The Kansas City Chiefs have been predictably bland when it comes to returning kicks and punts throughout the 2025 season. Returner Nikko Remigio is reliable, but hasn't shown any explosive ability, evidenced by the fact that he ranks 26th among qualifiers in yards per punt return (7.1). Predictably, this led to Chiefs fans questioning whether it was time to make a change.
It's a fair point, but one that perhaps ignores Kansas City's past and the most important trait. Reliably returning punts is crucial for any team to win, and the last thing that the Chiefs need is for Remigio to mess up a play that costs the team their season.
Remigio simply isn't explosive enough and hasn't consistently shown himself capable of creating big plays. With the regular season winding down, perhaps it's time to consider a change. Then again, maybe not.
Chiefs Must Considering All Solutions to Their Nikko Remigio Problem
The Chiefs' frustration with Remigio is where it is tempting to put rookies Brashard Smith or Jalen Royals at the position and see if it creates impact plays more consistently. The obvious counter to this is that even without the explosive plays, there is value in keeping Remigio as the returner. Even if it doesn't create big plays, he still ensures that Patrick Mahomes and the offense are going to decide Kansas City's fate from wherever he fields the ball.
With this in mind, the right decision moving forward is to keep Remigio in the role when the games are tight. The Chiefs can attempt to utilize Smith or Royals when they are in firm control of a game. Otherwise, Remigio must continue to be the answer based simply on the reliability.
Recently signed running back Dameon Pierce could also be another option if they want to spread some of Remigio's work around. He returned 20 kicks during his time with the Houston Texans, averaging 32.8 yards per attempt and even scoring a 98-yard touchdown return against the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve 2023.
Remigio can be taught to better handle taking kicks around the goal line and when to let them bounce. You cannot teach reliable hands and having the stomach to hold onto the football and stay focused when the opposing team is screaming down the field in your direction.
Former Chiefs receivers Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman serve as examples of this, both extremely talented playmakers who struggled to hold onto the football. This was evidenced yet again in Hardman's new landing spot, fumbling a return opportunity with the Buffalo Bills.
This served as a clear warning sign of what could happen if the Chiefs were to make a change and why sticking with Remigio is the right decision. Any changes at the position must only come when the game isn't in question, with Kansas City continuing to rely on the stability of Remigio, even if it means giving up on explosive returns.