Andy Reid says Patrick Mahomes embraced Chiefs’ increased use of under-center plays

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday that Patrick Mahomes had grown comfortable taking snaps under center and asked coaches to use those plays more often. The Chiefs have roughly doubled their use of the formation this season, according to Arrowhead Pride, as Kenneth Walker has become central to their running game.

Reid told local media on a video call that Mahomes arrived from a primarily shotgun offense. Coaches introduced under-center plays gradually, and Mahomes took to them a couple of years ago, Reid said. Mahomes then told the staff he liked those plays and wanted to mix them in, according to Arrowhead Pride’s account of the call.

How often the Chiefs use under-center plays

The shift follows an earlier change in Mahomes’ career. When the Chiefs drafted him in 2017, Kareem Hunt led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards as a rookie, Arrowhead Pride reported. By the time Mahomes became the starter in 2018, coaches had built the offense around his shotgun background and receiving targets Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Mahomes won the league’s MVP award that season.

Kenneth Walker’s role in Kansas City’s offense

Walker had 655 rushing yards and led the league at the time of Arrowhead Pride’s report. Reid said the Chiefs’ running backs suited plays from under-center alignments with Mahomes. Arrowhead Pride also reported that Kansas City led the NFL at 5.5 yards per rushing attempt and in total yards per game, and gained a season-high 422 yards in its first game after the bye.

SportsGrid’s Outspoken with Dan Sileo described Walker as the centerpiece of the Chiefs’ run-heavy approach, saying his ability to keep drives moving has eased the burden on Mahomes. That assessment fits Reid’s explanation of why the formation works for Kansas City’s current backfield, while the coach’s account makes clear that Mahomes’ move toward under-center plays began before this season.