Total Pro Sports
Problems had been building within the Kansas City Chiefs long before the losses started to accumulate. At first, everything stayed quiet. But once the season fell apart and the playoffs slipped away, the frustration came to the surface. By then, even Travis Kelce tried to step in and calm things down.
The Chiefs finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs. That result forced head coach Andy Reid to make changes. This week, the team fired wide receivers coach Connor Embree after seven years with the organization, including three seasons as the receivers coach.
According to reports, the problems went beyond dropped passes. ESPN reporter Nate Taylor said players lost trust in Embree. That loss of confidence prompted veteran leaders like Kelce to assume more responsibility in order to keep the offense functioning.
Taylor shared the details during an appearance on 96.5 The Fan. He said the frustration lasted two full seasons. He pointed to young receivers who felt stuck and unheard.
“I know the receivers themselves were frustrated with their own position coach,” Taylor said. “Xavier Worthy, you can look at it, and it’s factual. Xavier Worthy, as a receiver in his rookie season, got better the absolute moment DeAndre Hopkins arrived.”
Worthy’s growth lined up with Hopkins joining the team in October 2024. Kansas City traded a draft pick to the Titans for Hopkins. Hopkins later left in free agency and signed with the Ravens. During his short stay, he became an on-field teacher.
Kelce also filled that role. Taylor said Kelce and Hopkins helped Rashee Rice and Worthy with route work and preparation. “I could argue that DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce have been more impactful to the development of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy than Connor Embree,” Taylor said. “That’s a problem.”
Taylor repeated those claims on KC Sports Network. He emphasized that frustration often arises when teams lose. He also said Embree had time to fix things. “Connor Embree had multiple years,” Taylor said.“It was unfortunate but that was the reality of the situation.”
Kelce still played well, even with all the stuff going around him. He had another solid season and tried to lead by example. But he could not fix everything on his own. Drops hurt the offense all year and kept showing up in big moments.
More changes may be coming. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy could leave if he lands a head coaching job. The team also faces uncertainty with Rashee Rice, who is still under investigation by the NFL.
Kelce did what he could to steady the team, but the problems were bigger than one player.
