The Kansas City Chiefs are entering the 2026 offseason with unmistakable urgency, and head coach Andy Reid has wasted no time reshaping his coaching staff after a disappointing 2025 campaign exposed lingering flaws across the offense.

While the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy naturally stole national headlines, another bold staffing move quickly caught the attention of players, analysts, and fans — the hiring of former All-Pro running back DeMarco Murray as the Chiefs’ new running backs coach.

Murray, who spent seven seasons crafting his coaching identity in the college ranks, arrives in Kansas City with a unique combination of playing pedigree, technical insight, and leadership experience that Reid clearly believes can elevate a position group needing direction.

Reid, speaking openly about the hire, made it clear he views Murray’s blend of coaching growth and past NFL excellence as a major asset, particularly as the Chiefs attempt to revive a rushing attack that has struggled to regain consistency in recent seasons.

“I just thought him coming in in that position, there’d be a strength to that — not only from an experience standpoint, but also the way he goes about teaching things,” Reid said, emphasizing Murray’s presence, communication style, and authenticity as major advantages.

Murray’s history as a player remains well-known across the league, as he burst onto the scene with the Dallas Cowboys and quickly cemented himself as one of the NFL’s premier running backs during the mid-2010s, producing seasons defined by dominance, durability, and explosive production.

His peak arrived in 2014, a season that remains one of the most prolific by any running back of the modern era, when he led the league with 1,845 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, and added 57 catches for 416 receiving yards, showcasing a multi-dimensional versatility that earned him All-Pro honors.

Although his NFL career ended after the 2017 season, Murray transitioned seamlessly into coaching, beginning with the University of Arizona before spending the next six years as running backs coach for the Oklahoma Sooners football, where he developed a reputation as a detail-oriented teacher with strong recruiting and player-development skills.

His college players often praised his ability to simplify technique, improve vision, and communicate concepts rooted in his own NFL experience, making him a natural fit for teams searching for modern problem-solvers at the position.

Reid, who coached against Murray multiple times during his playing days, now finds himself working alongside a former opponent, and he expressed eagerness to incorporate Murray’s player-first teaching style into a Chiefs staff looking to evolve.

Murray’s arrival may be more critical now than ever, as the Chiefs’ running back output in 2025 became one of the clearest weaknesses within an offense that no longer struck fear into defenses the way it once did.

The combination of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt struggled to generate consistent yardage throughout the season, leaving Kansas City with a predictable ground game that opposing coordinators routinely stifled in crucial matchups.

Reid acknowledged that improving the run game is not optional but essential, especially with aging personnel, shifting offensive dynamics, and the increasing need to support Patrick Mahomes with balanced production rather than asking him to carry the full load.

Murray’s arrival signals a philosophical shift — moving from merely plugging in backs to actively developing them, reinforcing technique, and reestablishing a physical identity at a position that has defined some of Reid’s best teams in the past.

Reid’s comments also suggest he believes Murray can bring a sharper edge to Kansas City’s running back room, encouraging discipline, vision, and situational awareness that were inconsistent throughout a 2025 season filled with stalled drives and missed opportunities.

Kansas City’s offense often lacked explosive running plays, and its short-yardage execution repeatedly failed to finish drives, leading to pressure on Mahomes and increased dependency on the passing game in unfavorable situations.

The Chiefs ranked near the bottom of the league in several rushing metrics, making the hire not merely about filling a staff vacancy but rather about correcting a systemic issue within a championship-caliber operation.

Murray’s presence as a former Pro Bowler carries weight, particularly with younger backs who may respond strongly to a coach who has played the position at the highest level and understands the nuances of preparation, durability, and in-game adjustment.

Reid made it clear that Murray’s coaching ability, not just his resume, drove the decision, highlighting his teaching precision, work ethic, and strong presence in running backs rooms across collegiate programs.

“I think he is a nice addition there,” Reid emphasized, signaling that Murray’s value stems from how well he communicates technique and conceptual understanding to players hungry for development.

The Chiefs may still make personnel changes at running back during the offseason, as competition and depth remain priorities, but Murray’s task will be to maximize the talent available, refine mechanics, and rebuild trust in a part of the offense that has been underperforming for years.

If Kansas City does add new faces to the mix — through the draft or free agency — Murray will play a central role in evaluating, shaping, and accelerating their transition into the system, making his influence felt long before the season begins.

The Chiefs’ coaching overhaul has become one of the most intriguing storylines of the early offseason, and Murray’s hiring represents both a nod to his rapidly rising coaching trajectory and a calculated move to strengthen a position group that affects the entire offensive rhythm.

With Reid expressing full confidence and emphasizing the importance of revitalizing the rushing attack, Kansas City’s decision to bring Murray into the building reflects a renewed commitment to balance, creativity, and physicality heading into the 2026 season.

For the first time in years, the Chiefs appear poised to reshape the identity of their ground game — and Murray’s arrival may prove to be the catalyst that sparks that long-overdue transformation.