Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes
September 23, 2026
OPENING STATEMENT: “Alright, as far as the guys that won’t practice, (T) Josh (Simmons) won't practice today. He is getting better, but he won't go today. (DB) Chamarri's (Conner) going to do some stuff. We'll ease him back into the mix. So, other than that, everybody's good to go. I look forward to the challenge of playing the Dolphins. They're a well-coached team, like us, they're young, and they're going through that part of it but (Dolphins Head Coach) Jeff's (Hafley) doing a nice job with them and again, we look forward to the challenge. With that, times yours.”
Q: Do you feel like CB Mansoor Delane will be in a place to maybe be full go this week?
REID: “I think so, yeah, again, we'll play it by ear, but right now, I'd tell you yes.”
Q: When you take over a program like they're doing down there in Miami, how tough is that to kind of get it going and figure it out quickly?
REID: “Yeah, you can see (Dolphins Head Coach Jeff Hafley) he's doing it the right way. He's got a real good staff all the way through, and they're very sound in what they do and I know that's what he's drilling home right now. So, he's doing a nice job with that.”
Q: What's been your two-game assessment of T Kahlil Benson and just how he's been?
REID: “Yeah, listen, (T Kahlil Benson) he's done a nice job. We're early in it, and he's one of the young guys. But for what we're asking him to do, he's done a heck of a job. And every week's a new week, and the more people are able to study him, then you're going to get different looks, and you’ve got to be able to answer that. When you're new in the league, that's what you get and so how you handle that is important.”
Q: On WR Xavier Worthy.
REID: “Yeah, (WR Xavier Worthy) he had an opportunity for that big catch, I mean, it was close, man. Then you're probably not asking that one, but he's fine. He's just got to keep rolling here. He's coming off the shoulder part of it, and working through all that but he'll be fine as we go.”
Q: Does the shoulder injury still impact WR Xavier Worthy a little bit?
REID: “It looked like it did, a little bit on that one because I know he's got one of the strongest arms on our team, and he doesn't have that pitching arm that he used to have, so.”
Q: What's the expectation with DT Omarr Norman-Lott? Is it possibly maybe after the bye week, his practice window could open?
REID: “Yes, potentially, yeah. We'll see where he's at. He's doing more right now, so, which is a positive.”
Q: With RB Kenneth Walker, the Seahawks really didn't use him as a receiver. What told you guys ahead of time that he could be the receiver that he's been so far?
REID: “Yeah, I think that the last couple games there, (RB Zach Charbonnet) the kid (RB Kenneth Walker) he was rotating with was a good receiver. They used him a lot on third down. But once he was hurt, then he worked in as a full-time guy, having to do everything, and you could see that he could catch the football and then when he came out here for OTAs and that, you could see it, too.”
Q: WR Rashee Rice told us that ‘if you don't block, you don't get the rock.’ It's been pretty noticeable, his blocking. Have you seen an uptick in how much he's embraced that part of the game?
REID: “Yeah, (WR Rashee Rice) he's a tough kid and he's really a good blocker when he sets his mind to it, to go in there and do that. So, it's been good that way. They all have, really. I mean, they've all had their chances of being stuck in that mix in there, in the box. And they've all done good, (WR) Xavier (Worthy) included.”
Q: What do you say to people calling this a trap game? Do you believe in that?
REID: “Yeah, I think you’ve got to focus on getting better. We have too much to worry about, just getting better, plenty of room for that. So, that's what I focus on. I don't worry about all the outside noise and that. I've got to get better, and the rest of the guys, we need to get better. And so, that's where we're at.”
Q: It’s been a slow burn for QB Patrick Mahomes coming back, but it felt like on that touchdown drive to WR Xavier Worthy, it started to feel like himself. Do you sense that, and what do you make of it?
REID: “Yeah, listen, (QB Patrick Mahomes) he's a great player that got hurt and it's a matter of just getting back into the swing, get your timing down, all that stuff and he's got the same guys he's been throwing to now for a little bit. So, he has comfort in that, too. He's feeling better, feels more confident as he goes. So, I think that's probably the most part of it. Yeah, what you see is he's made progress, and he's just got to keep going.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
September 23, 2026
QB PATRICK MAHOMES
Q: How are you going to make sure WR Xavier Worthy gets unlocked and helps this offense?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, I think you just continue to work it. I mean, (WR Xavier Worthy) he's getting open. He's making the right reads down the field. And just like the one that we fired in there, it's making a tough, contested catch. But I've seen him make that play before, and so I'll continue to fire it. It's not like he's not doing his job the right way. It's just about going out there and finishing it whenever he gets the opportunity.”
Q: On the drive that ended with the touchdown pass to WR Xavier Worthy. Did you feel like you were the most back, as you've been?
