Chiefs Coordinator Quotes
September 11, 2026
ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB
OPENING STATEMENT: “Before I get started, I just want to have everybody remember the lives that we lost 25 years ago today. It’s kind of instilled in my mind, it was my first year in the NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, and we're getting ready for our second game and we couldn't believe it. We couldn't believe what we were seeing. We weren't sure if it was just a small plane or a big plane and then when the second plane hit, it was horrible. But anyway, I just want to make sure everybody remembers and doesn't forget the lives that were lost on that day. It's a pretty sad day for a lot of people.”
Q: What’s the optimism for the return game on Monday.
TOUB: “Yeah, I mean, I feel excited to get going really. I mean, it seems like forever watching all these games now, and we're going to watch them all on Sunday, too, but I can't wait to have a real game. It's against a great opponent. Look forward to seeing a lot of young players. We have a lot of guys back, but we have some young players that are going to be playing too as well and look forward to seeing them in action.”
Q: CB Kevin Knowles was a big special teams player for you. How will you replace CB Kevin Knowles?
TOUB: “Yeah, (CB Kevin Knowles) he was. He was obviously a big-time player for us and when you cut a guy like that and he gets picked up like that, it tells you that he's a guy, but we have a lot of guys on this football team that could come up and rise up and be the kind of player he was. So, I feel pretty good about that.”
Q: How does Denver look on special teams?
TOUB: “Denver is very good. I mean, they're coached—(Broncos Special Teams Coordinator) Darren Rizzi does a great job. They're all back. When you look at them, you can't fill in any rookies, nobody really. I mean, they have everybody. Every position is back experienced. Great return game. Kickers are great.
I mean, you know, (P Jeremy) Crawshaw was a rookie last year, but he had an outstanding year, especially towards the end of the year. And (K Wil) Lutz, made a big kick versus us, a game winner after the year before we blocked one against him. So, he's a solid kicker and then just a well-coached, flying around, hard playing group.”
Q: On RB Brashard Smith.
TOUB: “Yeah, (RB) Brashard (Smith) really had a great training camp. I would say most improved player from last year. I mean, at this point, he is on top of it. He's catching the ball great on both kickoff and punts. And obviously, that vision that he had on that and the kickoff return against Seattle where they over pursued it and he saw it. He was able to see that, it wasn't a design bounce. He did that on his own. So, I mean, that says a lot about him and his development.”
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO
Q: Broncos Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb, you guys go way back. This is going to be his first game as a play caller. Did you see anything of him as a player?
SPAGNUOLO: “Oh, yes. When I was the interim head coach of the Giants coming down the stretch there in 2017, you could tell (Broncos Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb) he had coach in him. He was really, really sharp as a rookie. (QB) Eli (Manning) was playing then, but I remember he used to put together a tape at the end of the week. I think it was more or less to test the quarterbacks, what they might see. I thought it was really impressive what he did. He's an impressive guy. There's a reason why he's a coordinator at such a young age, so I'm happy for him.”
Q: How does the addition of WR Jaylen Waddle change what you have to prepare for?
SPAGNUOLO: “There's a little unknown. There weren't very many snaps in there in the preseason, so you're not 100 percent sure how they're going to use (WR Jaylen Waddle) him. You know the player because we've gone against him before and how explosive he is. Normally in a game plan, I will always pick out a guy that we say is Waldo, and he's the guy we've got to know where he is all the time. I think this team's got a few of those guys, so we didn't pick out one Waldo this week, but certainly 17 Waddle is going to be one of them that we've always got to know where he is.”
Q: What is sort of the key for you to know you're always on the arc of improvement?
SPAGNUOLO: “Listen, other coaches have said it, and I feel the same. It might take the first month, that's four games. I guess we're going to have the bye (week) into it, it may take that (long) to figure out exactly. Now, you just hope that while you're figuring it out, you're finding a way to win some games because you don't want to be behind the eight ball after the first month. But that's real, and I think that's real, now, if you have a really, really veteran team, it might be a little bit different, but because of the way the league is with free agency and all that, it seems like we've always got some new pieces that we've got to get used to, probably more so this year. It's going to take a little while, but it's the reason why when we went into this game plan, we tried to shave things off because we want the guys to play as fast as they can.”
Q: For you, what do you need to see from your defense on Week 1?
