Will the Chiefs Return to Their Winning Ways in 2026?

The 2025 season was by far and away the worst in the Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes era of Chiefs football. With a 6-11 record, it was the first time either one of the future Hall of Famers had missed the playoffs since coming to Arrowhead. When Mahomes tore both his ACL and LCL late in the year, it was a catastrophic conclusion to a campaign Chiefs Kingdom has since filed away with the two Super Bowl blowout losses to Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. However, there is a silver lining: 2025 is the first year since 2014 that Kansas City has missed the playoffs, making it an anomaly. With the opinion among some pundits and even some fans that 2026 is a rebuild year and that entry into the postseason isn’t realistic, the franchise is poised to prove them wrong and usher in a new era of winning Kansas City football.

First, the obvious. The Chiefs have the best coach/QB tandem in the league. The seven straight AFC Championship appearances and three Super Bowl wins out of five in six years are an historic achievement. Reid is still the best offensive mind in football, and after all of his previous success, he was statistically due for a down year. A down year riddled with injuries to his offense, as well as the suspension of his best receiver for six weeks, and the absence of offensive lineman Josh Simmons due to personal reasons. The lack of a consistent running game was a fatal flaw, something Reid no doubt will remedy with Kenneth Walker III and a retooled running back room.

Last year ended with the worst injury in Mahomes’ career, but his well-known competitiveness has him ahead of schedule, and chances are good he’ll start Week One. When he returns, he’ll be returning to Mr. Reliable Travis Kelce, who, in what may be his last season, will be on a mission to win another Super Bowl ring to go along with the ring he received at Madison Square Garden when he tied the knot with Taylor Swift. With a three-time Super Bowl-winning receivers coach in Chad O’Shea signed to the team in the offseason, Mahomes can expect better performances out of his receivers. Not only O’shea, but fan-favorite Eric Bieniemy, rehired as offensive coordinator, is sure to deliver a shot in the arm to the offense that has Chiefs Kingdom daydreaming about those MVP years for QB1.

If there’s anyone who’s motivated to perform well this coming season, it’s Rashee Rice. He undoubtedly has the most on the line this season, given the fact that this may be his last year on the team due to his off-the-field problems. To make himself attractive to another squad, he’ll need to stay healthy and play lights out. Though he only played eight games last year, he had 53 catches for 571 yards and would have had a 1000-yard season had he played all 17 games. Rice is undoubtedly the primary receiver on the team and can break the game open at any moment. Given what he stands to lose and what he stands to gain, this could be his best year yet.

The offensive line is looking solid with All-Pro Creed Humphrey at center, Simmons at left tackle, Kingsley Suamataia at left guard, Trey Smith at right guard, and Jaylon Moore at right tackle. The only real concern is Moore, who, before coming to Kansas City, played exclusively at left tackle in college at Western Michigan and for the San Francisco 49ers. As a Chief at right tackle, he still needs to work on consistent play at that position. Simmons, a 2025 first-round pick, has put a lot of work into his body and looks strong and focused. Suamataia, who struggled mightily at tackle when he first came to KC, has looked worlds better at guard.

It’s no secret the Chiefs have been more of a defensive team the past few years, and with the loss of a lot of key personnel in the offseason, the franchise made big strides in drafting on that side of the ball. They selected four consecutive defensive prospects, two in the first round, with cornerback Mansoor Delane at sixth overall and defensive lineman Peter Woods at 29th. Along with speedy edge rusher R Mason Thomas, selected at 40th in the second round, and cornerback Jadon Canady, selected in the fourth round at 109th, defensive coach Steve Spagnuolo has a lot to work with. These players will have a big impact; specifically, Woods, who will be playing next to Chris Jones and could potentially take the reins from the 32-year-old six-time All-Pro. Add to the mix the signing of Khyiris Tonga, a 330lbs, six-foot-three defensive tackle. The ex-Patriot is good at stopping the run and provides more veteran support for the rookie Woods.

There are doubters. There are cynics. There are those who are just sick and tired of the Chiefs winning. Hot takes get attention; they get people talking, and they get clicks. 2026 will be the year that kind of talking is silenced, when a bucket of cold water is poured all over those hot takes. Is 2026 a rebuild year? Yes. However, it will also be a winning year. The Chiefs are the most battle-tested team in the league. They have the players, they have the coaches, and they have enough future busts at Canton along the sideline to tilt the scales in their favor.