Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
October 29, 2025
HEAD COACH ANDY REID
OPENING STATEMENT: “As far as the guys not practicing, Hollywood (Brown) is sick (and) won’t practice. (Isiah) Pacheco with his knee (injury) won’t practice and then Josh (Simmons) will be out. Other than that, everybody is going to go (and) Trey (Smith) is going to give it a whirl. He did the walk through this morning, so we’ll just see how he does. Look forward to the challenge of playing Buffalo. We know they’re a good football team. There’s a lot of history between the two teams over the last few years and it’s been a good battle every time that we have an opportunity to play each other. (Bills Head Coach) Sean (McDermott) does a great job with that crew, and he has a solid – very good coaching staff and good players. So, we have to have a good week of preparation going forward here. With that time is yours.”
Q: How do you handle trade discussions with Brett Veach?
REID: “(General Manager) Brett (Veach) does all of that. If he gets to a point where something is up and he feels comfortable about it, then he hits me up on it. He takes care of all of that. Those guys – you know how Brett is wired so he’s endlessly looking for people and trying to bring people on to make us better. That’s how he goes about it.”
Q: Do you envision Isiah Pacheco’s injury as long term or just week-to-week evaluation?
REID: “I don’t think so. We’ll just see how he (Isiah Pacheco) is moving around. (He’s) a tough kid (and) there was a point there where he wanted to go back in, and I wouldn’t let him. But that’s how he’s wired, you’d have to cut his leg off to stop him (chuckles).”
Q: Was Patrick Mahomes’ interception he threw on the back shoulder a part of him trusting the receivers and being more aggressive?
REID: “Yeah, I’d probably saying the trusting part. He’s (Patrick Mahomes) got to trust that the guys will make that play. It didn’t work out for Hollywood (Brown) there, or Pat but that’s something that we’ve seen him do in practice and done in practice. We’ve had a couple in games – back shoulder throws. I’d tell you I would put more on the trust on the guys than anything.”
Q: What concerns you most about the Bills?
REID: “Their offense is special and obviously the quarterback (Bills QB Josh Allen) is one of the best in the league at what he does, and he has a great surrounding crew starting up front and moving on back. Defensively their front is again – they can bring it. They’ve got a solid front and their linebackers, secondary – they’re well coached. The scheme on both sides of the balls (and) special teams, they’re solid there too (and) well coached (Special Teams Coordinator) Chris (Tabor) does a nice job with that crew. They’re just an all-around good football team and there aren’t a whole lot of weaknesses there.”
Q: How better suited is Kareem Hunt for a lead running back role this year versus last year?
REID: “Probably in better shape. Just overall, better shape. Not that he (Kareem Hunt) was in terrible shape before, but he’s been – he’s had a year to do it and kind of get back into the swing after having a little bit of a lay off there.”
Q: What have you seen from Elijah Mitchell this year and can you speak to his position on the depth chart?
REID: “First of all he (Elijah Mitchell) had a severe injury at one point, and a lot of guys wouldn’t even come back from this thing, and he battled back. You could see him just get better every week during camp and then progressing through to now. He takes a lot of reps with the scout team group. I would tell you that we all have confidence in his playability for sure.”
Q: What are some of the characteristics that describe a Sean McDermott team?
REID: “Tough. Well coached. He (Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott) gets all phases involved (and) he is very, very thorough. I had him when he was a pup. I joke (that) I had him when he had hair (laughter). He is very detailed on how he goes about things.”
Q: On Patrick Mahomes’ progressions on second and third reads.
REID: “He’s (Patrick Mahomes) always been pretty good with doing that. It’s a matter of the time that he has had to be able to get through those things, I think you have to include some of that. But again, his ability to do it on the move is unique. You see a little bit of that from (Bills QB) Josh (Allen) too. Those guys – they both can do that. Pat’s got – he’s got great vision, and I know Troy Aikman mentioned him – Troy was a quarterback, a great quarterback and he goes, ‘Man his vision is unbelievable.’ I mean that’s from a guy (Troy Aikman) that’s been there, he says he (Patrick Mahomes) seems to see everything, and he’s blessed with that part.”
