Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
July 24, 2026
OPENING STATEMENT: āAlright, welcome back. Good to see everybody. We look forward to this training camp up at Missouri Western State University. They treat us great up here. We appreciate that, all the effort that goes into it. (Interim) President (of Missouri Western State University Patt) Lilly does a great job of setting things up, along with our athletic director here, Andy Carter. So, we appreciate all they do in turning their facility over to us and letting us put together a training camp. Before I get the (veterans) in, weāve got the rookies and quarterbacks and selected vets are here. So, we will be ready to go tomorrow and then weāll do that for a couple days, and then the veterans come in and weāll start the camp from there. As far as any of the injuries go, right now, some updates would be (Omarr) Norman-Lott most likely will start on PUP but is making progress. He had the ACL reconstruction there. Pat (Patrick Mahomes) is doing great with his and right now heās got clearance to practice and do all the different periods that we have in this camp and then weāll just make it out day-by-day and see how he does. Heāll have plenty of eyes on him from coaches to trainers to doctors but right now heās been cleared to go ahead and participate fully. Rashee Rice, with his knee debridement, is doing great, so he will, again, go. Weāll keep an eye on him, but heās cleared to go. Then, (Mansoor) Delane is having his final physical right now so heās right in the process of that, but heās doing well there. Then LJ (LāJarius) Sneed, we always, like we did before, kept an eye on him with his knee and weāll just take him slowly and gradually get him back into the mix as we go but look forward to getting him on the field. Really, for the most part, everybody else is in a good position. (John Michael) Gyllenborg, heās still working through the knee sprain, which he had; theyāre doing some other evaluations on him. So, weāll just see for this camp here; most likely he wonāt get much work there. So, other than that, I think everybodyās in a pretty good position to roll, really Norman-Lottās the main one there but again, big guys with ACLs, it takes a little bit of time to get them back and fully strengthened up and ready to go. Other than that, times yours. Fire away.ā
Q: Will camp still be different for Patrick Mahomes even though he is medically cleared?
REID: āI donāt think it will be. Weāll see about games and all that once we get there, but right now, weāre just going to take it day-by-day and see how he (Patrick Mahomes) does, but heās been given the clearance.ā
Q: What did you see out of Patrick Mahomes that made you clear him for practice?
REID: āWell, he's (Patrick Mahomes) been up here every day and doing his thing and rehabbing ā and I've mentioned before how much time he's spent. If anybody spent time doing this thing the right way, he's it. So, we appreciate that and he's been given clearance by the doctors to work and they're pretty comfortable with that but again, keeping an eye on him.ā
Q: Will it be Patrick Mahomesā usual day-to-day reps or do you want to build him along?
REID: āWeāll start off with usual reps. The nice thing about having this rookie camp is you can kind of gradually build it up and then he (Patrick Mahomes) gets a day off, normally that third day anyway. So, we'll get an idea where he's at there, but he's been working so hard, you have a pretty good feel that he's in a good place.ā
Q: Whatās your expectation of Patrick Mahomes being ready for Week 1?
REID: āListen, I'm optimistic but I want to -- and I know he (Patrick Mahomes) is extremely optimistic, but I think you've got to see how things go here. Let's just see where we're at and not make any predictions or anything else. Take it day-by-day and see where it goes.ā
Q: Has Rashee Rice been working at the facility? Do you expect him to be up here early to work out with the team?
REID: āHeās (Rashee Rice) done a great job rehabbing up here. He's been up here the whole time and then he'll be in and out here in the next couple days, but he's been here throughout, yeah.ā
Q: Are you optimistic Omarr Norman-Lott will participate at some time during training camp?
REID: āYes. Whether itās during training camp or yeah somewhere in training camp potentially, heāll (Omarr Norman-Lott) be out there but yeah, I think we just got to keep the strength part of it coming with him.ā
Q: Whatās your message to the rookies coming into this part of it? Do you expect it to be an eyeopener for them?
REID: āYeah, well I mean itās a little different, itās good to be back with cinder blocks around you and it puts them right back as freshman in college, so I donāt think theyāll be too shocked by that part. The workload is going to be tough obviously, and theyāll push through it. These three days are great for rookies to give them just an introduction to the offense again, the defense again, special teams again, where you can slow it down a little bit while we donāt have a ton of numbers but enough to get reps, but you have to slow it down because of numbers and the heat and all that to get work done there but it gives them a nice little ramp up, and then they get another review once the veterans get in of basically the same plays for those first couple of days. It can be beneficial as long as youāre focused in on it and going and thereās a lot of work we have to do as a football team, period. I know the guys are in the right mindset to do that, so the rookies felt that in the offseason program and thereās a great mindset ready to go forward here with the guys. Iāve talked to a number of them over the break and they seem focused in and ready to go.ā
Q: This is the longest offseason the team has had in a while. Can that rest be beneficial?
