Chiefs 2025 schedule brings back familiar faces fans never expected to cheer again

The NFL unveiled its 2025 regular-season schedule on Wednesday, and many exciting matchups await. That’s especially true for the Kansas City Chiefs, given the number of primetime or stand-alone games on their slate. Kansas City will play night games in five of its first eight contests of the season.

Meanwhile, many of the most highly anticipated games on the schedule will come at home. Several playoff teams from last year will travel to Arrowhead Stadium in 2025, adding extra intrigue for fans attending home games this year. Plus, a few familiar faces will be making a return to Arrowhead throughout the upcoming season.

Here are a few notable players who will return to Arrowhead during the 2025 NFL schedule.

Nick Allegretti and Andrew Wylie, Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders will travel to Kansas City for a Monday Night Football game in Week 8. Washington added two former Chiefs offensive linemen in consecutive offseasons in 2023 and 2024. Both Nick Allegretti and Andrew Wylie won multiple Super Bowls during their time with Kansas City. Now, they’re using that experience to help build something in Washington.

Time will tell how the Commanders’ offensive line shakes out. Allegretti appeared in all 17 games at guard last season. Wylie, meanwhile, started 14 games. Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil in the offseason, but with Sam Cosmi recovering from a playoff injury, there’s still a chance both Allegretti and Wylie will be in the lineup when the Commanders visit Arrowhead on Monday night.

Charvarius Ward, Indianapolis Colts

Charvarius Ward was once a lottery ticket gamble by Kansas City. The former undrafted free agent signing of the Dallas Cowboys became a minor trade acquisition by the Chiefs in 2018. He developed into a trusted starter on the outside for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Another former Chief who won a Super Bowl, Ward cashed in twice with lucrative free-agent deals after leaving Kansas City. Now, he’s looking to help reshape an Indianapolis Colts secondary that has seen its share of struggles in recent years.

Ward faced the Chiefs three times as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. However, none of those matchups were at Arrowhead Stadium. He and the 49ers lost all three games against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs—twice in San Francisco and once in Super Bowl LVIII. When the Colts travel to Arrowhead in Week 12, Ward will play in Kansas City for the first time since the AFC Championship loss to the Bengals following the 2021 season.

DeAndre Hopkins, Baltimore Ravens

DeAndre Hopkins didn’t spend as much time with the Chiefs as the others mentioned above, but he still created some exciting moments after coming to Kansas City via trade last season. It was puzzling to see his lack of production in the playoffs, but Hopkins still posted four touchdowns in 10 regular-season games with the Chiefs. That included two touchdown grabs in his first game at Arrowhead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hopkins went from one top AFC team to another, now joining a Ravens squad still looking to get over the postseason hump. He’ll be a veteran presence for Lamar Jackson in a fascinating Baltimore wide receiver room. Hopkins may not have much left in the tank, but the Chiefs won’t be taking him lightly when the Ravens visit Arrowhead Stadium in Week 4.