We are at the unofficial halfway point of the regular season, and the Kansas City Chiefs are 5-4. They’re currently outside of the playoff picture, so it’s safe to say that it hasn’t been the most pleasant start to the season for Chiefs fans.
Although there has been a lot to be frustrated about this season, the Chiefs are still the favorites to win Super Bowl 60. Not only that, the 2025 Chiefs are averaging 3.5 more points scored per game, and the defense is 4th in points allowed per game and 6th in yards allowed per game. On paper, this team is better than the 2024 team, but the record does not reflect that.
Even though it may not always feel like it, the Chiefs are a bona fide Super Bowl contender, and they’ll be as dangerous as anyone come January.
Since the team just completed their bye week and has now completed just over 50% of the regular season, now feels like a good time to hand out their midseason awards for the 2025 campaign.
Mack Lee Hill Award (Rookie of the Year)
Winner: Josh Simmons, Left Tackle
This was an odd award to find a winner for. On one hand, Josh Simmons has been (by far) the best-performing rookie when on the field. The problem is that he missed the last four games of the season due to personal reasons, though he has since returned.
Nonetheless, despite the four-game absence, he has still logged the most snaps out of all 2025 rookies and has stabilized one of the most important positions in football for a Super Bowl contender. As long as he can play enough games down the stretch, he’ll moonwalk to this award after the season.
Comeback Player of the Year
Winner: Rashee Rice, Wide Receiver
This was a difficult award to find a winner for. By process of elimination, the clear choice is Rashee Rice, believe it or not.
I’m a believer that the Comeback Player of the Year award in the NFL should be reserved for players returning from a significant injury or some other significant adversity. Despite also missing the first six games of the season due to a personal conduct suspension, Rice is coming off a torn ACL, and he’s the only player seeing significant snaps after a season-ending injury in 2024.
I understand the sample size is small (only three games), but there’s no question that he’s been elite over those three games. He has logged 20 catches, 215 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. That’s a 113/1,218/17 pace over 17 full games. He has also recorded a rushing touchdown and is currently tied for 1st among all wide receivers in PPR fantasy points per game.
Rice is the obvious choice for this award, despite the limited snaps.
Defensive Player of the Year
Winner: Trent McDuffie, Cornerback
Although there have been some frustrating moments for the defense, the unit is unquestionably one of the best statistical groups in football. As stated earlier, the defense is 4th in points allowed per game and 6th in yards allowed per game, plus they recorded a shutout in Week 7 against the Raiders.
There were a couple of choices, but I landed on McDuffie. The pass rush has been too disappointing, and none of the linebackers or safeties have stood out enough, so that just leaves the cornerbacks, and McDuffie is the best choice there. Jaylen Watson was a close second, but more is asked of McDuffie, so I went with him.
He’s on pace to surrender the lowest passer rating of his career at just 78.8 and is one of six players to record an interception. McDuffie has also been one of the best tackling and run-defending cornerbacks in the NFL this season.
Offensive Player of the Year (Non-QB)
Winner: Creed Humphrey, Center
Creed Humphrey is just doing what Creed Humphrey does, and that’s being (by far) the best center in football and excelling in both the run and passing games. He has only given up three total pressures across 395 pass-blocking snaps in 2025 and hasn’t surrendered a sack in nearly two years, via Pro Football Focus. Factoring out positional value, Humphrey has been the best offensive player for the Chiefs this season.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Winner: Andy Heck, Offensive Line
I decided to go outside of the box for this award and not just pick one of the main coordinators. After a slight deep dive, Andy Heck deserves this award.
After being much maligned for “struggling to develop” young offensive line talent, the unit has undoubtedly been a bright spot for Kansas City this season. Josh Simmons has played well (when on the field), Kingsley Suamataia has really come along at left guard, Creed Humphrey is still Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith is having one of his better pass-blocking seasons, Jaylon Moore played well at left tackle when asked to, and Jawaan Taylor has toned down the penalties over the last month or so.
Matt Nagy does not deserve this award, and I don’t feel that it has been Steve Spagnuolo’s or Dave Toub’s best season, so I went with the best position coach. That has clearly been Andy Heck.
Most Disappointing Player
"Winner": Chris Jones, Defensive Tackle
This is by far my least favorite award (for obvious reasons), but it’s one that I need to hand out.
I take zero pleasure in this award, but the recipient has to be future Hall of Famer Chris Jones. He’s only on pace for four sacks in 17 regular-season games and currently has a disappointing 60.3 overall defensive grade—by far the lowest of his career and the only time he has been below 83.0 since his rookie year in 2016, via PFF. This includes a dreadful run-defense grade of 42.9. In addition, the pass rush is arguably the biggest weakness on the team, and the declining play of Chris Jones is one of the biggest reasons why.
Look, do I think that 95 will turn it around at some point? Yes, but there’s no denying that he hasn’t played up to his standard in 2025. Is that because he’s 31 years old? Perhaps, but if this team wants to win another Super Bowl, their defensive leader is going to need to step up his play.
Derrick Thomas Award (Most Valuable Player)
Winner: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback
There was no clear winner for this award, but when you factor in positional value, the choice does become obvious.
I’m not a believer that the 2025 regular season has been one of Patrick Mahomes’ two best, but there’s no denying that Kansas City's offense is much improved over the previous two years, and the quarterback is a huge reason why.
Mahomes is top 5 in passing yards per game, top 10 in touchdown passes, and top 3 in ESPN’s QBR metric. He’s also the straw that stirs the drink for this offense. The Chiefs don’t have a solid running game for him to fall back on, his best receiving weapon was out for six games, another one of his wide receivers has been playing injured since the third play of the season, and his starting left tackle was out for a month.
Although this hasn’t been a vintage Patrick Mahomes season, he’s still been the most valuable player for this football team.