The inquiry comes amid a recent coaching purge in the running backs room, with Todd Pinkston fired on January 15 and the assistant RB coach released after Bieniemy’s return as offensive coordinator. The Chiefs are reshaping the position group after a season where their RBs lacked explosiveness and big-play ability.
McCullough previously coached in Kansas City from 2018 to 2020, during Bieniemy’s first stint as offensive coordinator. The Chiefs leaned into a more balanced attack under Bieniemy, posting a sixth-ranked rushing average in 2018, with a rebound to a top-12 mark in 2020 and top-10 finishes from 2021 through 2023, before McCullough moved on.
Since leaving KC, McCullough has served as associate head coach and running backs coach at Indiana, then took on roles at Notre Dame before joining the Raiders in 2025, where he worked closely with first-round rookie Ashton Jeanty. His varied experience includes coaching duties that emphasize both run-game development and player progression.
The Raiders bio notes McCullough’s 2024 NCAA rushing efficiency and highlights his work with 2026 prospects Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, two backs who could draw interest from the Chiefs in the upcoming draft. Love has been a frequent KC-mock target, while Price is viewed as a late-first to mid-round possibility; both are viewed as dynamic talents in what’s considered a thinner 2026 RB class.
If hired, McCullough would bring familiarity with Bieniemy and could align with Kansas City’s long-term planning for the running game, including potential 2026 draft targets. This report, citing Adam Schefter via ESPN, adds another layer to the Chiefs’ coaching and personnel strategy as they pursue more impact from their backfield. (This summary reflects reporting originally published by Heavy Sports.)