REID: āAs long as youāve handled it right, I think thatās important. I mentioned this before the guys left; you want to step back and get a bit of rest, but then youāve got to go, and you have to build that foundation to get you through the season and you canāt sit on the couch and get that done. If the OTAs are any indicator these guys are willing to work then weāll see what the retention is with the young guys, see where theyāre at going forward.ā
Q: Mansoor Delane was the biggest draft investment for you guys in a long time. Since heās been in the building behind the scenes, what have you seen that has solidified that?
REID: āYeah, well, we like the way he (Mansoor Delane) goes about his business. Heās a focused kid, he seems to be a smart, sharp kid, and then heās willing to work. He was banged up a little bit, but heās willing to work and heās aggressive that way, too aggressive in the case where he hurt himself there, but I think you got a good player there, but heās got to go. You got to get in and go and get the reps and defensive scheme, so you have that down.ā
Q: How different does this feel right now at the start of training camp given how last season ended?
REID: āThe whole point of the mindset was that last season was last season, and then itās now. We arenāt focusing on that last season. We are focusing on now, and your mindset has to be right for that and going forward and taking (it) one day at a time and cranking it out. That is where we are at. The NFL, you know how this thing goes, there is so much change year-to-year, every year is different. If you are focused on the issues last year, then itās going to take away what you are doing this year. You have to focus on the present and giddy up and go. Youāre given an opportunity to do that in this league, with all the parity in this league, so that is where we are at.ā
Q: With that, with maybe an extra five or six weeks compared to the past, do you dig even harder to certain spots you have dug, or did you change the way you evaluated your process?
REID: āYou said it, you have more time. So, with that if you get nothing else, you get reps at looking at plays, an opportunity to look at other teams, study those teams, dig in the college level and see things that are going on there. You have more time to go through things.ā
Q: Whatās it been like to have Eric Bieniemy back this offseason?
REID: āYeah, it is great to have him (Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy) back in the building. He always brings great energy. I told you, he is one of the more phenomenal guys I have been around at being a leader of men. He is doing that. Heās in cranking -- works his tail off, appreciate that. Doesnāt let anything slide by. Does a good job with that.ā
Q: Does it seem like old times, or is it a little bit different?
REID: āNo, he (Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy) stepped right in and we rolled. Heās good with that. He was running some of the same stuff --- before he went to Chicago, he was running some of the same stuff we were doing here, so it was easy for him to pick it up and keep rolling forward. He brought some good ideas with him too on top of it.ā
Q. What went into the decision to hold the rookie camp this year?
REID: āYeah, that is the primary thing, Matt (Derrick). The rookies. I just thought it was necessary. I didnāt like not doing it last year after I got done with it to be honest with you. It is a good thing for the quarterbacks, and it is a good thing for the rookies coming in. We do have more numbers this year, so it allows us to get more reps, and I think that will benefit us.ā
Chiefs Players Quotes
July 24, 2026
QB PATRICK MAHOMES
Q: On what it took to get fully cleared to practice.
MAHOMES: āYeah, itās a lot of hard work and just day-to-day, just continuing to do it over and over again. It was always the goal to be able to practice when we got to training camp, and so weāve kind of hit that next step, and now itās just going to be about building and keep getting better and better so that whenever the regular season comes, I can try to be available and be ready to play.ā
Q: When did you know you were available to practice the first day?
MAHOMES: āLike two days ago. So, I was able to go down and meet with Dr. (Dan) Cooper, and just kind of go through this stuff like that, and then him seeing the numbers and stuff that Iāve been putting up. He gave them the comfortability to let me go out there and be fully cleared to practice, which I mean, I donāt get hit, so thatās one part of it, but itās still good to be out there and have bodies around and being able to go through and run the offense.ā
Q: Being injured so late, how and when did it become realistic for you to be at this point?
MAHOMES: āI mean, itās just kind of always been the plan. Just looking at the dates and there were certain checkpoints I had to get to, to get to this point and this is just another checkpoint on the schedule. So, you have to continue to work, itās not like itās over and Iām just going to be able to play a game tomorrow. You have to continue to work and get better and better and go throughout practice and prove to the coaches, prove to the doctors, and everybody that Iām the same quarterback I was before, if not better, and I can go out there and take care of myself and win football games.ā
Q: Do you feel like being able to run and change directions has improved since we last talked?