MAHOMES: “I think just throughout this game, I felt more comfortable just with myself being able to take hits and then step in and make the throws within the pocket. And that first game, it's just like any other preseason game. I never played that much, without playing the preseason. Usually you go to the preseason, you play one drive, and then you're kind of done for that game, whereas I was playing an entire game. Getting those reps kind of helped me kind of feel more comfortable this week. We worked on stuff throughout the week to kind of work on my fundamentals a little bit, not overstriding and having the right base in the pocket and it paid off.”
Q: How much confidence are you gaining play-by-play with T Kahlil Benson as he's been there?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, I mean, that's just like any other new player in the offense. The more they're there, the more comfortable you get with them, and (T Kahlil Benson) he's putting in the work. And I think that's what's been great to see, is that he's learning from his mistakes. He's getting better and better, and he's done that since day one he's been here. And so, whenever he continues to put good tape out there, you get more and more confident, and you go out there and have more and more trust within the entire offense.”
Q: Did you feel like you took a huge step last week, or how do you feel about it overall?
MAHOMES: “I definitely took a big jump, I think, just mentally, just kind of being able to trust and be in the pocket and stuff like that. There are still times where you could tell I was kind of rushing up and kind of just trying to throw the ball away quickly whenever there was maybe other opportunities to step up in the pocket and find a check down. And so, that's stuff that I'll continue to work with. But definitely felt a lot more comfortable, and I think running the ball so well the first week gave me more time to kind of see stuff, and it became clearer. I think just having other guys around me have so much success has kind of helped me be more comfortable quicker.”
Q: On running the ball.
MAHOMES: “I think you can even see the differences between Week 1 and Week 2. Just whenever the Colts saw how committed we were to the run game and how well it worked, you could tell that they were putting assets into stopping the run. And so, whenever you're doing the play fakes or linebackers are in the line of scrimmage, it opens up guys over the top of them. So, it's got to be a great balance that we have to have of being able to run it, run it, run it, and play action at the right time. And I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Coach (Eric) Bieniemy and (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid did a great job of calling the perfect play action, the perfect movement plays at the perfect time, so that I had guys open for me to throw. And so, we'll continue to get better and better at that and continue to run the football as well.”
Q: With the explosive plays, obviously the effect of them is obvious down the field, but what other effect do you notice when you, earlier in the game, have hit some of the explosive plays?
MAHOMES: “It just puts the defense in a predicament. I mean, just knowing that they have to kind of choose if they want to come up and stop the run or if they want to try to stop the explosive plays from happening and so that's what you want. You want defenses guessing. You want defenses having to make decisions that they don't want to make. And so, I think as an offense, we did a great job of that these first few weeks, is like if they're going to stay back, run the football. If they're going to come up, then play action, throw it over the top of them. And I think if you can continue to do that and keep defenses guessing, you can continue to have success.”
Q: If you were a defensive coordinator, which one would you choose?
MAHOMES: “I mean, I don't know. (RB Kenneth Walker) Nine runs the ball really well. So, I have all the confidence in the world and myself in the passing game as well. So, you want defenses having this tough decision and then they have to make it and then you just kind of figure it out on the fly on what you're doing that day.”
Q: Are you finding teams reacting week-to-week quicker than they did maybe back in, like, 2018 to what you guys are doing?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, we've played two great defensive coordinators these first two weeks, and so they're veteran coaches that have seen it all. So, there was definitely some changes that they had done from Week 1 to Week 2, and will continue to do that. I'm excited to see what we get this week against a young team, a hungry team, that wants to go out there and prove themselves. They'll be flying around trying to make plays, and it's our job to go out there and have continued success and get better and better.”
Q: What's kind of the responsibility of the older guys to let them know that you can't take anything for granted in this league when playing a team with no wins?
MAHOMES: “I think more than anything who we're playing is just staying hungry. In this league, it's week-to-week. One week they're patting you on your back, and one week they're telling you you're terrible. I think all offseason we heard about how bad we were, and guys were super hungry and came in with that mentality, and I think that's why we've had the success that we've had these first two weeks. And it's like, how can you keep that hunger? Now everybody's saying we're amazing and that we're great, and it's like we've got to keep the hunger that we've had this entire offseason. So that's what we're preaching, is like we're nowhere near where we want to be at. We're still so early in the season, and there's still so much for us to learn from and so much for us to get better at and we have to have that mentality week in and week out if we want to go out there and have success.”
