The Kansas City Chiefs want to return to their winning ways in 2026, and while they can’t officially swing a trade or sign a free agent, the first thing they can do is make changes to their coaching staff.
This process has already begun, but while the Chiefs got rid of Matt Nagy and replaced him with new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, there haven’t been a lot of major changes until Wednesday’s hire of new safeties coach Andre Curtis.
Fans were immediately concerned with the hire, given Curtis’ previous stop as the defensive passing game coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys and the status of current defensive backs coach Dave Merritt. However, A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman reports that Curtis and Merritt will work together under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, which could help unlock the potential of a unit that struggled last season and face some changes ahead of 2026.
Chiefs Lean on Coaching Continuity to Brace for Potential Offseason Departures
The Athletic’s Jesse Newell clarified that Curtis’s arrival will be part of a restructure of head coach Andy Reid’s staff. While Merritt has been the defensive backs coach since 2019, he also had the help of assistant Donald D’Alesio from 2022 to 2024.
D’Alesio left to become the defensive coach with the Baltimore Ravens before last season and has followed John Harbaugh to the New York Giants ahead of the 2026 campaign. But the Chiefs never replaced him, leaving Merritt and Spagnuolo to spend more time with the defensive backs.
The move may have hurt the Chiefs in the long run. Kansas City was tied for 18th in interceptions (10) and 27th in turnover rate (7.8%) in 2025.
Hiring Curtis comes with some risk after being part of a Cowboys secondary that was worse, finishing tied for 29th with six interceptions and 30th with a 6.2% turnover rate. Conversely, Dallas' secondary had injuries to top corners DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, as well as a lack of high-end talent.
Despite the risk, the move could work out for the Chiefs as they look to rebound in 2026.Â
Goldman pointed out that Curtis first got his start under Merritt as a defensive quality control coach with the Giants in 2006 and was on staff when Spagnuolo became the defensive coordinator in 2007. The trio won a Super Bowl in New York that year, and Curtis followed Spagnuolo to the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints before splitting after the 2012 season.
With three coaches who are familiar with each other, it could soften the blow as the Chiefs brace for a few moves on the back end of the defense. Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook are both free agents, and there’s even more turnover that could happen further down the depth chart with Mike Edwards, Nazeeh Johnson, Deon Bush, and Joshua Williams hitting the market next month.
Although the Chiefs could retain some of these players, they’ll likely have a new face or two when the 2026 season begins. That makes bringing Curtis in a key addition to Reid’s staff and could help Kansas City climb back to the top of the AFC’s hierarchy next fall.