Kansas City Chiefs 2026 Offseason Outlook

How dominant had the Kansas City Chiefs been? Even after they were destroyed by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, it seemed as if nobody was doubting they could still be a force to reckon with in 2025. After all, the Chiefs had won nine straight AFC West titles, and they hadn’t had a losing season since 2012. “You can never bet against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs,” was the constant cry.

Well, now you can.

There were several points during the 2025 season when fans and media alike expected Kansas City to turn it back on. That never really happened. So after averaging 12 wins a season through his first 12 years in Kansas City, head coach Andy Reid suffered his first losing season with the Chiefs. Will it take just a few tweaks to become a contender again, or is there a bigger rebuild needed?

The biggest offseason question, of course, is the health status of Mahomes, who tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in mid-December. He’s reportedly making good progress in his rehab, though being ready to start the season remains in doubt. Also in doubt is the return of tight end Travis Kelce. The future Hall of Famer is a free agent, though he has already said he’ll only play for the Chiefs next season if he doesn’t retire. We may not get that answer until after Kelce and Taylor Swift get married in June.

2025 recap

After an 0-2 start to the season, Kansas City won five of its next six to at least create the illusion they were contenders to reach the Super Bowl for the fourth year in a row. Then they lost back-to-back games vs. the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, and it was clear that just making the playoffs would be a challenge. After an overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City would not win another game, losing six straight to end the season at 6-11.

Mahomes completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a passer rating of 89.6 — the completion rate, yards, TDs and passer rating were all the lowest totals of his eight years as a starting QB. It wasn’t all Mahomes’ fault, though. The 36-year-old Kelce led the team in receiving but it was still his least productive season as a starter. Rashee Rice started the season on suspension and played just eight games. Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy were inconsistent. The running game may have been a bigger issue, as it rendered the Chiefs’ offense fairly one-dimensional.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit did its part, holding six opponents to 17 points or less. Still, five of those six games were against NFL bottom-feeders. The Chiefs’ defense showed its cracks against the better offenses it faced. Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who will be 32 before next season begins, led the team with 7.0 sacks, but he was not the consistent force the team needed him to be. The Chiefs ranked 10th in total defense, 12th in rushing defense and ninth in passing defense. But they ranked lower in big plays — 21st in interceptions and 24th in sacks.

Key free agents

TE Travis Kelce
WR Marquise Brown
DE Charles Omenihu
RB Kareem Hunt
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
LB Leo Chenal
CB Jaylen Watson
S Bryan Cook
RB Isiah Pacheco

Chiefs salary cap space

($54,720,166)

2026 draft needs

The Chiefs need play-makers to help Mahomes when he gets back — and now they have two first-round draft picks following the trde of cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams. When that trade was announced, Athlon draft guru Luke Easterling updated his first-round mock to have Kansas City taking Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 9 and then get Florida DL Caleb Banks at No. 29. If Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love somehow slips to No. 9, he might be tough to pass up. After receiver and running back, offensive and defensive lines are both in need of help.

2026 opponents

Home:Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Arizona, Indianapolis, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco

Away:Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle