‘Andy Reid is a coach I always wanted to play for,’ new Chiefs RB Elijah McGuire says
Running back Elijah McGuire’s patience finally paid off this week when the Kansas City Chiefs signed him to their practice squad.
The Chiefs and McGuire know each other well after initially sitting down for a formal interview at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
And McGuire, who said the Chiefs were one of the first teams requesting to meet him in Indianapolis during the pre-draft process, left the gathering knowing in his heart what he hoped would eventually happen.
“I was sitting there talking to (Chiefs offensive coordinator) Eric Bieniemy and we had a great conversation,” McGuire said Wednesday. “We watched film and Coach Andy Reid was there, too. I was just so excited.
“When I had that meeting with them, I always told myself and I never made it public, but Andy Reid is a coach I always wanted to play for.”
The 5-foot-10, 214-pound McGuire entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick with the New York Jets. He appeared in 24 games with five starts in two seasons (2017-18) with the Jets.
After being released by the Jets in August, McGuire had immediate options.
The Chiefs and Cleveland Browns reached out to express interest in bringing him aboard on their respective practice squads. But he ultimately decided to go with the Browns, where his former running backs coach in New York now coached.
“I just went to Cleveland being that Stump Mitchell was there,” McGuire said. “I had Stump Mitchell in my first season with the Jets and it was just a relationship thing, connection.”
But after not lasting long with the Browns, McGuire found himself second-guessing the decision to sign in Cleveland.
“I should’ve come here after I was released by the Jets,” he said.
McGuire finally gets his chance in Kansas City, albeit on the practice squad.
The signing of McGuire comes as Damien Williams deals with a rib injury. Reid categorized Williams Wednesday as being “pretty sore.”
Reid, though, said the addition of McGuire isn’t about the current state of the Chiefs’ backfield. Instead, the signing provides both parties the chance to get a closer evaluation on a potential fit.
“We feel pretty comfortable with our running backs,” Reid said. “It’s more we like him. This will give him an opportunity.”
With McGuire, the Chiefs have a player who enjoyed an accomplished collegiate career at Louisiana-Lafayette, where he amassed 5,695 total yards from scrimmage. He also showed an ability to contribute on special teams, where he recorded 28 punt returns for 277 yards and a touchdown in college.
McGuire did it all out of the backfield in college, producing 4,301 yards and 42 touchdowns on 710 attempts (6.1 yards per carry). He also showed his receiving skills with 130 catches for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“I’m a dual-threat running back,” McGuire said. “At the line, I have great vision and I can catch the ball. As I’ve watched this offense and this team over the years, that’s what this offense is all about … I think it’s a great system for myself and any other dual-threat running backs.”
The Chiefs clearly agree.
“I’ve gone back and looked at tape of him, too,” Reid said. “He’s a strong runner, real strong quarter, and he’s got good feet, vision. I think he would be a nice fit in this offense down the road. He did some of the things that I think are important for this offense.”
