The Kansas City Chiefs did something in 2025 that not many thought was possible: they missed the playoffs.
But after being at the summit of the NFL mountain for so long and making the AFC Championship game at least every year since Patrick Mahomes became the starter, that would eventually take its toll.
The Chiefs never really looked like a contender in 2025, as injuries and poor form contributed to the first-ever down year for Mahomes and Andy Reid as a duo.
But as we turn to 2026, and Mahomes is on the comeback trail from an ACL injury, is there hope that 2025 was a blip on the radar?
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler thinks so.
"The Chiefs ran out of gas in 2025 but have most of what they need to make another run," Fowler wrote. "Coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes enter Year 9 together. Health has been an issue for years, but the offensive line is still quality and the team's track record in the draft is better than most. R-E-L-A-X."
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Can Chiefs bounce back in 2026?
Of course, they can; they've built up enough credits in the bank to warrant it.
But it all hinges on the health of Mahomes.
Eyeing a Week 1 return, which most think is a little aggressive, what happens to the Chiefs' chances if Patrick isn't fully good to go until say, Week 6?
We saw how much a bad start can impact you with the Baltimore Ravens starting 1-5 last season, and Kansas City won't want that to happen.
There's enough talent on the roster at the time of writing to suggest the Chiefs are a playoff team, but how aggressive they are in free agency will tell us a lot about their 2026 trajectory.
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