Chiefs defense breaks in new leaders, while enjoying the ups and downs of training camp

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KMIZ)

Although some of the biggest names of the Kansas City Chiefs defense are set to return for the 2025 season, it's hard not to feel like defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's group has a bit of a new look.

Quite a few players will be stepping into new leadership roles in the upcoming season, but before camp began Spagnuolo emphasized to his guys the importance of appreciating every moment. The message was that camp can be grueling at times, especially one run by head coach Andy Reid, but you never know how many you have left.

"The first meeting we had with a defense the other night, I just felt compelled to tell them to not ever take this for granted," Spagnuolo said. "You know, it gets hard out here and all that...I told them, look, at my age I'm happy to be in the first meeting at training camp, to have a job, be healthy enough to do it, right? But, these guys don't realize how fast it goes by. I'm realizing it now. I could see them all, when I was talking to them, nodding. I think they get it."

You can watch the full press conference with Spagnuolo in the video player below.

Kansas City will enter the 2025 campaign hoping to see improvements all around. On Wednesday, defensive coaches and players, in addition to running back Isaih Pacheco, met with the media to discuss what they hope those improvements will be.

The Chiefs ranked sixth in the league in points allowed per game (37) and ninth in total yards allowed, (5,701), as overall the group has managed to keep head coach Andy Reid and company in games over the years. However, throughout the 2024 campaign, their performance varied from outing-to-outing. In the passing game, specifically, KC's pass defense allowed about 251 yards through the air per game, placing them in the bottom third of the league.

In a press conference, on Wednesday, star defensive tackle Chris Jones took some accountability for his defensive line's performance in 2024. The group totaled 41 sacks through the 2024 season, which put them in the middle of the pack in all all the NFL. Heading into a new season, Jones said he is expecting more.

"I think we were top 20 in sacks last year, which I completely take accountability for. We got to get back at it, rushing the quarterback...and making sure we're on our stuff," he said.

You can watch the full press conference with Jones in the video player below.

All eyes will be on the Chiefs' secondary, as the unit had some highs and lows last year. Through the 2024 regular season, Kansas City allowed about 218 passing yards per game. However, with the reset of a new year, new leadership will look to guide that unit to some improvements.

With the departure of safety Justin Reid, there is a gaping hole in the leadership department, but returners like Bryan Cook are hoping to fill it. 2025 will be his fourth season in Kansas City and, as of now, he's just focused on being himself and enjoying the journey.

"It's been a long career," Cook said. "You know, I had my ups and downs - mentally, spiritually, emotionally and things like that. I have a wife, have kids, but other than that, you know, everything else is just kind of icing on the cake."

You can watch the full press conference with Cook in the video player below.

Cook was also asked about the impact that Reid's departure has made on this defense. He said that Reid meant a lot to him as a young player and the former Chiefs fan favorite is someone he still talks to, to this day.

"I ask him questions, as far as like livelihood, how to manage life without football because he has a lot of businesses that he does outside of the sport and then, obviously, in the grass I feel like just learning his IQ," Cook said. "I lead in my own way. We have a lot of leaders in this team, different faces, but at the end of the da the train keeps going."

As far as improvements in the secondary goes, there is no better practice than going against quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The three-time Super Bowl champion is coming into training camp with might be one of his deepest receiving rooms yet and he made it clear that there is a distinct focus on throwing the ball deep.

"For us, we grease up the hamstrings, make sure we're ready to run and it challenges us on cylinders. You know, anybody at any given time can go deep...For us, I think just having awareness of who's on the field and where they're at definitely does help our IQ, for sure," Cook said.

Running back Isaih Pacheco, although not a deep ball threat, is one of the weapons that the KC defense has to contend with in seven-on-seven's during training camp. The fourth-year returner said he is feeling healthy and refreshed for training camp, after dealing with a fractured fibula for most of last season.

In the wake of his injury, Coach Reid and company turned to an old friend: running back Kareem Hunt. His return to Kansas City is one of the many reasons that Big Red was able to lead the Chiefs to a third-straight Super Bowl appearance in 2024, as he took on a big chunk of the workload.

Pacheco said, heading into the 2025 season, he loves the versatility and depth of his room.

"We got guys that you can't depend on, as far as saying that they're only doing one thing. You can't just say that about us. We got guys that are playing all different roles. I'm having fun with it and just competing," he said.

You can watch the full press conference with Pacheco in the video player below.

The Chiefs will be back for the third practice of training camp on Thursday, July 24 at 9:15 a.m.