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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS HIRE DEMARCO MURRAY AS RUNNING BACK COACH: A MOVE THAT RAISES QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE KINGDOM:<\/strong> The Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong> made a significant and surprising decision on Wednesday night by hiring DeMarco Murray<\/strong>, Oklahoma Sooners’ running backs coach, to take over the same role on Andy Reid’s coaching staff for the 2026 season. For many, this decision left a bitter taste, especially considering the high expectations surrounding the Chiefs\u2019 backfield and the development of young talent.<\/p>\n What once appeared to be a promising setup for Brashard Smith<\/strong> under the tutelage of Eric Bieniemy<\/strong>, the Chiefs\u2019 new offensive coordinator, may no longer be the path forward. While Bieniemy, a former star running back<\/strong>, will still work closely with the running backs, it\u2019s Reid who will continue to call plays. That creates an uncomfortable dynamic for Smith, who may have lost the opportunity to change the narrative of his development under Reid\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n Adding fuel to the fire, the appointment of DeMarco Murray<\/strong> as the Chiefs\u2019 new running backs coach raises further concerns. Murray\u2019s reputation in the development of running backs has been questioned in recent years, leaving many wondering if Smith\u2019s potential can be unlocked under his guidance.<\/p>\n The backlash in Norman, Oklahoma<\/strong>, has been loud, and it\u2019s hard to ignore. DeMarco Murray<\/strong> has failed to develop a 1,000-yard rusher<\/strong> since 2022. Even then, that was largely due to Eric Gray<\/strong>, a player transferred into Oklahoma by Lincoln Riley the previous season. As Riley took over at USC before the 2022 season, Oklahoma\u2019s once-feared rushing attack began to fall apart.<\/p>\n While some of the blame can be attributed to Murray\u2019s lack of development skills<\/strong>, there were also other factors at play in Norman<\/strong>. For example, Brent Venables<\/strong>, Oklahoma’s head coach, brought in several new play-callers and offensive position coaches who were hit-or-miss at best. Meanwhile, during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, SEC defenses<\/strong> began to clamp down, making offensive consistency even harder to come by.<\/p>\n However, what\u2019s most concerning is the fact that Murray<\/strong>, despite these struggles, has somehow managed to \u201cfail upwards.\u201d His failure to maximize the skills of Jaydn Ott<\/strong>, a talented transfer from the Cal Golden Bears<\/strong>, is particularly alarming. Ott had zero touchdowns in the 2025 season, a waste of his potential that stands out as a red flag for Murray\u2019s coaching abilities.<\/p>\n For Brashard Smith<\/strong>, who is entering his second year with the Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong>, this new hire is far from ideal. As a player with plenty of potential but still needing refinement, Smith’s development may now be in jeopardy. Without the steady guidance of a coach known for developing running backs<\/strong>, Smith may have to rely on his natural talents and existing skill set to perform.<\/p>\n Despite this, Smith<\/strong> proved in 2025 that he can be a weapon in the passing game. He registered 19 receptions for 161 yards<\/strong>, showing his ability to make plays out of the backfield as a pass-catching threat<\/strong>. While this skill can help him stay involved in the offense, it might not be enough if Murray fails to enhance his overall running ability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For the Chiefs, it\u2019s critical that they develop Smith<\/strong> into a more complete running back, especially given the vulnerability of Patrick Mahomes<\/strong> following his ACL and LCL injuries. Mahomes, now 30, can no longer carry the team on his back alone. A well-rounded running back<\/strong> who can contribute in both the ground game and the passing game could take some pressure off the aging star quarterback.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Smith\u2019s development<\/strong> as a traditional running back may not be nurtured by Murray\u2019s resume. Given the Chiefs’ Super Bowl aspirations<\/strong>, the team cannot afford to let the running back position remain a weakness.<\/p>\n Looking at this decision from a broader perspective, it\u2019s easy to see why there are concerns<\/strong>. The Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong> could have made a more informed choice<\/strong> by hiring someone with a proven track record of developing running backs rather than someone known more for their playing legacy<\/strong> than their coaching accomplishments. In this case, DeMarco Murray<\/strong>\u2019s playing career as a former NFL star doesn\u2019t necessarily translate into success on the coaching side of things.<\/p>\n But, at the end of the day, it\u2019s Andy Reid<\/strong> and the rest of the coaching staff who will be tasked with ensuring the success of this new hire. Murray<\/strong> will have the chance to prove his worth, but based on his recent history, there is legitimate doubt<\/strong> surrounding his ability to develop talent.<\/p>\n For now, it remains to be seen how Murray\u2019s appointment<\/strong> will impact the Chiefs\u2019 running back room in the long run. With Brashard Smith<\/strong> needing to improve quickly, the pressure is on for DeMarco Murray<\/strong> to deliver results\u2014results that are essential for the Chiefs to maintain their Super Bowl hopes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Time will ultimately tell if this move was a misstep<\/strong> or if Murray<\/strong> can surprise everyone and fulfill the Chiefs’ needs. However, for now, it\u2019s safe to say that many fans are left with questions<\/strong> and doubts<\/strong> about this decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" KANSAS CITY CHIEFS HIRE DEMARCO MURRAY AS RUNNING BACK COACH: A MOVE THAT RAISES QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE \ud83d\udea8 DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE KINGDOM: The Kansas City Chiefs… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":152155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-152154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nTHE REACTION IN NORMAN AND MURRAY’S LACK OF DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BRASHARD SMITH\u2019S DEVELOPMENT<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nA QUESTIONABLE DECISION: CAN MURRAY HELP THE CHIEFS SUCCEED?<\/strong><\/h3>\n