SPAGNUOLO: “Yeah, listen, I said this to you guys before about preseason games, I always go right back to tackling. Because if we were to come out of the game and say that our tackling was not very good, I think that's the worst problem to have because you can't go to full tackling drills next week or whatever. So, I'm hoping that we're there in that part of it. The next thing for me is how well we can be chemistry-wise and continuity-wise because I think if we can do those two things, we can have a fighting chance of playing pretty well.”
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ERIC BIENIEMY
Q: From your vantage point, how hungry is QB Patrick Mahomes to have a clean game, and just leave his injury behind?
BIENIEMY: “I’ll say this, you guys have been around (QB Patrick) Pat (Mahomes) since he’s been here. You know the type of personality he has. You know who he is as a man and as a competitor. He’s been working his ass off since day one of this injury to make sure that he can get back and be a part of this. So, I am not shocked nor surprised that we’re here addressing this. But on top of that, it shouldn’t be a story because of the nature of the kid and the competitor that he is. When I came into this building on that first day, I saw him work. I was like, ‘Well, he’ll be ready.’ But when it’s all said and done with, that’s just the type of person and player that Pat is. It’s very important to him, he wants to be with his teammates, and he does not want to miss anything. So, he was not going to give anybody an opportunity to talk about him missing this opportunity to be a part of something that can potentially be special. But when it’s all said and done with, he does not want to take anything away from the game. He just wants to be a part of it so he can go out there and help us to get across the finish line however we can do so.”
Q: Does knowing Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph’s personality help you prepare?
BIENIEMY: “You know what, and I’ll say this, we try not to talk football a lot. Now, we’ll talk football during the offseason, but during the season, I mean, all of us, we talk about a lot of different things. It’s great having (Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph) him, because we’ve known each other for what seems like an eternity. But one thing I’ll say about Vance, first of all, Vance is an outstanding coach. He’s done a great job with that defense. Those guys played their asses off. I mean, they were in that AFC Championship game and probably a few plays away. So, they’re the defending AFC West champs. When it’s all said and done with, we’ve got to make sure that we go out there and play. We’ve got to play hard, we’ve got to play fast. We’ve got to have a sense of urgency, and a sense of purpose. We got to be able to weather the highs, and on top of that, we’ve got to be resilient through the lows. So, we will be challenged. VJ does a great job, but we want to find a way to make sure that we can secure victory any which way we can.”
Q: What is some advice or your message to T Kahlil Benson to get ready for his first game?
BIENIEMY: “Go play and have fun, that’s all you can say. This (T Kahlil Benson) kid has worked his tail off. We’re talking about a kid who played on the national championship team. The beauty of having Kahlil is this, you’ve got (G) Trey (Smith) and you’ve got (C) Creed (Humphrey) in that room. You’ve got two leaders that have been on this offensive line since day one, since they’ve been here. And those guys are doing a great job with the communication aspect, but also just mentally helping him to see it and understand exactly the what’s, the why’s and the how’s. So, with that said, I mean, yes, he is a young player. He’s going to have some good plays, he’s going to have some bad plays, but when it’s all said and done with, he just needs to go out there and play and have fun.”
Q: What type of mentality and tempo are you wanting to set in Week 1, with the offense?
BIENIEMY: “Obviously, just like anybody, we want to go out there and establish a physical presence. It’s all about our mindset. It’s about having an attitude and a focused determined mindset to go out there and inflict your will. That will never change. That’s who we are and that’s what we want to become. And when it’s all said and done with, that’s going to be the driving force throughout the course of the season.”
Chiefs Player Quotes
September 11, 2026
DT CHRIS JONES
Q: With all of the new faces on the defensive line, is there a new energy this year?
JONES: “It’s a new year, a new opportunity, especially with new players. The energy is going to be different, but I think everyone’s still thrilled. We’ve got a division game coming up. We get to play Monday night, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Q: What do you remember from your rookie year that you tell DE R Mason Thomas or DL Peter Woods?
JONES: “Just most importantly have fun. I think, just a huge emphasis on making sure the game is still a game, having fun, being a kid that you were that got you in love with football. So, that kind of stayed with me throughout my career.”
Q: With all eyes on you guys Monday night, what are you wanting this defense to put out there for everyone to see?