Kansas City Chiefs 2026 NFL Season Preview

Offense

Bieniemy replaces Matt Nagy, after the latter’s RPO-heavy scheme struggled to produce at the level Mahomes-led offenses historically have, especially late in close games. Walker brings a dynamism to the backfield that Kansas City hasn’t had since early in Kareem Hunt’s career. He should thrive running behind the Chiefs’ stout interior offensive line. Left guard Kingsley Suamataia, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith are a powerful, athletic run-blocking corps, able to move people off the ball or operate in space.

The Chiefs finished dead last in the NFL in play-action passing yards in 2025, but a more effective run game — perhaps with Mahomes under center more — should reverse that trend. Emari Demercado, who flashed big-play ability in three seasons with Arizona, joins Walker as a third-down option in a remade backfield along with fifth-round pick Emmett Johnson (Nebraska), a shifty, versatile back who led the Big Ten in rushing last season. Brashard Smith projects as the lone returning back, but the Chiefs will need to identify a short-yardage runner.

Tackle might be a question mark for Kansas City. Left tackle Josh Simmons played fine after winning the job as a rookie, but he also missed time with injuries and a personal issue. Jaylon Moore, who projects as Jawaan Taylor’s replacement at right tackle, struggled in pass protection during his first season with the Chiefs. Perhaps a more defined role will bring out the best in Moore, but it was surprising not to see Kansas City shore up the offensive line in the draft with Esa Pole and Wanya Morris slated as backups for a position group that got banged up last season.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice was very good for the half of a season he played between suspensions and injuries, while the speedy Xavier Worthy muddled through an underwhelming, injury-plagued second NFL season. Both should benefit from an improved rushing attack along with Tyquan Thornton, who re-signed after showing deep-ball chemistry with Mahomes last season. But the receiving corps feels thin. Fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen (Cincinnati) was the only significant offseason addition.

Future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce isn’t the dominant force he once was, but he’s still among the NFL’s most productive tight ends. He’s back for (probably!) his last hurrah. The Chiefs will hope Noah Gray regains his 2024 form after a down year.

Justin Fields is Kansas City’s fifth different backup QB in five seasons. The team also spent a seventh-round pick on LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.

Defense

On the surface, Kansas City’s defense performed well in 2025 — ranking sixth in scoring defense (19.3 ppg), ninth in rushing defense (105.7 ypg), 12th in passing defense (195.8 ypg) and 10th in total defense (301.5 ypg). But the Chiefs were deficient in three major areas — creating turnovers, sacking the quarterback and getting off the field on third down. Steve Spagnuolo’s unit created the fourth-fewest turnovers (14), recorded the seventh-fewest sacks (35) and had the fourth-worst third-down conversion percentage defense (43.6%) — hence the makeover.

Tackle Chris Jones remains an elite interior disruptor, and the Chiefs finally paired him with a hulking, space-eating, run-stuffing nose tackle in Khyiris Tonga. Omarr Norman-Lott, who is returning from a knee injury, and first-round pick Peter Woods bring pass-rush upside to the interior rotation.

On the edge, end George Karlaftis needs to live up to his sizable contract extension after managing a career-low six sacks in 2025. The rest of the projected DE group — Ashton Gillotte, who was solid as a rookie last season; Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who has yet to justify the first-round pick Kansas City used on him in 2023; and second-round pick R Mason Thomas, who notched 15.5 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss in the last two seasons at Oklahoma — is unproven. But Thomas brings a speed element that the Chiefs’ pass rush has lacked.

The secondary must replace three starters — safety Bryan Cook (signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency) and corners Trent McDuffie (Los Angeles Rams via trade) and Jaylen Watson (signed with the Rams). Kansas City signed versatile veteran Alohi Gilman, who spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, to replace Cook. He joins a solid if unspectacular safety rotation with Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks. The Chiefs will count on Mansoor Delane, the No. 6 overall pick from LSU and best cover corner in the draft, and second-year CB Nohl Williams as the starting boundary corners with Kader Kohou, who missed last season with an ACL injury, stepping in at nickel.

Middle linebacker Nick Bolton is coming off arguably his best season and remains the heartbeat of Spagnuolo’s defense. He’s flanked by WLB Drue Tranquill, an ideal complement to Bolton. The quest to replace Leo Chenal (signed with the Washington Commanders), an elite run-stopper at SLB, begins with 2025 undrafted free agent Cooper McDonald.

Specialists

The Chiefs need to squeeze more from the return game. Nikko Remigio’s punt- and kickoff-return averages were pedestrian last season, with Brashard Smith offering marginally better production.

Placekicker Harrison Butker has connected on fewer than 87% of his field-goal attempts each of the past two seasons. But he’s signed through 2028, so the Chiefs need him to bounce back.

Matt Araiza, a roughly league-average punter in his first two NFL seasons, returns.

Final analysis

The Chiefs have seemed invincible through much of Mahomes’ career, but he was mortal last season even before the knee injury. Nobody in Kansas City doubts that he’ll return better than ever, but the offense needs to re-establish an aura of dominance.

Kansas City went to great lengths to add youth and talent on defense, and the goal will be the same as it’s been for the last decade — win a Super Bowl. But in the AFC West, one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, that won’t be easy.