Brett Veach’s journey with the Chiefs began when he was an intern with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000, where he even ran out to get lunch orders, often cheeseburgers.
Years later, Veach is still delivering, but now as the general manager for the Chiefs, who are aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title. Chiefs coach Andy Reid has praised Veach for rebuilding the team every year and credits him for the success the team enjoys today.
“You could see right from the get-go his energy and how smart he was,” Reid said. “Then his passion for the players side of it. Those guys that came in, I gave them the opportunity to either go personnel or to the football side, and he was so passionate about digging in with it and finding guys.”
Veach started as a coaching intern and spent nearly four years in that role, learning how to identify prospects. He also learned what Reid values in players.
Veach’s ability to spot talent became evident when he helped identify key players like DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, and Fletcher Cox, all of whom contributed to the Eagles’ success while Reid was the coach.
“He just had an eye and a knack for it and that hasn’t changed,” Reid recalled with a smile.
Because of this talent, Reid brought Veach with him to Kansas City in 2013, where Veach was hired as a pro and college personnel analyst. Two years later, he became co-director of player personnel, and in 2017, after the Chiefs moved on from John Dorsey, Veach became the general manager.
Andy Reid and Brett Veach in the training campVeach’s influence was clear during the 2017 draft when he insisted on trading up to pick Patrick Mahomes, giving Reid the franchise quarterback he needed.
“We got a chance to work with Patrick Mahomes, and what a job he’s done,” said Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt. “He has kept this team on top, and that’s an amazing achievement.”
The Chiefs’ roster has changed significantly since their first Super Bowl title in 2019. Despite big contracts for stars like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones, Veach has kept the team competitive by skillfully managing the salary cap and making savvy moves like signing wide receiver Marquise Brown to a team-friendly deal or bringing in Kareem Hunt when no one else would.
“He and his crew have done an exceptional job,” Reid said. “No more than this year.”
Veach doesn’t take all the credit, though. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork and leadership from Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.
“It goes back to the leadership of Clark. Clark does a great job of keeping — I’m super aggressive and that can be dangerous,” Veach said. “Having Clark’s leadership and guidance has been a blessing.”
Veach adds that balancing aggressiveness with smart decision-making is key to the Chiefs’ sustained success.
“We have a good group here. We plan to be successful for a long time. We just have to be smart. It’s a delicate balance of being disciplined and aggressive,” he said.
