Chiefs Bring Back Departed Coach After Losing Experienced Staffer

Aug 20, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches play on the sidelines against the Washington Commanders during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Aug 20, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches play on the sidelines against the Washington Commanders during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Chiefs came short of their third straight championship after losing in the Super Bowl last February. But the team is already making preparations to get back to the top of the mountain as they gather for this week’s minicamp.

The Chiefs are considered favorites to once again repeat as AFC West champions and make their fourth straight appearance in the Super Bowl. But to get there, they’ll have to make some changes and shore up some of the things that plagued them a year ago.

The first step in that process is a shuffling of Andy Reid’s coaching staff. While Reid will be at the helm for his 12th season in Kansas City, there will be some different faces around him as Chiefs minicamp continues and they head into the 2025 season.

Former Chiefs LB Coach Mark DeLeone Returns to Kansas City After Andy Hill’s Retirement

The Chiefs announced on Wednesday that assistant special teams coach Andy Hill has decided to retire from coaching. Hill had been part of Reid’s staff since 2020 and was special teams coach for the Missouri Tigers before making the leap to the NFL.

With Hill’s retirement, the Chiefs made moves throughout the coaching staff including the return of former linebackers coach Mark DeLeone. According to Chiefs Digest’s Matt Derrick, DeLeone takes over for assistant running backs coach Porter Ellett, who will replace Hill’s role under special teams coordinator Dave Toub. 

DeLeone first arrived in Kansas City as the defensive quality control coach in 2013 and moved to assistant linebacker coach in 2016. DeLeon was promoted to inside linebackers coach in 2018 but left to take the same role with the Chicago Bears in 2019. He spent two years in Chicago before heading to the Detroit Lions in 2021 and becoming a defensive analyst for the Kansas Jayhawks from 2022-23.

After returning to the NFL last season as inside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, Toub will enter his second stint with the Chiefs. While his coaching career has taken him many places, he’ll hope to help take Kansas City back to the Super Bowl with a chance for another title this fall.

More Kansas City Chiefs News & Rumors: