Sao Paolo, Brazil — of all places — is where the Chiefs and Chargers will open their NFL season Friday.
St. Joseph, Missouri, the Chiefs say, has them ready for the tropical heat.
Chiefs players spent training camp laboring at hot, humid Missouri Western State University. Coach Andy Reid ran a tougher camp than most NFL coaches do, as he always does.
So by today’s far more humane standards of NFL training camps, the Chiefs are a throwback. Their summer recalls Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman’s 1963 San Diego Chargers, who toiled in triple-digit heat at Rough Acres Ranch, an hour-plus east of San Diego.
Current Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh excels at preparation, too.
He called Chargers director of player performance Ben Herbert “the best I’ve ever seen,” saying he makes players “hard to break.” Their combined efforts helped Michigan win its first undisputed collegiate national title in 75 years. The Chargers, in their first year under Harbaugh and Herbert, won 11 games and secured a playoff berth before Texans defenders overwhelmed their offense.
Harbaugh commanded top NFL dollar from Spanos family team ownership, which has controlled the Chargers since 1984 and wasn’t known for paying big salaries to its head coaches. In splurging on Harbaugh, Dean and John Spanos surely also ceded him more power.
Trying to overcome Reid’s Chiefs was a big part of it. In fact, overcoming Chiefs exceptionalism is the top challenge heading into the Chargers’ opener and Harbaugh’s second season.
The Chiefs have become the NFL’s top franchise of this era under Reid. Last year, ahead of the first of two defeats to the Chiefs, Harbaugh described Reid as “the best.”
That’s factual. In the 13 seasons under Reid, the Chiefs stand tied for first in Super Bowl victories with the Patriots, with three, and first in conference titles with five. With Reid calling the offensive plays, the Chiefs lead the league in win rate (.730), points scored and point differential in the regular season.
John Spanos hopes Harbaugh is his Reid.
#### Chasing the Chiefs
#### The Chargers, like all teams, devote most of their energy to improving themselves. But as Harbaugh’s Chargers attempt to win the club’s first AFC West title since Norv Turner’s third squad won it in 2009, it’s instructive to look at the high standard the Chiefs have set at a few key positions.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played through a high-ankle sprain in 2024.
For Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes, that’s a specialty. Has come back from two such injuries without missing a start. And despite the limitations, he has played very well, including in a Super Bowl shootout in which he came out top.
L.A.’s offensive line’s struggles get a lot of attention, too. The Chiefs managed to overcome their own problems. Their left-tackle play was abysmal —far worse than on any recent Chargers team — in several games, while the right tackle led his position in penalties. Mahomes, who also lacked his top receiver and running back for the most part, nevertheless led the Chiefs to the AFC’s top seed.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, standing, third from left, leads a training session prior to a NFL football game against Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
At defensive line, the Chargers got very good work at times from defensive lineman Joey Bosa after drafting the Ohio State starter third overall and having him start for the final San Diego team. But in the same ’16 draft, Reid and John Dorsey found a better and far more durable defensive lineman in Chris Jones, who went 34 picks later out of Mississippi State.
Where Bosa’s career began with a bitter contractual dispute, Jones signed on time. He has spent his whole career under Reid, hugging the coach after Super Bowl wins.
Entering the 2013 NFL draft, Travis Kelce was thought of as a knucklehead by some NFL teams, citing his one-season suspension for marijuana use at the University of Cincinnati.
Reid got invaluable dope (pun intended) from Kelce’s older brother Jason, the great Eagles center whom Reid had drafted and coached. Persuaded that Travis Kelce loved football, the Chiefs took him in their first draft with Reid.
Travis Kelce rejoiced on draft day. But Reid, setting a tough-love tone, jolted him.
“Listen, shut up, are you going to mess this up?” Reid said, per Kelce’s comments to broadcaster Colin Cowherd. “Are you going to screw this up for yourself and this team? Can I count on you?”
Kelce tested Reid. The coach, a former BYU lineman, responded by having him spend entire games as a blocker and a decoy. This amused Kelce’s older brother. But the third-round pick, now 35, became an all-time great. The only player with more postseason touchdown catches is Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice.
#### Now’s the time
Bottom line: the Chargers no longer have an excuse when it comes to not beating the Chiefs.
For years, the Spanoses didn’t hire coaches who had a realistic chance of matching Reid. Nor did they find nearly as much gold with draft picks after the first round.
Harbaugh wouldn’t have taken the job if he doubted he could overcome the Reid-Mahomes Chiefs. Tasked with eclipsing a great (if aging) AFC dynasty, Harbaugh will use it as motivation to sharpen Justin Herbert and teammates and to extract the utmost in support from the Spanoses.
Friday’s contest will provide a steamy checkpoint.