Jeremiyah Love, a standout running back from Notre Dame and a leading prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, confirmed meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL Scouting Combine. He expressed excitement about potentially playing alongside star quarterback Patrick Mahomes if chosen by the Chiefs, who hold the No. 9 overall draft pick, signaling his strong interest in joining the team.
Jeremiyah Love Shares Enthusiasm About Chiefs Opportunity and Mahomes
At the combine press conference on February 27, Jeremiyah Love openly discussed his interaction with the Kansas City Chiefs and the prospect of being selected by them. Recognizing the chance to play near home, Love praised Patrick Mahomes as the league’s best quarterback and emphasized how meaningful it would be to share the field with him.
I’d be close to home. … I feel like [Patrick Mahomes] is the best quarterback as of right now. … It would be an honor to play with him,
Love said, via The Rich Eisen Show.
Love’s remarks further fueled speculation among draft analysts and league executives that the Chiefs are targeting a dynamic running back early in the draft to strengthen their offense.
ESPN draft expert Matt Miller called Love the top prospect in the class, highlighting his exceptional performance at Notre Dame over the past two seasons.
I don’t think it’s particularly close,
Miller stated on The Dan Patrick Show.
I don’t think it’s close. What he did the last two years at Notre Dame was phenomenal.
Miller drew parallels between Love and elite running backs such as Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson, emphasizing that Love could be taken anywhere from third to ninth overall in the draft.
Jeremiyah Love – I don’t think it’s particularly close.
Broadcaster Dan Patrick also shared his high regard for Love, revealing that he placed him second on his Heisman Trophy ballot last season and admired his ability to influence games consistently.
I thought that he was a difference-maker,
Patrick said.
Of all the players that I saw, he was the one that you had to account for every single game.
Chiefs Prioritize Enhancing Their Running Game During Mahomes’ Recovery
Kansas City’s management has made it clear this offseason that boosting explosiveness on the ground is a top goal. General Manager Brett Veach reiterated this strategy during his first offseason press briefing, emphasizing investments to upgrade the offensive line’s core players.
Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the running game,
Veach stated.
We’ve invested in that interior [of the offensive line] with [right guard] Trey Smith and [center] Creed Humphrey, two of the best in the league. We thought [left guard] Kingsley [Suamataia] made a big step. Those are three talented interior players.
The Chiefs struggled with creating significant rushing plays last year; notably, Isiah Pacheco had no runs exceeding 20 yards, while Kareem Hunt had only one. Although Kansas City led the NFL in run-pass option plays, this approach did not consistently yield explosive results.
Veach signaled possible tactical shifts that might involve more traditional under-center formations and increased use of play-action to leverage the offensive line’s interior strength.
We’ve talked about it, and Coach has done an amazing job with his staff cranking on that scheme eval, being more explosive in the running game and taking advantage of those interior three to kind of impose your will on an opposing team’s defense,
Veach explained.
The running game takes a lot of pressure off everybody. If we can be more explosive, and more effective in the running game, it’ll take a lot of pressure off of [quarterback Patrick Mahomes], especially coming back early in the season [from] the injury.
Jeremiyah Love’s Playing Style Aligns With Chiefs’ Draft Vision
Love’s connection to Chiefs Kingdom deepened as he mentioned that his former running back coach secured a championship ring with the Chiefs, and he expressed feeling blessed by the potential to follow a similar path.
Originating from close to home and driven by Super Bowl ambitions, Love’s ties to the region add to his appeal for Kansas City.
His impressive 9.1 yards per carry average when facing six or fewer defenders in the box is the highest nationally, aligning with the Chiefs’ seek for an explosive running element.
Top NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently echoed this sentiment, predicting Love would be selected at number nine by Kansas City.
They don’t want to be picking ninth,
Kiper remarked on ESPN’s NFL Draft Daily Show.
They want to be picking 32, right? You’ve got the great Patrick Mahomes and now you’ve got that missing link, that running back’s spot. You put [Love] out in the slot. This is more than a running back. This is a guy [similar to] Bijan Robinson.
If Love is not available at the ninth pick, the Chiefs could consider Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price in later rounds as an alternative.
Implications for Chiefs’ Future and Patrick Mahomes’ Success
Adding Jeremiyah Love to the Chiefs’ roster would represent a strategic move to inject explosiveness into the running game, reducing pressure on Patrick Mahomes, particularly as he continues his recovery. The Chiefs’ investment in interior offensive linemen such as Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, and Kingsley Suamataia prepares the ground for a more dynamic ground attack that could complement Mahomes’ passing prowess.
Love’s evident admiration for Mahomes and his desire to contribute to the Chiefs’ championship journey could foster team chemistry and elevate offensive versatility. With the franchise seeking to strengthen its offense amid an intense draft process, the decision at the ninth pick could significantly shape the Chiefs’ trajectory in the upcoming NFL seasons.
"I'd be close to home. … I feel like [Patrick Mahomes] is the best quarterback as of right now. … It would be an honor to play with him."
Jeremiyah Love on the possibility of being drafted by the Chiefs 👀
(via @richeisenshow) pic.twitter.com/e4unNlwn6N
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 27, 2026
The best player in the 2026 NFL Draft according to @nfldraftscout?
"Jeremiyah Love – I don't think it's particularly close." pic.twitter.com/RzrPCA9an0
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) February 26, 2026
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love has formally met with the Chiefs 👀🔥
Per | @blitzlink_
He mentioned his former RB coach won a ring with Chiefs Kingdom — and said he’d be “blessed” to do the same.
State ties. Super Bowl dreams.
This connection keeps getting stronger. 👀💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/yoLyj7kdyW
— Travis Kelce Photos (@The_Daily_Chief) February 27, 2026
