Xavier Worthy, as a receiver in his rookie season, got better the absolute moment DeAndre Hopkins arrived.
Travis Kelce reportedly stepped in when Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers struggled with their coach Connor Embree, who was fired earlier this week
Kelce and Patrick Mahomes pictured with WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster and Xavier Worthy
‘I could argue that DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce have been more impactful to the development of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy than Connor Embree. That’s a problem.’
Worthy improved as his rookie season progressed, something that happens often with players in their first year in the NFL but it does also coincide with the arrival of Hopkins.Â
The Chiefs traded for Hopkins in October 2024 from the Tennessee Titans, sending a fifth-round pick that became a fourth rounder as the Chiefs reached the Super Bowl. Hopkins was a free agent when the season ended and moved on to the Baltimore Ravens.
Kelce’s pedigree, of course, needs no explaining and whether he retires in the coming weeks or comes back for another season, he will go down as one of the best tight ends to have ever played the game. Even while the Chiefs struggled overall this year, he enjoyed a fine individual campaign.
But catching issues blighted the Chiefs across the course of their 6-11 2025 campaign.
Taylor doubled down on his claims on a later appearance Thursday on KC Sports Network, saying: ‘I know I said earlier that there were players that were frustrated with Connor Embree and that happens in the league, when teams struggle.
‘But that was the case and you know, Connor Embree had mutltiple years. it was unfortunate but that was the reality of the situation.’
It’s highly likely that Embree won’t be the only coach on the way out at Kansas City.
Embree left the Chiefs this weeks after seven years, three as the wide receivers coach
Rashee Rice is part of an NFL investigation after his ex-girlfriend’s recent allegationsÂ
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has been strongly linked with the Titans’ head coaching role and the organization have also asked to interview Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
Nagy is expected to depart the Chiefs even if he doesn’t land the Titans job. Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury have been linked with replacing him.
There could be some issues in the wide receiver area with Rice, too. The NFL is investigating after his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children made claims of domestic violence in an explosive social media post on Wednesday.
She didn’t name Rice specifically but the conclusion made by many was that she is accusing the Chiefs star.
The Chiefs said in a statement Wednesday night: ‘The club is aware of the allegations on social media and is in communication with the National Football League. We have no further comment at this time.’Â
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The tension behind the scenes that ruined Kansas City Chiefs’ season… and how Travis Kelce tried to fix it