Q: How do you point things out to the younger players, and just pay more attention to detail when you are still winning games?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, I think as an offense you saw, I mean, we had more opportunities to score touchdowns. We kicked some field goals there in the red zone, and it came down to just the little things with miscommunications or route depth or me not making the right read and getting to the right guy at the right time. Those are the little things you have to continue to get better and better at, because you don't know how many of those opportunities you're going to get when you're in the red zone. I love kicking field goals and they're three points, but touchdowns are so big in this league, and you want to make sure that you can actually get those. We have to get better at that of executing kind of in the red zone and getting those touchdowns because that's what wins you football games.”
Q: On the 2026 season schedule and playing three home games in three months.
MAHOMES: “I had no idea about that. No, I did not think about that at all. But sometimes away games kind of can get you locked in, especially with a young team because you're all together, you're all in the building together, you go on the flight, you get in the hotel and stuff like that. So, there's less distractions, honestly. And so, I didn't know that, but it'll be good to get this experience this first week and get to go on the road, go to Miami, it'll be hot, it'll be warm, guys will have to go out there and compete. And then we'll just kind of build off that. But, I guess Christmas will be at home is what it sounds like, I guess.”
Q: When you walk into that stadium, do you think about just the fact that that's where you won your first Super Bowl?
MAHOMES: “No, obviously it's a special place and we were able to win the Super Bowl there and it was my first Super Bowl and it was a surreal experience. But this week is about playing the Miami Dolphins, and I know how much stuff, like I said, we've got to get better at and how we continue to develop as a team and as an offense. It will be cool for about a second and then you kind of move on to just playing the football game.”
Q: Do you talk to the rookies and the younger guys that there is no such thing as a trap game, we just need focus on getting better, we focus on the next opponent?
MAHOMES: “I haven't talked to them about it. I mean, I think we've been so focused on just getting better and going to this next opponent and playing against a team that's going to be hungry, like I said, and ready to play. And a lot of Texas Tech guys too, so it gives me some more motivation to go out there and compete because I was going and watching these guys play and talking to them in the locker room and now, they're all going to be playing against me, so I know they're going to be hungry to go up against me as well.”
DE GEORGE KARLAFTIS
Q: As one of the veteran guys around here just what's your message to the young guys about playing a team that has not won a game yet?
KARLAFTIS: “Yeah, I mean, like you said, they haven't gotten a win yet, it's their home opener. They're going to be hungry. They're motivated. They're a young team. They’ve got a new head coach. They're going to be as motivated as ever to get their first win of the season, and it's going to be on us to try to make sure that doesn't happen, we want to win every single game going in. It's the same message every week. It's a one-game feat where you try to win the day, try to win the game, that kind of thing and try throughout the course of the season to improve based on the mistakes you made or stuff you find in your game from the previous week.”
Q: Do you feel like you're one of the leaders on the defense now?
KARLAFTIS: “Yeah, I'd like to think so. I've played a lot of games and I’m the, I think, the second oldest guy in the D-line room. So, just from an experience standpoint, compared to the other guys and I was fortunate enough to be around a lot of great veterans when I was a younger guy, like (DE) Carlos (Dunlap), like (DT) Chris (Jones), like (DE) Frank (Clark), so I've had (DE) Mike Danna, (DE) Charles (Omenihu). So, I was able to learn a lot of things from those guys and having played in a lot of playoff games, and a lot of bigger games, big situations, and stuff like that. I've been able to accumulate a lot of experience, and I think that's the best teacher of them all. So, for me, my leadership style is, I always emphasize this, learning from your mistakes and try not to make those repeated mistakes, try to emphasize that to the young guys.”
Q: Do you see any differences in the team’s closeness from this year than others?
KARLAFTIS: “Yeah, I mean, every team is different. We have a blend of a lot of younger guys, older guys, and new guys, and like you said, every team is different, and I love how close we are as a unit, on defense, on the defensive line, and I can see that in other position groups, too. So, we're doing a great job meshing together, blending, doing stuff away from the facility and stuff like that, so I love those guys and it's a lot of fun to play with all of them.”
WR RASHEE RICE
Q: Can you just describe that 30-yard play and what went into you getting over on that one?
RICE: “Yeah, I did the previous week, had a lot of plays where I would motion down into the line of scrimmage and block for the run game, and so it's just based off that play in the following week, knowing that the team that we played last week would watch film and expect for me to go in that position and block for a running back.”
Q: Are you able to tell that there's a difference with how effective you guys have run the ball this year? Are you seeing more space?
RICE: “Yeah, of course. Our run game has been tremendous this year so far, and it's going to continue to grow. I feel like based off how we've been running the ball so aggressively that it's going to allow for defenses to have to come down and play inside the box as well as even when we have play-action plays, they're going to have to play the run before our quarterback rolls out to throw the ball and make a play downfield.”
Q: How much more rewarding is it for you to make the blocks and have the plays break like that?