The Kansas City Chiefs haven't wasted time making changes on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, replacing Matt Nagy with new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. There's more work to do, though, and the Chiefs are still seeking to add other voices to the staff.
On Thursday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Chiefs have requested to interview Deland McCullough to become their RB coach. The 53-year-old coach previously held that position in Kansas City from 2018 to 2020, and oversaw the Las Vegas Raiders' backfield in 2025 as his most recent job.
The idea of hiring McCullough has caught fans' attention, as the Chiefs' faithful hope he can seal the deal due to the extensive RB-related experience he's had throughout his career. Additionally, Kansas City's interest in McCullough could signal what the general manager Brett Veach plans to do at the 2026 NFL draft.
Deland McCullough Interest Could Signal Jeremiyah Love Is on Chiefs' Radar
When April's draft and the No. 9 overall pick come around, Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love could be someone to watch for if McCullough is added to the staff.
After leaving the Chiefs following the 2020 season, McCulloughwent to the college ranks, spending the 2021 season with Indiana. The Pennsylvania native then went to Notre Dame, where he was their running backs coach and associate head coach from 2022 to 2024.
While in South Bend, he played a big role in recruiting Love to Notre Dame. The former Miami (OH) runner also coached Love during his breakout campaign in 2024, where he had 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. McCullough then left to become the Raiders' RBs coach, yet Love's success continued.
Last season with the Fighting Irish, he had 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. The 20-year-old has entered the 2026 NFL draft and will be one of the best players in the entire class. With there being a massive void in the running back room, Love would be an exciting selection, and the possibility of McCullough being there makes that idea more likely.
Between now and the draft, there will be a ton of chatter on whether the Chiefs should use a top-10 pick on a running back or another position. But let's be clear, Love will be ranked as one of the best players in the entire class.
In a scouting report by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, he wrote, "Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value... He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them."
"Outstanding speed erases pursuit angles to the corner and helps (Love) pull away from tacklers once he opens his gait."NFL.com's Lance Zierlein
Love would bring an elite playmaker to this offense, who can turn any small play into an explosive one. Over three seasons at Notre Dame, Love compiled 2,882 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, and 42 total touchdowns. What the Chiefs got from Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco in 2025 wasn't nearly good enough.
McCullough knew that Love was special, which is why he made a push to bring him to Notre Dame. And if he gets added to the Chiefs coaching staff again, the idea of Love being Kansas City's first-round pick becomes that more probable.