Jeremiyah Love confirmed he met with the Kansas City Chiefs at the NFL Scouting Combine and did not hide his admiration for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Notre Dame running back, widely projected as a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, said it “would be an honor” to play alongside Mahomes if selected by Kansas City.
Love addressed reporters on February 27 and discussed the possibility of joining the Chiefs, who hold the No. 9 overall pick. His comments came as draft analysts and league executives increasingly connect him to Kansas City amid the team’s stated goal of becoming more explosive in the running game.
Jeremiyah Love Confirms Chiefs Meeting, Praises Patrick Mahomes
During press availability at the combine, Love acknowledged speaking with the Chiefs and reacted to the idea of landing in Kansas City.
“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” on X.
Love’s comments followed growing speculation that the Chiefs could target a running back early in the draft. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller recently called Love the top overall prospect in the class.
“I don’t think it’s particularly close,” Miller said 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 added that Love ranks alongside Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson as one of the best running back prospects of the past decade. He projected Love could be selected anywhere from No. 3 to No. 9 overall.
Dan Patrick also revealed he placed Love second on his personal Heisman Trophy ballot last season.
“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 Seek ‘Explosive’ Running Game Upgrade Amid Patrick Mahomes Rehab
Kansas City leadership has consistently emphasized one word this offseason: explosive.
General manager Brett Veach reiterated that priority during his first offseason news conference.
“Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the running game,” Veach said. “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 to generate big plays on the ground in 2025. Isiah Pacheco did not record a single 20-yard rushing attempt, and Kareem Hunt had just one. Kansas City led the league in run-pass option plays, but the approach failed to produce consistent explosive gains.
Veach indicated the team could adjust its scheme, potentially leaning more on under-center formations and play-action concepts to maximize its interior offensive line.
“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 said.
“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 Fits Chiefs’ Draft Plans
Love’s production at Notre Dame aligns with what Kansas City seeks.
When facing six or fewer defenders in the box, Love averaged 9.1 yards per carry, the highest mark in the nation.
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently projected the Chiefs would select Love with the ninth pick.
“They don’t want to be picking ninth,” Kiper said 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 Kansas City does not land Love, Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price could be an alternative option in the second or third round.
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