The NFL Combine is officially underway, bringing together hundreds of the nation’s top prospects as front offices from every franchise descend upon Indianapolis to evaluate speed, strength, film intelligence, character and long-term upside ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 NFL Draft.

This year’s Combine carries even more weight for the Kansas City Chiefs, who enter the offseason with a sense of urgency after a stunning collapse in the 2025 NFL season, a year in which the defending Super Bowl contenders shockingly failed to make the playoffs altogether.

For a team long accustomed to deep postseason runs, elite offensive efficiency and the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes, missing the playoffs has triggered an organizational reassessment and a renewed focus on reconstructing key portions of the roster.

One of the most glaring issues exposed throughout the disappointing 2025 campaign was the inconsistency of the running game, an area that repeatedly stalled drives, limited offensive creativity and ultimately deprived Kansas City of the balance needed to compete at a championship level.

General manager Brett Veach, fully aware of the damage caused by the lack of explosive ground production, addressed the problem publicly, acknowledging that the franchise must commit to rebuilding the backfield in a meaningful and aggressive way.

Veach’s comments were captured by Matt McMullen, a Chiefs reporter, who shared on X: “Brett Veach mentions the need to establish an explosive running game in 2026 when asked about areas he’s looking to address.”

These remarks reflect the internal urgency inside Kansas City’s front office, especially given the evolving landscape of AFC contenders, many of whom rely on strong, multidimensional rushing attacks to support young quarterbacks and control postseason momentum.

As the Combine unfolds, much of the spotlight has centered on Jeremiyah Love, the electrifying Notre Dame running back widely projected as the premier talent in his position group and one of the most dynamic playmakers available in the entire 2026 draft class.

Love’s meteoric rise during the 2025 college football season — one that saw him finish as a Heisman Trophy finalist — has made him a household name among scouts, executives and fans who watched him dominate opposing defenses with rare acceleration and field-tilting explosiveness.

Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN, a long-established authority in pre-draft evaluation, recently released a mock draft projecting that the Chiefs will select Love with the No. 9 overall pick, a move that could dramatically reshape their offensive identity.

Kiper explained his reasoning in detail, noting: “Love is No. 2 on my Big Board, showcasing elite-level vision and burst. He can make a house call any time he touches the ball, and with his hands out of the backfield, he can stick on the field on third down.”

This projection underscores the high regard evaluators have for Love, particularly considering his remarkable 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns during the 2025 season — numbers that solidified him as one of the most dangerous and complete runners in college football.

Kiper further emphasized that Love could “bring a whole new element to the Kansas City offense,” a statement that resonates deeply with Chiefs supporters who watched the team struggle with explosive plays all season long.

Adding to the offseason complexity is the contract situation of current running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, both of whom are set to hit free agency when the market officially opens on March 11, placing even more pressure on the organization to find long-term stability.

The departure of either or both backs would leave a sizable void in the depth chart, making the pursuit of a franchise running back not just a luxury but a critical necessity for maintaining offensive balance and strategic unpredictability.

Meanwhile, the 2026 NFL Draft — set to take place in Pittsburgh in late April — is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal events in recent Chiefs history, a rare opportunity to secure a foundational player who can restore the explosiveness that once defined the team’s identity.

Chiefs fans, still stunned by the team’s abrupt fall from postseason contention, are anxiously awaiting how the franchise navigates this moment, hoping the draft will deliver a long-awaited solution that re-energizes the offense and sets the stage for a return to AFC dominance.

The significance of landing a premier running back underscores a broader trend across the league, as teams increasingly rely on multipurpose backs capable of catching passes, blocking effectively and creating mismatches in open space — traits Jeremiyah Love possesses at near-elite levels.

Scouts at the Combine have also noted Love’s exceptional interviewing presence, fluid movement during position drills and strong understanding of defensive schemes, all of which enhance his value as a prospective every-down NFL contributor.

Beyond Kansas City, several teams drafting within the top 12 are believed to have interest in Love, but Kiper’s projection of the Chiefs selecting him suggests that Kansas City’s need and draft positioning align uniquely in their favor.

The Chiefs have long built their offensive identity around adaptability and creative scheming, and adding a versatile weapon like Love would provide head coach Andy Reid or any future coordinator with dynamic tools to rebuild the explosive attack fans once took for granted.

In addition to pure athleticism, Love’s ability to thrive in spread formations, handle high-volume workloads and create yards after contact makes him an ideal candidate to complement Patrick Mahomes and restore balance to the offensive unit.

With uncertainty surrounding veteran contracts, shifts within the offensive line and key strategic adjustments following the failed 2025 campaign, the coming draft stands as a centerpiece moment in determining how quickly the Chiefs can rebound.

Even within team circles, insiders acknowledge that drafting a bell-cow running back could relieve pressure on Mahomes, decrease turnover risk and force defenses to respect both dimensions of Kansas City’s attack, something they struggled to achieve last season.

As draft week inches closer, the Chiefs continue to evaluate not just Love but the full scope of offensive prospects, though early indicators strongly point toward their interest in securing a player capable of redefining their ground game.

The conversation will likely intensify following Combine testing results, pro days and private team workouts, all of which contribute to final draft boards, especially for prospects with top-10 potential like Love.

Ultimately, the Chiefs’ offseason strategy appears centered on returning to the formula that once made them unstoppable — marrying Mahomes’ passing excellence with a dangerous, multidimensional backfield capable of dictating game flow.

Whether Jeremiyah Love becomes the new face of that mission remains to be seen, but the momentum behind the idea continues to grow as Kansas City positions itself for a franchise-altering April.

For now, all eyes remain on the Combine, the draft board and the rebuilding process of a Chiefs team determined to reclaim its place among NFL contenders after a season that served as both a wake-up call and a turning point.