This mad scientist doesn’t have a crazy mop of white hair. And he never wears a white lab coat, preferring instead a red windbreaker. And his lab is not full of test tubes and beakers.

No, Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s laboratory is a football field.

During his 10 seasons with the Chiefs, Reid has concocted a number of plays that boggle the mind and give defenses fits. Sometimes he gets input about them from his players, but he has final say on whether new plays will be used in a game

And many of them have fun names. Let’s take a closer look at five such plays, each of which can certainly be defined as outside the box.

SNOW GLOBE

This play stands out for two distinct reasons. First: The “Ring Around The Rosie” spinning huddle was simply a joy to watch. Second: When the Chiefs lined up, they were in a hybrid option/pistol formation. Running back Jerick McKinnon was the quarterback in the shotgun, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was behind him, tight end Travis Kelce was lined up in the backfield on the left side and wide receiver Kadarius Toney was in the H-back spot on the right. McKinnon took the snap and flipped the ball to Mahomes, who threw to Toney, who had run to the left. This was mad scientist stuff.

SHIFT TO ROSE BOWL PARADE RIGHT

You might think the Super Bowl would be a time to avoid running a complicated play, but the Chiefs pulled out this gem against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Facing fourth and 1 at the 49ers’ 5-yard line, the Chiefs lined up in shotgun formation. Mahomes was at quarterback and Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson were a yard behind him on either side, with running back Damien Williams behind them. Mahomes called out “Shift!” and in unison all four players spun a step to their right. Williams took the direct snap and rushed for the first down before being stopped just short of the end zone.

FERRARI RIGHT

The Chiefs sprang something new on the NFL and, well, the sport of football during a game against the Panthers in 2020. It’s not unusual to see players go in motion before the ball is snapped. But the quarterback? That had never been done before until Mahomes took a few steps to his right, barked out instructions and then went in motion to the left. He took the snap on the run. Mahomes circled back around to the right and zipped a pass to Robinson, who was lined up wide on the left and ran back across the end zone to make the catch.

HUNGRY PIG RIGHT

During a 2016 game against the Raiders in Oakland, the Chiefs’ offense included nose tackle Dontari Poe for one play. It’s not unusual to see a big guy in the backfield. But this time the Chiefs motioned Poe from the backfield out wide on the right side, a couple of yards behind a trio of receivers. The Chiefs were on the Raiders’ 1-yard line, so this could’ve been an attempt at deception, but no, Poe was the intended receiver on the play. Quarterback Alex Smith took the snap, turned and fired the ball to Poe. He caught it and followed his blockers into the end zone. Of Andy Reid’s many trick plays, this one might boast the best name.

BLOATED TEBOW

The name for this play is pretty great, too. The Chiefs used Poe on the offensive side in another game against an AFC West foe later in 2016. This one came on Christmas night against the Denver Broncos. Poe lined up in the wildcat formation from the Denver 2, with fullback Anthony Sherman a yard in front on the right. Poe took the direct snap, ran a step-and-a-half forward, then jumped and threw a pop-pass to a wide-open Demetrius Harris for the touchdown. It was a play former Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow was known for, and that was the inspiration for the play’s name.

Other great plays: Catch and Release, Black Pearl, Smoked Sausage, Stampede. Slot Machine Right

This story was originally published January 13, 2023 at 6:30 AM.