Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Johnson could return as a coach

There was plenty to talk about with the Kansas City Chief and Derrick Johnson parting ways. One thing to consider is his potential return as a coach.

With all of the talk and emotions surrounding the decision of the Kansas City Chiefs to part ways with Derrick Johnson, there was something that got overlooked. All of the key people in the organization made their thoughts known, and said what you’d expect. However, Andy Reid also seemingly left the door open for Johnson to return as a coach some day.

In his statement to the media, Andy Reid ended with: “I think he will make an incredible coach when he is done playing the game, if he chooses.” That one little sentence at the end of a prepared statement tells us exactly what Reid thinks of his veteran linebacker and team captain. It may even be what the Chiefs wanted to happen this year.

As it currently stands, the Kansas City Chiefs do not have an actual “linebackers coach” on the staff. Instead they have two coaches splitting the duties between inside linebackers and outside linebackers. This is a relatively unique situation for a team, and leaves the door open for Derrick Johnson to join the staff one day.

Sooner Rather Than Later?

For his own part, Derrick Johnson said everything you would expect him to say about the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s been the organization he’s known for the past 13 years. However, he simply doesn’t feel that he is done with the game. Johnson says he wants to play for several more years. Many guys in his position say the same thing.

“I think he will make an incredible coach when he is done playing the game, if he chooses.” ~ Andy Reid on Derrick Johnson

However, the NFL is not a sentimental place. Derrick Johnson is a well-respected veteran linebacker, and four-time Pro Bowler. However, he is also well into his 30s and has suffered season ending Achilles injuries in two of the past four years. Don’t think that teams aren’t well aware of that.

There is a decent chance that Derrick Johnson will hit the market and find out that there are no serious suitors for his talents. There aren’t that many 3-4 teams in the NFL, which already limits his job prospects. As it stands, I wouldn’t expect him to find any landing spot until after the draft.

Always Welcome In Kansas City

Should the market not appear for Derrick Johnson, he will certainly be able to find some role with the Kansas City Chiefs. The team will certainly move on an inside linebacker somewhere in free agency and/or the draft. However, if they can get Johnson back on a (very) cheap deal, they would likely be tempted.

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More than likely though, the offer of a coaching position has already been made by Andy Reid. This is something that has been talked about before. In fact, Reid has even made mention of the fact that he’s discussed it with Derrick Johnson before. The two have had an amicable relationship since being paired in 2013, so it makes sense they’d want it to continue.

One telling factor in this situation is the fact that the Chiefs haven’t hired a linebackers coach yet. As long as that remains the case, you can bet that it’s because Andy Reid wants to hire his former team captain. It’s a move that has worked out well for Reid with former quarterbacks. So why not try it with the “quarterback of the defense”?

Don’t expect the breakup between the Kansas City Chief and Derrick Johnson to last forever. Johnson’s return to Kansas City as a coach seems like something that is almost set in stone. The only real question is when it will happen. If you’re asking me, it’s going to happen much sooner than any of us think.