As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their Divisional Round showdown against the Houston Texans on Saturday, an intriguing opportunity for a reunion with a former staff member has emerged.
According to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Bears have parted ways with their director of football analytics, Krithi Chandrakasan. The recently dismissed executive previously served with the Chiefs from 2019 until 2022, when he followed then-executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles to Chicago after Poles took on the role of general manager.
Biggs shared the news on Twitter:
“The #Bears have parted ways with director of football analytics Krithi Chandrakasan.”
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 16, 2025
While Chandrakasan’s work with the Bears largely flew under the radar, the team’s performance during his tenure left much to be desired. Chicago missed the playoffs in all three seasons he was with the organization, which might suggest his impact wasn’t as effective as anticipated.
That said, Chandrakasan’s struggles in Chicago may not entirely fall on his shoulders. The Bears’ broader organizational issues likely played a role, and a return to Kansas City — where he contributed to a Super Bowl victory — could reignite his career. The familiarity and success he experienced with the Chiefs might provide the perfect environment for him to reclaim the promise that initially drew Chicago’s attention.
As the offseason approaches, it will be interesting to see if Chandrakasan and the Chiefs explore a potential reunion.
In the meantime, Kansas City enters their playoff clash against the Texans as solid 8.5-point home favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
