Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Chiefs QB Could Immediately Join AFC Super Bowl Contender

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 11:34 AM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs closed out a disappointing season on Sunday with a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, dropping to 6-11 and missing the 2025 NFL playoffs.

Down the stretch, Kansas City was hit with major injuries at the quarterback position. Two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 15, and backup Gardner Minshew suffered the same fate the following week, thrusting third-string QB Chris Oladokun into his first meaningful NFL snaps.

Against the Raiders, Oladokun started and completed 11-of-17 passes for 58 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. After his underwhelming performance, Oladokun was replaced in the second half by Shane Buechele, who the Chiefs signed from the Buffalo Bills practice squad on Dec. 22 amid the quarterback injury crisis.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Shane Buechele during a preseason game at Highmark Stadium on Aug. 10, 2024.Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Buechele got meaningful reps in the Chiefs' Week 18 loss. He completed 7-of-14 passes for 88 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. His record-setting pass to Travis Kelce and a 51-yard bomb to Hollywood Brown were two highlights in an otherwise sour end to the season.

One day later, the Chiefs decided to release Buechele. It was a move A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman described as "returning the favor" to Buechele, who could have stayed with the Bills, but decided to help out his former team (he was previously with Kansas City from 2021-2023) in a time of need.

The Chiefs waived QB Shane Buechele, who can now sign back with the Bills or catch on with a playoff team.

They signed four players to reserve/future contracts: LB Kam Arnold, DT Marcus Harris, WR Jimmy Holiday, & OT Matt Waletzko.

They also terminated S Tanner McCallister's…
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) January 5, 2026

If Buechele clears waivers on Tuesday, he will be free to re-sign with Buffalo (or another playoff team) ahead of their wild-card round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 1 p.m. Entering the playoffs, the Bills have the sixth-best odds (10-1) to win Super Bowl LX and the third-best odds in the AFC, according to DraftKings.

Although Buechele was the Bills' third-string QB most of the season behind Josh Allen and Mitchell Trubisky, his potential return would still be good news for the Chiefs' heated AFC rivals.

According to Goldman, Buechele ran the scout team offense in Buffalo. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, Buechele could be back performing the same role by the end of this week.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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