MAHOMES: ā100 percent. I mean, I had to. Thatās the stuff I had to prove to the doctors and to the coaches and everybody like that to be at this point and so, itās a long process. The process isnāt over. Itāll be something Iāll probably deal with for the next few years of my career and throughout the rest of my career, but you have to stay on top of that stuff. But I feel comfortable now being able to go out there and run the offense the way the offense is supposed to be ran.ā
Q: Do you think you will be able to get back to where you were from the jump?
MAHOMES: āI mean, you donāt know. That is just kind of part of the process, weāve had people kind of on air coming at me and me moving, but itās not the same as having Chris Jones chasing after you. Thatās part of the mental process, thatās part of the physical process is being able to go out there, but I am happy that I get to do that. I get to do that from the beginning of training camp, and this will be the hardest training camp that you could have as far as preparing for the season and so, I am glad that Iām able to do that starting tomorrow, and then we can continue as the training camp goes on.ā
Q: Will you be wearing the brace all season, or will you shed it at some point?
MAHOMES: āThere really isnāt a plan for it. Iām going to start off with it just because Iāve worn it before and I feel comfortable with it, so thatās kind of where we will start, but itās not like Iāve been told I have to wear it or how long I have to wear it. Itās just going to be my comfortability, how I feel. I will start with it on just because I feel like I can move and be myself with it. I played with it in college, and then weāll just see where we go from there.ā
Q: How do you think youāll react in your first live situation?
MAHOMES: āWe will see. I mean, I think more than that, I think what I think of the most is when I dislocated my knee, we played in that Titans game a few weeks later and I felt healthy and everything like that and I have that throw where I jump and throw the ball. It looks cool, but I actually did it because I was trying to get my knee out of there. So, itās the little things like that. You just have to build that confidence back but like I said, Iām glad I get to do that from day one of training camp. I didnāt want to have to get only a couple of weeks of practice in and then have to go play in a game. I wanted to build it up, and how training camp goes is we gradually build, and so I think thatāll gradually help me get back to where I need to be.ā
Q: Do you want to play in the preseason if youāre given the opportunity?
MAHOMES: āI think weāll just see when we get there. Like, Iām a competitor. So, game day, Iām going to want to be out there, but I understand the process of getting myself ready to play and the regular season is more important, but we will see. I mean, the coaches and docs will kind of make that decision for me, but Iāll prepare myself like I am going to play, and then if Iām doing just a very hard warmup, I will take that as serious as playing the preseason game. Itās a couple weeks away, but it feels like a long way away, Iām going to go with the next step of just kind of going out there with the rookies this week.ā
Q: In what ways do you think you can come out of this injury a better player?
MAHOMES: āYeah, I think when you talk to guys that have done, kind of had this injury ahead, a lot of times youāre stronger. I feel stronger than Iāve ever felt as far as strength and lifting and stuff like that. So now, itās just about getting that quarterback stuff down, the stuff moving in the pocket quick, making those quick movements, reacting and doing stuff like that. I feel like I wasnāt playing my best football at the end of last year before I got hurt. Iāve got to find ways to get better, kind of navigating the pocket, run the offense better, getting the ball out of my hands and letting other guys make plays and so I think this injury helped me kind of focus on those little things as I kind of get back to who I am.ā
Q: What was the toughest part of the rehab process and was there anything mentally that you had to push through?
MAHOMES: āHonestly, the toughest part was the beginning not being able to get up and chase my kids around. I know that sounds crazy, but being a dad and being active, I always want to be around my kids and playing and stuff like that. I think that was tough. Once I was able to do that, it kind of motivated me to kind of keep getting better and better. So, when Bronze has a t-ball game, or Sterlingās playing soccer, I can be out there with them. I always knew I was going to get back here and just because of my mindset and the people that we have around me. I think once I was able to do that, it kind of mentally helped me get through this process.ā
Q: When you mentioned that Titans play when was it where you felt like you werenāt maybe cautious about that?
MAHOMES: āI think after that play itās like I showed I could be athletic. I could jump off the knee that I had injured, and I could still make plays that Iāve always made. Youāll never know until you get out there and you get hit and you make plays. Thatās kind of part of it, but I trust the process that Iāve been through. I feel amazing and Iāve got to keep continuing with that and then Iāll take the first hit just like you do every regular season. Then you go back to playing football, the game you love.ā
Q: Who are some of the guys youāve talked to and what was the best advice and wisdom youāve received?
