The reigning Super Bowl champions officially began the offseason training program on Monday in what marked the first step toward the 2023 football season.
"We look forward to getting started today with Phase One," said Head Coach Andy Reid. "It'll be good to get the guys back on Zoom. We'll [do this for] two weeks while the players are away, and they'll continue on with their strength and conditioning program."
"Phase One" of the offseason program permits for meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation. It's at the discretion of each team as to whether "Phase One" takes place in-person or virtually, and for the second consecutive year, Reid elected to make this portion of the program virtual.
"Over the last five years, we've played a number of games and the offseason is short," Reid explained. "I want to make sure that we give the guys enough time for recovery, and then we'll bring them back for 'Phase Two' in two weeks."
It's also worth pointing out that while "Phase One" of the offseason training program doesn't allow for any official on-field work, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has already started hosting the Chiefs' pass-catchers for voluntary workouts in Texas.
"I think there's value in me talking to the guys, especially when we [add new players]," Mahomes said. "I'm working with everybody who's on the roster. For me to explain how I think of the route and how I would teach it, and then for them to be in the virtual meetings and to hear how the coaches teach it, it gives them a better understanding coming from different perspectives."
This marked the second straight year of "Camp Mahomes," which also provides the Chiefs' skill-position players with an opportunity to bond in a relatively casual setting prior to Organized Team Activities (OTAs) next month.
"I think it's [beneficial] for them to just be away from the [team practice facility]. We're in the building so much and the season is so long," Mahomes said. "They're all staying together in a house that's on the lake, so I'm sure they're having some good times out there. They're able to get [their work in] and then they're done for the day."
Overall, this stage of the program – both the formal and informal aspects of it – is all about laying a foundation for the rest of the offseason training program. The next step – "Phase Two" – will begin in two weeks and can include limited on-field drills at the Chiefs' facility. That then leads into Organized Team Activities (OTAs), which will take place over the course of three weekends between late May and early June, before Mandatory Minicamp kicks off on June 13.
The schedule for Organized Team Activities and Mandatory Minicamp, which permit for limited team drills with no live contact, is below:
Organized Team Activity (OTA) Workouts: May 22-24, May 30-June 1, June 6-9
Mandatory Minicamp: June 13-15
No aspect of the offseason training program features padded practices or live hitting, but it's all about putting each member of the roster in the best possible position to succeed when training camp gets underway in late July. The key to that goal is using every single moment of the offseason as efficiently and effectively as possible.
That process has already begun just two months removed from Super Bowl LVII, and while the offseason may be short, the reigning world champions aren't in the business of wasting a single moment.
"We've had a great turnout [in Texas]," Mahomes said. "I'm excited for these guys. Everybody looks hungry and ready to go."
