KANSAS CITY — Kansas City Chiefs players entered training camp with a clear focus: fix what went wrong in 2025. Pass rusher Chris Jones said the early finish to the season "bothered everyone."
Jones, a 10-year veteran, said the extended break felt unusual. The team faced a 42-day hiatus before camp began. Jones and other prominent veterans plan to use last season's outcome as motivation.
"We're not used to finishing the season that early," Jones said. "That was a first for me, not making the playoffs. We didn't win [the AFC West]." He sees those points as fuel heading into camp.
Coach Andy Reid said player engagement during the offseason program — which began in April, before the NFL draft — was higher than in previous years, even during voluntary sessions.
Reid highlighted a leadership group beyond quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and Jones. Linebackers Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill, along with center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith, are also vocal leaders.
"They know what it takes and the discipline that it takes," Reid said. "Between all of those guys, they're not afraid to express that and work and get [other players] to continue to work."
Smith, a five-year veteran, said many veterans asked how the team could regain its winning culture. The Chiefs finished the 2025 season with a 1-9 record in one-score games, the worst in the league.
Transquill restructured his contract in March, cutting his base salary for the final year from $6 million to $2.245 million, with $2.995 million guaranteed.
Transquill called the agreement a "win-win scenario for all parties." He said he wanted to help the team win a championship, citing familiarity with the coaching staff and teammates. He also pointed to family considerations, including his wife having their fourth child.
Mahomes has been cleared for camp and said he feels "amazing." He plans to use practice to sharpen his decision-making in the pocket and get the ball out quicker. During a 7-on-7 drill, Cyrus Allen got open quickly against zone coverage, drawing praise from Reid.
