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Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid opened up on his decision to hire DeMarco Murray to be his new running backs coach
The Kansas City Chiefs did not have a very good 2025 campaign, and it’s clear they are looking to change things up. Head coach Andy Reid has begun the offseason by revamping his coaching staff, and while the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was perhaps the most eye-catching move, he wasn’t the only big hire that caught fans’ attention.
As part of Reid’s slew of moves, he also hired former All-Pro running back DeMarco Murray to join his staff as the team’s new running backs coach. While he flamed out pretty quickly in the NFL as a player, Murray has since established himself as an up-and-coming coach, and it sounds like Reid is excited to have him in Kansas City as he returns to the pros after spending seven years working in the college ranks.
Andy Reid Dishes on Decision to Hire DeMarco Murray
Murray is most well-known for his brief career in the NFL that saw him quickly emerge as one of the top running backs in the league. While he was a three-time Pro Bowler, Murray was at his best in 2014 with the Dallas Cowboys, as he led the league in rushing yards (1,845) and rushing touchdowns (13) while also catching 57 passes for 416 yards as a receiver.
Since calling it a career after the 2017 campaign, Murray has transitioned into coaching. He initially broke in with the Arizona Wildcats as their running backs coach, before spending the next six seasons holding the same position with the Oklahoma Sooners. Given his experience at the position as a player, Murray has proven to be a fantastic fit for this role, and folks have begun to take notice.
That includes Reid, who saw firsthand what Murray was capable of as a player on a handful of occasions. Now, he will get to work with Murray as a member of his coaching staff, and it sounds like Reid is looking forward to bringing him to town, as he will look to get Kansas City’s struggling rushing attack back in action.
“I just thought him coming in in that position, there’d be a strength to that, not only from an experience standpoint, but also the way he goes about teaching things. I think he is a nice addition there,” Reid said of Murray.
Andy Reid Hoping DeMarco Murray Can Help Revive Chiefs’ Ground Game
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 04: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Over the past few seasons, one of the biggest problems with the Chiefs’ offense has been that opposing defenses simply have not feared their rushing attack. The duo of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt struggled to get much of anything going on the ground once again in 2025, which is likely a big reason why Murray was brought to town in the first place.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kansas City bring in a couple of new faces at this spot over the offseason, but regardless of who ends up being the team’s starting running back come Week 1, it’s clear this group will need to put up some better production moving forward. Murray could play a big role in helping the Chiefs’ running back room, and it’s clear that Reid has some high hopes for him as he transitions into this new role with the team.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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