MAHOMES: āI talked to (former QB) Tom (Brady) early in the process because he had the same injury very similar injury that I had, (former S) Tyrann (Mathieu) a little bit very similar injury and I talked a-lot to (Commanders TE) Zach (Ertz) who got injured very close in my timeline. We kind of had competitions where we were at and where we were rehabbing. Itās just talking to guys that have been through the process and just saying how you have stay on top of it. Itās a long process. I remember sitting at the table and watching us play those last few games and how much it hurt me, but I knew if I continued to work, I could be at this spot where I get cleared for practice. Now, Iām trying to get to that spot where Iām cleared to play on the regular season in that first week.ā
Q: I know youāve had some injuries before but how much have you learned about yourself during this?
MAHOMES: āI donāt know if I really learned anything crazy. Itās just like a mindset you must have go about this process and itās hard. Every day is hard and you must continue to just stack days on days and stuff just builds and builds. I think having my kids and being able after rehab to go to t-ball practice and go wherever with Sterling. I think that kind of kept my mind off the repetitiveness and now itās just about getting here. Iāve told some of the guys sometimes you come up to St. Joe and youāre like all right weāre going to be in the dorms and stuff. Iām excited just to be able to play football. Iāve been seeing cinder block walls rehabbing every single day in Kansas City, and now to get out to be on that practice field with my teammates and my brothers, itās going to be a lot of fun.ā
Q: On if this injury changed the type of quarterback he is.
MAHOMES: āI plan to be able to do everything I did before. Iāve been moving around and doing that stuff. Iām going to obviously try and take care of myself a little better than I did last season. I think I ran too much last season in general; Iāll try to be better with that. All else fails Iāll give it to K9 (Kenneth Walker) and let him just go out there and work.ā
Q: Does how last season went make you approach anything different this season?
MAHOMES: āIt doesnāt feel different in the sense of what happened last year because that happened last year and itās a brand new year. If you win the Super Bowl or donāt make it, if you donāt win the Super Bowl, youāre in the same spot and youāre coming to kind of do it again this next year. I think itās just the longer break. I think you can just tell guys are more excited to be back in the building. Weāve had a lot of short offseasons so having that extra six weeks, it sounds awesome until youāre in the middle of the summer and youāre like I really miss football. I think just seeing the guys around the building, especially this last week as guys are kind of filing back into Kansas City. You can tell guys are really pumped to get back out here and play football.ā
Q: Head Coach Andy Reid mentioned that Rashee Rice has been rehabbing. What do you expect from him, do you think heāll be here during the rookie part now and whatās his mindset coming into this?
MAHOMES: āHeās (Rashee Rice) excited to get back out here. Heās kind of a similar thing, heās ready to play football again and just get out there and be with the guys. Iāve been rehabbing with him a lot. Heās been in the building as much as I have, him and Omarr (Norman-Lott). I hate that theyāre injured but itās been good for me because you have guys you can work with and try to get better together. Heās doing great. Iāve thrown it to him, heās caught. Heās doing a lot of stuff he needs to do. I donāt know if heāll be out on the field, but I know heās rehabbing and doing what he needs to be doing to be on the field whenever camp gets going.ā
Q: What are some of the rehab numbers that youād compete with Commanders TE Zach Ertz on?
MAHOMES: āIt would start off as how much deadlift. Like what youāre deadlifting, where youāre at. Then itās like sending little videos heās jumping and doing certain acceleration things and Iām sending him next week doing cutting and stuff like that. It keeps the competition going because itās a long process and you feel lonely sometimes because youāre doing stuff by yourself and youāre just competing with yourself. It gave me someone else I can compete with to kind of push my competitive drive.ā
Q: Whatās one area you want to be sure to improve this year after that season you went through?
MAHOMES: āI think itās about getting the ball out of my hands. Obviously, I like to make big plays happen and sometimes I wonāt take the short one or I wonāt take the first read because Iām trying to make a bigger play happen. Itās getting the ball out of my hands, making plays how they happen. Then whenever the deep ball is there, you have to hit it. At the end of the day that comes down to me throwing the ball and giving guys chances to make plays. It doesn't have to be perfect but give the guys the chance to make plays downfield. If we can do that as well as the run game that Iām excited for I think we can get back to being a dynamic offense.ā
Q: Head Coach Andy Reid says he plans on having you go through this campus if it was any other, but have you had a conversation with him about if you want to call under center plays more often that Iām ready for that? Do you want just the same routine as if you havenāt gone through this?