Patrick Mahomes’ Reported Intervention Adds a New Twist (Getty Images) What Happened Between Josh Simmons and Andy Reid?
The 2025 first-round pick had already seen his rookie season cut short by a fractured wrist. A bulging disk in his back has prevented him from playing in 2026, leaving the team waiting for him to make meaningful progress in his recovery. Josh Simmons’ difficult start to life with the Kansas City Chiefs has taken another turn after a reported confrontation with head coach Andy Reid during a team meeting. The reported disagreement was not simply about a player’s seating position.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also told the offensive tackle to leave the room, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, cited by Bleacher Report. Simmons was sitting with his feet raised in the offensive meeting room when Reid asked him to put them down, according to the report. Reid then told the young tackle to seek treatment from the team’s athletic trainers if he was experiencing pain. The exchange escalated to the point that Mahomes also told Simmons he should leave the meeting, according to the report. He said Simmons had been working hard and had improved enough to return to limited practice last week, but his rehabilitation had since stalled.
The incident reportedly happened Wednesday, when Reid challenged Simmons over his posture during the meeting. Simmons explained that he was dealing with back and hip pain. He later apologised to Reid and his teammates, but the episode has added another layer to his frustrating season. Simmons responded that his back and hips were aching, which made sitting that way more comfortable. Simmons exited the room and later apologised to both Reid and his teammates. It put Simmons in a difficult spot as he tries to establish himself in Kansas City while dealing with an injury that has kept him off the field. Reid’s response also reflected the expectations inside a team meeting, where players are expected to follow the coach’s instructions even when they have concerns of their own. Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder offered a more detailed picture of that process this week.
Kansas City placed Simmons on injured reserve on Thursday, according to Bleacher Report.