KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s initial encounter with Brett Veach stemmed from a recommendation for an internship while Reid was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Veach, in those early days, had responsibilities that included running out for lunch orders, often bringing back cheeseburgers.
Fast forward to today, and Veach has transformed his role, now serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs, the team aiming for an extraordinary third straight Super Bowl championship. Reid praises Veach for his efforts in rejuvenating the team’s roster each season, which will now face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night in New Orleans.
Reid recognized Veach’s enthusiasm and intelligence from the outset. “You could see right from the get-go his energy and how smart he was,” Reid remarked. He recalled how invested Veach was in understanding the players, showing a deep commitment to scouting and evaluating talent. During his time as a coaching intern, Veach soaked in crucial lessons about spotting promising players, which proved invaluable over the years.
From his start as an intern, Veach climbed the ranks to become a coaching assistant before taking on a scouting role, where he played a key part in identifying standout talents like DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, and Fletcher Cox—players central to the Eagles’ success during Reid’s tenure there.
“Veach had an eye and a knack for it, and that hasn’t changed,” Reid shared, reminiscing about the many talents Veach brought to the forefront. The connection between the two led Reid to bring Veach to Kansas City in 2013, appointing him as a personnel analyst. Just two years later, he became co-director of player personnel, and eventually took over as general manager when the Chiefs departed from John Dorsey. He made history as one of the NFL’s youngest general managers at the time.
Veach significantly influenced one of the pivotal drafts under Dorsey, passionately advocating for Kansas City to trade up and choose a talented quarterback from Texas Tech: Patrick Mahomes. This move marked a turning point for the franchise.
“The work he does in assembling this team is phenomenal,” said Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, acknowledging the feat of continuously refreshing the roster year after year. The squad that clinched its first Super Bowl in five decades in the 2019 season bears little resemblance to the one set to compete for a historic third title this year. Despite hefty contracts for stars like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones, Veach has expertly navigated the salary cap challenges, effectively addressing the team’s pressing needs.
Whether it’s through strategic signings, such as wide receiver Marquise Brown, or bringing back running back Kareem Hunt when he was overlooked by others, or selecting promising players in the draft like cornerback Trent McDuffie and speedy wide receiver Xavier Worthy, Veach’s success rate is impressive.
Reid lamented the exemplary work of Veach and his team, highlighting their persistent excellence over the years, especially this season. However, Veach remains grounded, attributing the ongoing success to collective teamwork and leadership. “It all emerges from Clark’s guidance,” he explained. “Though I can be aggressive, having his leadership is invaluable.”
“The balance we share allows me to take calculated risks while ensuring we don’t lose sight of the larger strategy,” Veach added. He underscored the importance of maintaining discipline alongside aggression as essential to the team’s future success, emphasizing that their achievements are a result of cohesive teamwork between the personnel department, coaching staff, and management.
