🚨 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS LOOK TO REVAMP THEIR RUNNING GAME: The Hunt for Explosive Talent and a New Direction for 2026 👇

INDIANAPOLIS – For weeks, the Kansas City Chiefs have consistently echoed the same word when discussing what they need most to improve their running attack: explosive. From head coach Andy Reid to the newly hired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and even former offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, the word has been a focal point of conversations around the team’s strategy.

General Manager Brett Veach echoed the sentiment during his first press conference of the offseason on Tuesday, reaffirming that explosive plays are the key to their success moving forward.

“Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the running game,” Veach said. “We’ve invested in that interior [of the offensive line] with [right guard] Trey Smith and [center] Creed Humphrey, two of the best in the league. We thought [left guard] Kingsley [Suamataia] made a big step. Those are three talented interior players.”

However, there’s one missing piece standing between the Chiefs and their goal: a new starting running back.

After a dismal 6-11 record in 2025, the Chiefs have placed acquiring a dynamic and explosive back at the top of their list of priorities this offseason. The good news? Reid and Veach have plenty of options to choose from. The leading candidates include Kenneth Walker III (Seattle Seahawks), Travis Etienne Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars), and Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons).

But things changed quickly. The Chiefs, along with the rest of the league, learned that New York Jets’ star running back Breece Hall would not be available for free agency. Jets General Manager Darren Mougey made it clear that the team plans to retain Hall, either through a new contract or the franchise or transition tag.

Before the trade deadline in November, the Chiefs came this close to acquiring Hall. However, talks with the Jets broke down, with the Jets asking for a 2026 third-round pick, which the Chiefs declined. A source familiar with the negotiations indicated that the Chiefs believed they could secure Hall in free agency instead.

Changing Schemes and Rethinking Strategy

In addition to the pursuit of a new running back, a new offensive scheme might be in the works. Veach hinted at potential changes to the team’s running game strategy this offseason.

In 2025, the Chiefs led the NFL in run-pass option plays, but the results were underwhelming. The offense failed to generate explosive gains at a rate that would have made an impact. Running back Isiah Pacheco, who was in the final year of his rookie contract, didn’t register a single rushing attempt of 20 yards or more, a stark contrast to previous seasons. Fellow running back Kareem Hunt had just one 20-yard rush to his name.

One of Bieniemy’s top objectives as the new offensive coordinator will be to extract more value from whoever lines up in the backfield. Having spent last season as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach under head coach Ben Johnson, Bieniemy is well-versed in designing an efficient and dynamic running game. Johnson, known for his creative and varied rushing schemes, spoke highly of Bieniemy’s ability to make a significant impact.

“The guy is a phenomenal coach,” Johnson said. “I was just blown away by the impact he had — not just in that position room, where [D’Andre] Swift had probably the best year of his career, but also in the entire offense. He brings a demanding presence. Those are big shoes to fill.”

A Better Offensive Line to Make a Difference

A major reason why Veach pointed out Smith, Humphrey, and Suamataia is that he believes the trio is more than capable of handling the run-blocking responsibilities. All three have proven to be above-average run blockers, and this could be the key to the Chiefs creating a more explosive and efficient ground game.

By leaning into their interior strength, the Chiefs could increase their reliance on running plays from under center, a strategy that could open up opportunities for play-action passes to be more effective down the line.

“We’ve talked about it, and Coach has done an amazing job with his staff evaluating that scheme, being more explosive in the running game and taking advantage of those interior three to kind of impose your will on an opposing team’s defense,” Veach said. “The running game takes a lot of pressure off everybody. If we can be more explosive, and more effective in the running game, it’ll take a lot of pressure off of [quarterback Patrick Mahomes], especially coming back early in the season [from] the injury.”

Mahomes’ Health and the Need for Balance

With Patrick Mahomes recovering from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee, it’s evident that the Chiefs will need to establish a more balanced offensive attack in 2026. The two-time MVP quarterback has spent the past few months rehabbing his knee and is expected to return to form after the most significant injury of his nine-year career.

A more balanced offensive approach will not only take pressure off Mahomes but also make it harder for opposing defenses to predict the Chiefs’ next move. During the 2025 season, the Chiefs faced light boxes in many of their run-pass option plays, which made executing the plays more difficult. Linebackers were often able to drop into coverage without fearing a long run, which limited the effectiveness of the Chiefs’ run game.

This is where a new running back could make a difference.

The Draft: Jeremiyah Love and Other Running Back Options

One player who could thrive behind the Chiefs’ offensive line and against light boxes is Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame. Love has been a standout player in college football, and his ability to gain yards on plays with fewer than six defenders is remarkable. When facing six or fewer defenders, Love averaged 9.1 yards per carry, the highest in the nation.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently projected that the Chiefs could select Love with the ninth overall pick in his latest mock draft.

“They don’t want to be picking ninth,” Kiper said during a segment on ESPN’s “NFL Draft Daily Show.” “They want to be picking 32, right? You’ve got the great Patrick Mahomes and now you’ve got that missing link, that running back’s spot. You put [Love] out in the slot. This is more than a running back. This is a guy [similar to] Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), who was graded very high prior to the 2023 draft.”

If the Chiefs are unable to acquire Love, their next best option might be his Notre Dame teammate, Jadarian Price, who is projected to go in the second or third round of the draft.

The Chiefs’ Biggest Investment Since 2020?

Regardless of who the Chiefs target, Veach acknowledged that the team’s decision to acquire a new running back will likely be the franchise’s most significant investment at the position since the 2020 draft, when they selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round.

“Everyone is motivated, even the coaching staff, too,” Veach said of this offseason. “The last few years, we haven’t had a chance to really get with them much before the combine. Right after that [season finale] Vegas game, those guys were all in and it was exciting and energetic, in a way.

“The last few years, we were kinda just, like, in a maintenance stage. Now we’re trying to rebuild this thing again. I think for a GM and a personnel staff, that’s exciting.”

The Chiefs are at a crucial crossroads as they work to improve their running attack and retool their offense. With Mahomes recovering from injury and a potential new star back in the fold, 2026 could be a pivotal season for Kansas City as they strive to balance their explosive offense and solidify their future.