Justin Reid on why a return to Chiefs wasn’t in the cards despite desire to stay in KC
When NFL free agency began on March 10, safety Justin Reid thought there was a good chance he’d return to the Chiefs.
Instead, Reid last week signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Saints.
While on the “Up & Adams Show,” Reid shared insights on why a return to the Chiefs didn’t end up happening.
“Early that second day of free agency, I was actually trying to wait to buy time to see if we can get something worked out,” Reid said of the Chiefs. “And then cards unfolded, and it just didn’t work out. And then you have to end up making the next best decision for yourself. And that’s why I ended up choosing the Saints.”
Reid said he had been in contact with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt about possibly coming back to the Chiefs.
But Reid has no hard feelings about how things played out with the Chiefs. That’s just life in the NFL.
“I was also texting Coach Spags and Coach Merritt the whole time along the process to see if something could be worked out,” Reid said. “But the only constant thing in this business is change. That’s the only thing that’s ever the same year to year that things are always changing.
“I don’t think that it was from a lack of want to on either side, but rather just a product of the situation and what salary-cap space was available and what moves was the emphasis of the off season to go out and make.”
Reid also had a message for Chiefs Kingdom.
“To all the Chiefs fans out there,” Reid said, “I still love you, still so proud of the things I was able to do with you the last three years. I mean, it was still one hell of a journey, it was an incredible run and I’ll still be cheering you on from afar.”
Here is the full interview.
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 9:33 AM.
