Why the Kansas City Chiefs are Zooming through Phase 1 of their offseason program
The Chiefs are officially in a football state of mind with Monday’s start of the organization’s offseason workout program.
As he did last spring, head coach Andy Reid decided to conduct team meetings remotely as players go through the first phase of the program, which includes strength and conditioning guidance.
“It will be good to get the guys back on Zoom,” Reid said Monday. “We’re going to go two weeks here with Phase I, where the players are away from the coaches, and they’ll continue on with their strength program and conditioning. A number of the guys went down to Texas to be with Pat (Mahomes) and do some work there.”
Most of the 31 other teams around the NFL begin their respective offseason workout programs at their own training facilities. But most of those organizations have also typically enjoyed a luxury the Chiefs have not: rest.
The Chiefs have gone deep in the playoffs with regularity of late, making three Super Bowl appearances over the past five seasons. And playing pro football into late January or early February each year takes a toll on a team ... and its players.
The relatively brief break between the Chiefs’ last game of the previous season — their Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles — and start of their offseason program played a key role in Reid’s decision to conduct video-calls for a second straight year.
“The reason I do it is really because of the time off,” Reid said. “I just want them to freshen up. That season doesn’t seem like it was that very long ago that you were playing in the Super Bowl and having the parade, and then all of sudden, bam, you’re back in Phase I. So, it gives the guys an opportunity to get away.”
Linebacker Nick Bolton is appreciative of his coach’s approach to the offseason workout program.
“I’ve got quite a while until we get to the training camp part, but I feel like just resting your body and being more mentally and physically fresh is important,” Bolton said. “Coach Reid does a great job throughout the season kind of helping us with that, and giving us the extra two weeks off to kind of get more fresh, as well.”
The Chiefs will welcome their players back to the team training facility in two weeks for Phase II, a three-week period consisting of on-field workouts in individual and/or group instruction and drills. The workouts are conducted at a walk-through pace, with no live contact or full-team drills allowed.
The Chiefs will then enter Phase III, which consists of 10 days of voluntary organized teams activities (OTAs) in late May. During this phase, the Chiefs can conduct team-related 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills without pads and live contact.
And if last year’s Super Bowl-winning run proved anything, starting off fresh with well-rested players should be beneficial.
This story was originally published April 17, 2023 at 1:29 PM.
