Patrick Mahomes falls in line as Andy Reid puts | NFL News

Andy Reid’s stringent crew protocols had been evident during the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason curtain-raiser, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes toeing the line.

The Chiefs endured a slender 20-17 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, despite a quickfire contribution from Mahomes, who was in motion for just 48 seconds and accomplished a single move that resulted in a landing. Compounding the crew’s woes, security Deon Bush sustained a torn Achilles, ruling him out for the complete 2025 NFL season.

Post-match, Mahomes and Cardinals’ Kyler Murray shared a fleeting second at midfield before parting methods. Social media was abuzz as followers famous Mahomes still clad in his package while Murray had switched to informal put on, following rumours stirred by Andy Reid about Travis Kelce probably attending a Taylor Swift marriage ceremony.

One social media person identified, “Mahomes still being in full uniform while Kyler changed into street clothes speaks VOLUMES,” with another chiming in: “One guy looks ready to play and lead. The other guy looks like he wanted the day off and would prefer to be home on his sofa. Which one do you want to lead your franchise?”

Ex-Chiefs lineman Mitchell Schwartz weighed in on the dialogue, clarifying that under Reid’s guidelines, no participant is permitted to change out of their gear until the sport is totally over.

“Nah, just Coach Reid’s rule,” he wrote. “Everyone wishes they could take their pads off the second they’re done but he wants everyone to remain in uniform all game.

“About the only coach that does that from what I’ve seen but I’m not absolutely watching that every preseason.”

Back in 2023, Reid delivered a stern telling-off to several Chiefs players after they were caught removing their shoulder pads on the touchline following their substitution during the opening pre-season clash against the New Orleans Saints.

“You keep your pads on,” Reid informed journalists at a post-match press briefing. “You never know when you may need to go back in. That’s how we roll.”

Reid’s kit regulations represent just one of many distinctive customs the 67-year-old enforces throughout the pre-season period. Annually, he deploys the first-team squad for a minimum of one possession during the pre-season curtain-raiser.

“We situate it off the quarterbacks,” Reid clarified. “They’ll each get a quarter. So, the first one will probably be Pat, second will probably be [Gardner] Minshew, then [Bailey] Zappe, then Chris [Oladokun] at the end. Each on will get a quarter, and then everybody follows that as we go.”

This rigorous approach has underpinned the Chiefs’ remarkable achievements throughout the past decade – and explains why Reid maintains his belief that Kansas City will remain championship contenders this campaign. “We do not pay attention to all the noise, if you do that you are gonna go loopy, then you are not gonna have enjoyable,” he stated during his appearance on the ‘Up and Adams’ show.

“These groups in the AFC West are strong, great head coaches, great gamers. And so we perceive that.

“There’s so much parity in the league that you gotta be on your A-game every week. That’s what we’re striving to do, get ourselves in a position where we can do that.”