With another loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Kansas City Chiefs’ season is on the brink. Sitting at a record of 6-6, the Chiefs were out of the AFC playoff picture on Sunday morning and could be further out by the time Week 13 concludes. If that standing holds up, many decisions will be second-guessed, including the faith special teams coordinator Dave Toub has placed on kick returner Nikko Remigio
Remigio has been one of Toub’s favorites over the past two seasons as he’s installed him as the team’s kick and punt returner. While Toub has defended Remigio at every turn, the results have been average this season with 7.3 yards per punt return and 25.9 yards per kick return.
The mediocre performance is one that Chiefs fans will criticize if they miss the playoffs. And they may also suggest why Toub was so hell-bent on using Remigio when Skyy Moore was an obvious upgrade.
Chiefs’ Return Game Under Fire as Skyy Moore Thrives with 49ers
Moore was entering a crossroads with the Chiefs coming into the year as an oft-injured former second-round pick with minimal production. With just 43 catches for 494 yards and a touchdown, it appeared that his future was with another team, but even Toub admitted he had the talent to be an NFL player after he returned a punt for an 88-yard touchdown during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.
“His punt return ability and kick-return ability has really gotten better over the years, and it showed right there,” Toub said via SI’s Zach Gilbert. “I mean, he’s solid there, on that part of it. The other part is just the mental, I think, with him, and it’s just about getting over that hump. He’s definitely an NFL player, whether he’s on our team or not on our team. I think the return helped him. He’s a good football player.”
A few weeks later, Moore was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. While he hasn’t gotten involved offensively with just four catches for 64 yards, he’s found his niche as one of the best return men in the league. Entering Sunday, Moore’s 10.3 yards per punt return ranked seventh among returners with a minimum of 18 returns this season. He’s been even better on kick returns, with his 28.3-yard ranking second among players with a minimum of 24 returns.
Moore also displayed his return skills on Sunday, ripping off a 66-yard punt return that set up a Christian McCaffrey touchdown in the 49ers' 26-8 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Meanwhile, in Kansas City, Remigio hasn’t operated at the same level. But still, Toub has remained loyal, dubbing Remigio “the adult in the room” back in October.
“He’s solid,” Toub said via Nick Roesch of A to Z Sports. “He’s a guy I can depend on. I call him the adult in the room. I like having him back there, especially on kickoff returns, because of the crazy balls that we’re getting, and the way you have to read the kickers and the kickoff coverage. He’s back there, and he does a great job on those little things that people don’t really realize.”
Toub’s comments share the same sentiment that most coaches do with their returns. If a player doesn’t make a mistake, they consider it a win. But that can turn into a net negative if the player never has an explosive return.
With Remigio barely above league average in kick returns and 17th among 19 qualifying punt returners, being safe hasn’t paid dividends for Kansas City. It also held other players back, including rookie Brashard Smith, who battled Remigio for the kick return job during training camp. It’s something that could not only cost the Chiefs a playoff spot but also cost Toub his job.