Andy Reid’s stringent team protocols were evident during the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason curtain-raiser, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes toeing the line.
The Chiefs endured a narrow 20-17 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, despite a quickfire contribution from Mahomes, who was in action for just 48 seconds and completed a single pass that resulted in a touchdown. Compounding the team’s woes, safety Deon Bush sustained a torn Achilles, ruling him out for the entire 2025 NFL season.
Post-match, Mahomes and Cardinals’ Kyler Murray shared a fleeting moment at midfield before parting ways. Social media was abuzz as fans noted Mahomes still clad in his kit while Murray had switched to casual wear, following rumours stirred by Andy Reid about Travis Kelce possibly attending a Taylor Swift wedding.
One social media user pointed out, “Mahomes still being in full uniform while Kyler changed into street clothes speaks VOLUMES,” with another chiming in: “One guy looks ready to play and lead. The other guy looks like he wanted the day off and would prefer to be home on his sofa. Which one do you want to lead your franchise?”
Ex-Chiefs lineman Mitchell Schwartz weighed in on the discussion, clarifying that under Reid’s rules, no player is permitted to change out of their gear until the game is completely over.
“Nah, just Coach Reid’s rule,” he wrote. “Everyone wishes they could take their pads off the second they’re done but he wants everyone to remain in uniform all game.
“About the only coach that does that from what I’ve seen but I’m not fully watching that every preseason.”
Back in 2023, Reid delivered a stern telling-off to several Chiefs players after they were caught removing their shoulder pads on the touchline following their substitution during the opening pre-season clash against the New Orleans Saints.
“You keep your pads on,” Reid informed journalists at a post-match press briefing. “You never know when you might have to go back in. That’s how we roll.”
Reid’s kit regulations represent just one of many distinctive customs the 67-year-old enforces throughout the pre-season period. Annually, he deploys the first-team squad for a minimum of one possession during the pre-season curtain-raiser.
“We situate it off the quarterbacks,” Reid clarified. “They’ll each get a quarter. So, the first one will be Pat, second will be [Gardner] Minshew, then [Bailey] Zappe, then Chris [Oladokun] at the end. Each on gets a quarter, and then everyone follows that as we go.”
This rigorous approach has underpinned the Chiefs’ remarkable achievements throughout the past decade – and explains why Reid maintains his belief that Kansas City will remain championship contenders this campaign. “We don’t listen to all the noise, if you do that you’re gonna go crazy, then you’re not gonna have fun,” he stated during his appearance on the ‘Up and Adams’ show.
“These teams in the AFC West are strong, great head coaches, great players. And so we understand that.
“There’s so much parity in the league that you gotta be on your A-game every week. That’s what we’re striving to do, get ourselves in a position where we can do that.”