Q: Does the progression earned by the offensive line show Patrick Mahomes that he is protected?
REID: “That’s important for the offensive line to gain that trust. I just kind of flip that one over and the o-line takes a lot of pride in that, and they want to be able to keep him (Patrick Mahomes) in there (the pocket) as long as they possibly can. We’ve played this string of defensive lines that are really good players. For Pat to have that trust is huge.”
Q: How is Jaylon Moore settling in and handling all of the guys?
REID: “I thought he (Jaylon Moore) just buckled down and really got himself right there. He’s a big kid (and a) strong kid and I didn’t think he was utilizing that the best at the beginning. But he found his way to do that and really trust himself in that situation. I think that is another growing phase for him in this offense. We ask him to do a lot of things, and he’s got a great attitude about it. But I think he could take something out of that.”
Q: On turnovers on road games.
REID: “Turnovers are terrible. When you’re talking about winning and losing football games it is hard to overcome those. Every week I give the guys the stats of the other team and win/loss – whether they won the turnover battle or lost the turnover battle. If you lose a turnover battle the majority of the time, you’re losing the football game and that’s just how it goes. You’ve got to take care of the football.”
Q: On Mike Pennel.
REID: “(General Manager Brett) Veach is all over that stuff. I haven’t seen Mike Pennel. He was a good kid when he was here and a good player. If he’s back up, that’s great. Another good player in there. You guys know him, he has a good attitude and all of that. I’ve been cramming – we’re on a short week so all of that stuff is out there (and) I don’t want to say I don’t care, but I’m trying to take care of the other part of it.”
Q: On the defense with fourth down efficiency.
REID: “The job that they did this past week was special. That was very important in that game – the first half of the game. Anytime you can get off the field like that or have a turnover I think is big for you.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
October 29, 2025
QB PATRICK MAHOMES
Q: When did you start preparing for the Buffalo Bills?
MAHOMES: “Tuesday. You have a little bit longer day on Tuesday where you go back, and you have to watch twice the games you would usually do when you have Monday and Tuesday but you have a good familiarity with this team obviously with how many times we’ve played them and the coaches and the defenses that they play. They do a good job of being game plan specific every single year. It’s just a lot of great football players that we’re going up against and we know it’s going to take our best football. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned from this rivalry is that it’s going to be one play here or there that’s going to change the outcome, and you have to go out there and make it.”
Q: How has Kareem Hunt showed you that he is capable of being the lead running back?
MAHOMES: “Every time he (Kareem Hunt) is in there, it seems like good things happen. Obviously, his track record speaks for itself as far as the way he has been able to play this year, but in previous years as well. We’ll see where we get to on that but at the same time, we have confidence that if his number is called, he’ll be ready for it.”
Q: How do you prepare for throwing it to your second and third reads?
MAHOMES: “You can definitely work on it just through reps (and) through drills and stuff like that. Just having different things that you use with your coaches of code words and stuff for them to make you have to be on one read and reset to the next one to make the throws and stuff like that. The coaches do a great job of that all offseason and during the season as well. We try to make sure that we’re in the right space so that I can be better at it each and every year.”
Q: On the comfort behind the offensive line so he has the ability to make these reads.
MAHOMES: “It’s huge. When you’re getting the time to sit in the pocket and kind of go through your reads and make that stuff happen. It gives you confidence that you’re seeing the right stuff. If you have confidence, then you can go out there and throw it the way you want to throw it, and I think that’s huge, and it all starts up front with the o-line.”
Q: On playing the Buffalo Bills during a short week and if anything goes through his head about it.
MAHOMES: “No, not really, I think everyone deals with it. Obviously, we’re going up against a great football team but that’s part of playing in the NFL, you have to be ready for sudden changes like that or – that could happen to you in the playoffs when another opportunity to be on a short week against a great football team and see how your team responds. It’s stuff that you can learn from and build from. I’m just excited to get to go up and play in a big game in a great environment.”
Q: Do you enjoy playing in Buffalo? What is that environment like compared to other road games?
