The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t even a full week into their offseason — and already the foundation of their coaching staff is starting to rumble.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen has officially interviewed for the Washington Commanders’ defensive coordinator vacancy, a move that could mark the first major departure from Andy Reid’s defensive brain trust this winter.
The news sent a jolt through Chiefs Kingdom, including Pro Bowl star Chris Jones, who quickly took to social media in support of the coach who has helped anchor Kansas City’s defensive front.
Inside the locker room, Cullen’s reputation is rock solid.
“He’s a great coach. He really knows the game, but what people forget is the personal side,” defensive lineman Jerry Tillery said during last season’s training camp. “We play best for people we actually like, and Coach Cullen is extremely likable. The way he runs drills, the techniques we practice — you see it show up on film.”
Cullen has been with the Chiefs since 2022, quietly shaping the defensive line after previously serving as the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator in 2021. His potential exit would come at a precarious time for Kansas City.
The team is already navigating staff turnover:
• Assistant defensive line coach Alex Whittingham recently left for the University of Michigan.
• Wide receivers coach Connor Embree was dismissed earlier this week.
If Cullen heads to Washington, Andy Reid and the Chiefs will be forced to plug yet another hole on a staff that once prided itself on rare continuity — just as they try to regroup from a season that ended without a playoff berth.
The offseason may have just begun… but the changes are already coming.
