In short-yardage situations, there aren't many more reliable plays than a quarterback sneak. And yet, the Chiefs have basically refused to run a QB sneak for years.
On Sunday, that drought ended, and it didn't exactly end in the Chiefs' favor. Head coach Andy Reid made it pretty clear that the Chiefs won't be running the play again soon, and the media (jokingly) was to blame.
The Chiefs' QB sneak avoidance goes back to 2019 when Patrick Mahomes dislocated his knee running the play. And in the years since, the Chiefs have failed to convert in situations that would normally call for a sneak. The last QB sneak the Chiefs ran was with tight end Noah Gray in 2023.
On Sunday against the Jets, they gave it another try with backup quarterback Justin Fields
under center. Fields failed to get the yardage and he fumbled the football (which was recovered by the Jets after a challenge).
The Chiefs FINALLY attempt a QB sneak, subbing in Justin Fields...
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 8, 2026
- stopped short
- ruled to have lost a fumble after Jets challenge😳
CBS | Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/QvtjSWmjDz
Reid addressed the play call after the win, and he said that reporters asked for it and look what happened.
Andy Reid on the failed QB sneak attempt with Justin Fields vs the Jets:
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) November 8, 2026
“I mean, you guys asked for it, so we gave it to ya, and it didn't work. How'd you feel?”
Adds: “Those are hard to practice live. A quarterback sneak is hard to practice unless you do it in a game.” pic.twitter.com/Ccf6sQqRVy
To be fair to all the pro-QB sneak voices out there, they wanted Mahomes to run the play. Putting Fields in there took away all the element of surprise. But the Chiefs have really let a freak injury dictate seven years of short-yardage play calling.
After Sunday, that's going to continue.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Andy Reid jokingly blamed the media for the Chiefs' failed QB sneak