MAHOMES: “They (Bills fans) don’t like us. They do not like the Chiefs. It is a cool environment. I love playing in historic stadiums and that stadium has had so many great players play in it. Who knows, it might be the last time that we get the opportunity to play there. It will be a great challenge for us and they’re loud and that’s what you want, you want to go in and be in a hostile environment. That’s what football – when you watch on TV as a kid growing up - is the environment you want to play in. Obviously, they’re not rooting for us, but you get to bond together as a team and get to go into a historic stadium and play in a great environment.”
Q: What do you make of the Bills beating you in the regular season and the Chiefs winning in the playoffs?
MAHOMES: “I don’t know, honestly. All the games come down to like one – other than like two games that we’ve played against each other. Every single game comes down to like one play here or there that someone has to make, if that’s offense, defense (or) whatever it is. I think it comes down to players making plays in big moments and that’s worked out for us in the playoffs and worked out for them in other times. To me, it’s just about the next time. It’s about going out there and playing against a great football team and knowing that it’s not – we can think that’s going to happen, you have to go out there and play with your best ability that next time you get the opportunity to.”
Q: What is something that Bills QB Josh Allen does that you wish you could do?
MAHOMES: “To be that size and to be able to move like that. He’s (Bills QB Josh Allen) done so many great things as far as throwing the football and stuff like that but the way he is able to extend plays (and) be close to the sideline and make some of those big time throws down the field, that stuff is special. He has gotten better and better each and every year. I think that’s something that I’ve seen in him so that’s something that I try to do for myself as well. He’s a great football player.”
Q: What stands out to you about this Bills defense on tape?
MAHOMES: “I think they’re extremely talented. They’re extremely well coached. They do the right thing. They’re always in the right spot. It’s not like they have any busted coverages or anything like that and then they have a good sense of what you’re trying to do, so if that’s even the linebackers moving to the right zones at the right time or DBs the same or d-linemen getting the hands up and being in the right spot that you want to throw the football. They do a great job of that. They’re well coached and they have a lot of great football players. It’s always a great challenge for us and you have to make sure that you’re locked in the entire game or they’re going to capitalize on your mistakes.”
Q: What type of mentality do you have to have on the field for a hostile environment?
MAHOMES: “I think it’s cool, honestly. Just because you have to bond together as a team. You do that at (GEHA Field at) Arrowhead (Stadium) but you have the crowd behind you and whenever stuff isn’t going well, you can feed off the crowd and stuff like that whereas when you’re on the road, you just have your teammates. You have your teammates and your coaches and you kind of have to bond together and there’s going to be adversity and it’s how you can bond together and come out on the other side of that and come out on the right way with a win.”
Q: On him having better stats on the road compared to home.
MAHOMES: “I think it’s just like I said, you go on these trips – even more than the football games, being on the plane and being in the hotel and stuff like that. You kind of build this culture and this team. It’s cool whenever you step on that football field and everybody’s against you and you know you just have your brothers behind you. It takes everybody and I think it has been special that we’ve been able to do that, play these road games and win these games. It’s because this team comes together and we go out there and play our best football, even on the road sometimes.”
Q: On the wins and losses against the Bills characterized by turnovers.
MAHOMES: “That’s kind of what I was saying. Turnovers are one thing but just in general, if you don’t stay locked in the entire game, they (Bills) capitalize on the mistakes. Even if it’s a little missed assignment or a missed throw that you need to make to keep ahead of the chains. If they get you in third and long and then they come up with some type of blitz that’s un-scouted and they blitz you and all of a sudden you’re giving the ball back to them and that’s a great offense. They do a great job of capitalizing on your mistakes, having little wrinkles here and there so that you’re never really comfortable at the quarterback position. You have to be locked in the entire time and when it’s not there, you have to find ways to get to the checkdown or wherever that is to stay ahead of the sticks so that they can’t get you off the football field.”
Q: On his first interception against the Commanders and how that play is supposed to look.
MAHOMES: “It was a play that we were trying to go over the top but (Commanders CB Marshon) Lattimore had great coverage and I tried to throw the ball and sneak it to the back shoulder to him (Hollywood Brown) before he (Marshon Lattimore) got his eyes around and he got his eyes around and made a great play. I have trust in those guys that we’re going to make plays happen and sometimes defenses make plays, that’s just part of it, we learn from that. The next opportunity that we have, we’re on the same page a little bit better and we’re able to complete the pass and not have an interception or whatever the mistake was.”
