Connor Embree returns for his sixth season with the Chiefs and second as the team's wide receivers coach in 2024. Prior to taking over the wide receivers room, he spent two seasons as an offensive quality control coach (2021-22) and two seasons as a defensive assistant (2019-20). Embree has coached in four Super Bowls in five seasons (LIV, LV, LVII and LVIII), coming away with three victories (LIV, LVII and LVIII), including back-to-back wins in Super Bowl LVII and LVIII.
In 2023, Embree marked his first year as wide receivers coach. With Embree's leadership, the offense was top five in several categories including red zone passing touchdowns (25, 2nd), receptions (421, 3rd) and passing first downs (216, 5th). Embree had the task of developing rookie WR Rashee Rice, who went on to be the offense's leading receiver and trailed only TE Travis Kelce in receptions and yardage. Rice totaled 79 receptions for 938 yards and seven regular season touchdowns – the most on the team. His receptions and receiving touchdowns were both Chiefs rookie records, earning him the Mack Lee Hill award for being the most outstanding rookie or first-year player as voted on by his teammates. Rice showed steady development throughout the season, coming up big in the final games of the regular season with two 100+ receiving yard games after Week 11 and one in the postseason (Wild Card vs. Miami). WR Justin Watson also had a career year with 27 catches for 460 yards and three touchdowns. WR Mecole Hardman returned to the Chiefs sideline after being acquired via trade with the New York Jets. Hardman came up big in Super Bowl LVIII with three catches for 57 yards including the three-yard touchdown reception from QB Patrick Mahomes that secured the 25-22 victory in overtime.
Embree again worked closely with the wide receiver corps in 2022 as an offensive quality control coach assisting an offense that led the league in receiving yards (5,250), touchdowns (41) passing first downs (272), receptions of 25+ yards (49) and points per game (29.2). Embree helped develop a new group of veteran receivers (JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Justin Watson) who accounted for over 20 percent of the Chiefs receiving touchdowns. Smith-Schuster led the team's wide receiver group with 78 receptions for 933 yards and three trips to the end zone.
In 2021, Embree worked primarily with the wide receivers group. WR Tyreek Hill recorded a then career high 111 receptions for 1,239 yards en route to his sixth Pro Bowl nomination. WR Mecole Hardman ranked third on the team, recording career highs in catches (59) and yards (693).
In 2020, Embree primarily worked with the defensive backs who featured AP All-Pro S Tyrann Mathieu who led all safeties in the NFL with six interceptions and rookie CB L'Jarius Sneed who showed a lot of potential in the nine games he saw action (six starts). He snagged three interceptions, 2.0 sacks (-19.0 yards) and seven passes defensed.
In his first season with the Chiefs (2019), Embree primarily worked with a linebacking group that accounted for 5.5 sacks and 275 tackles in his role as a defensive assistant. LB Anthony Hitchens led the team in tackles with 88 and was responsible for 2.0 of the unit's 5.5 sacks.
Before jumping to the professional ranks, he spent two seasons on Coach David Beaty's staff at the University of Kansas as a graduate assistant where he gained experience working with the offense and special teams.
He also spent time in the high school ranks as the offensive coordinator at Blue Valley West High School and as the wide receivers coach at Fairview High School.
Embree played wide receiver for the Kansas Jayhawks (2011-13). He also spent one season at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2010).
Education: University of Kansas (B.S. 2013). Born: Superior, Colorado. Family: Wife – Alex; Son - Hudson.