Q: Do you spend more time cramming knowing that you’re playing the Buffalo Bills?
MAHOMES: “Not more than I would spend on a normal short week. I think usually Tuesday, Wednesday (and) Thursday are the busiest on the short week because you’re trying to make up for that Monday, but by Friday you kind of have everything done. I think the hardest is for Brittany (Mahomes) because she knows I’m going to be in the building a lot, so she has a little bit more time with the kids (and) that she’s going to be watching all three of them. Other than that, I think it’s kind of a normal week after a Monday game.”
Q: Are Brittany Mahomes and the kids ready for Halloween?
MAHOMES: “They’re very ready for Halloween. We’re on the countdown – I didn’t know there was a countdown to Halloween, I thought it was only Christmas (laughter). Every night it’s like, how many more nights do we have until Halloween? They’re very excited. I’m trying to knock everything out so that Friday I’m able to go out there and enjoy that with them and get a lot of candy and try not to give them too much of it (laughter).”
Q: Is there a family Halloween costume?
MAHOMES: “It’s a surprise, so y’all will see. I’m sure it will be on Instagram somewhere.”
Q: On the fact that defenses sometimes just make plays.
MAHOMES: “I don’t know if it is from playing in the Big 12 and like the air raid (offense) – or whatever it is, you always have that next play mentality of like if something bad happens, you got to score the next play so you got to keep going and keep that mindset going. I’ve never really had a problem with it, it’s just, if they make a play, they’re paid to make plays too. Now I’m going to try and find a way to make up for it by going up there and executing the next play and kind of keep that mindset. Interceptions happen, stuff like that happens. I don’t want it to happen, but at the same time what are you going to do about it after?”
Q: Does it help keep you from being frustrated with yourself in that instance?
MAHOMES: “As long as it’s a win, I don’t care how it looks. I’ll be frustrated after the game if the interception caused us to lose the game. If we find a way to win the football game at the end of the day, I’ll be perfectly fine.”
DE MIKE DANNA
Q: On his first career interception.
DANNA: “Man, it was crazy. It was insane man. I give all my thanks and glory to God first. Without Him this opportunity wouldn’t even be happening. Also, just cashing in on these opportunities and waiting for the next one or just being ready for whenever your number is called. I was very blessed to be in that position to even execute like that. That was a cool feeling, an awesome feeling and now I’m ready to roll for the next challenge.”
Q: How much better can the defense get?
DANNA: “Each week we are constantly trying to improve (and) get better at the fundamentals, the techniques, whatever it is. Whatever game plan Coach (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Spags gave us, we want to execute to the best (of our ability) come Sunday or Monday, whenever we play. It’s about weeks of preparation. We take that very seriously and practicing with a purpose. There’s always room for improvement. The moment you feel like you’re good, you get complacent, and we don’t want to take our foot off the gas pedal, and we don’t have no time or no room for that.”
Q: Why do you think this defense has contained some of the premier running back so far?
DANNA: “It’s about having trust (with) all 11 guys. Your guys next to you. It’s about holding yourself accountable, having some gap integrity. Everybody has a job on this defense – everybody has a job on all three phases really. We’re expected to meet our expectations, if not exceed expectations. It’s not an easy job containing some of these rush attacks but as long as you know you have 11 guys who are playing with their hearts on fire, legs on fire, then you have 11 hats to the ball, I’m sure you can contain it as best as you can.”
RB KAREEM HUNT
Q: If necessary, are you ready to potentially be the lead running back this game?
HUNT: “Most definitely. I love the game of football. We have some other guys too who can make plays. Definitely ready for whatever I’m asked for to do.”
Q: What’s unique about Patrick Mahomes in fourth down situations?
HUNT: “That he’s (Patrick Mahomes) always keeping his eyes down field. He’s always trying to make a play, no matter where he’s at on the field. He can be one yard away from the out of bounds and he still might throw a deep ball or anything, he’s always trying to make a play.”
Q: On the challenge of playing in Buffalo.