The2025 season was theKansas City Chiefs' 56th in theNational Football League (NFL), their 66th overall, their ninth under the leadership of general managerBrett Veach and their 13th underhead coachAndy Reid. The Chiefs entered the season as three-time defendingAFC champions and hoped to avenge theirthird Super Bowl loss in franchise history against thePhiladelphia Eagles the previous season. However, the season became a major disappointment, marred by injuries and close losses. The Chiefs failed to win the AFC West for the first time since2015, missed the playoffs for the first time since2014 and finished with a losing record for the first time since2012.
The Chiefs failed to improve on their franchise-best 15–2 record from2024 as they started 0–2 for the first time since 2014. The team only won consecutive games in Weeks 3–4 and Weeks 6–8, the first time under Reid they did not win at least 4 straight regular season games. Despite this, they managed a decent 5–3 start entering their Week 9 matchup at theBuffalo Bills, holding onto a wild card spot. However, the Chiefs proceeded to lose all but one game the rest of the season from week 9 onwards. To add insult to injury, star quarterbackPatrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear late in the team's Week 15 game, a loss to theLos Angeles Chargers that eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. Backup quarterbackGardner Minshew injured his knee the following game, and the team started third-string quarterbackChris Oladokun in the final two games. All but one of the Chiefs' wins were by multiple possessions, but they lost nine of their games by one possession. The Chiefs went 5-4 at home but 1–7 on the road, which ultimately cost them a trip to the postseason.
The Chiefs'Thanksgiving game against theDallas Cowboys had a regular season record of 57.2 million viewers. The game was broadcast onCBS and streaming serviceParamount+, and peaked with 61.4 million viewers by the game's conclusion.[1] Also for the first time since2012, the Chiefs failed to sweep either the Broncos, Raiders, or Chargers.
Futures contracts are signed beginning with the conclusion of the previous season. They typically consist of players who spent a portion of the previous season on the practice squad of a team.
^The Chiefs traded a 2024 seventh-round selection and CBL'Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a third-round selection and a 2024 seventh-round selection.[7]
^The Chiefs traded a conditional fifth-round selection to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for WRDeAndre Hopkins. The condition – that Tennessee would receive a fifth-round pick if the Chiefs failed to advance toSuper Bowl LIX or Hopkins played in less than 60% of the Chiefs' snaps – was converted at the end of theregular season, with Hopkins having played in less than 50% of the Chiefs' 2024 snaps following the trade.[8]
^abThe Chiefs traded a sixth-round selection to the New York Jets in exchange for a seventh-round selection and WRMecole Hardman.[9]
^The Chiefs traded a seventh-round selection to Arizona in exchange for DECameron Thomas.[10]
^abThe Chiefs traded a conditional seventh-round selection and WRIhmir Smith-Marsette to Carolina in exchange for a conditional seventh-round selection.[11]
Defensive endFelix Anudike-Uzomah, who was drafted by the Chiefs in the first round in 2023, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason.[14]
Early in the game, receiver Xavier Worthy was knocked out of the game with an injury after an collision with Travis Kelce, which contributed to a sluggish first half that was capped off by atwo minute drill to kick a field goal at the end of the half. Despite a strong second half performance, the Chargers were able to run the clock out on their final possession following a run fromJustin Herbert. With the loss, the Chiefs lost their season opener for the second time in three seasons and lost to the Chargers for the first time since2021, and the first road loss to the Chargers since2013.[18]
The game remained close throughout, until a game-deciding play occurred early in the fourth quarter. With the Chiefs in the Eagles' red zone,Patrick Mahomes threw a pass intended forTravis Kelce, but the ball bounced off Kelce’s hands and was intercepted by Eagles safetyAndrew Mukuba. The turnover eventually led to a touchdown that put the game away for the Eagles.[19]
With their 3rd loss to Philadelphia since 2023, the Chiefs started 0–2 for the first time since the2014 season.[20] Including their defeat inSuper Bowl LIX, it also marked the first time Mahomes has lost three consecutive starts.[21] Additionally, this was the Chiefs' first home loss since2023Christmas Day, ending a 12-game home winning streak.[22][23]
With the win, the Chiefs avoided starting 0–3 for the first time since2011. The Chiefs recorded their first-ever road victory against the Giants, snapping a seven-game road losing steak against them.[24][25]
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 2–3 for the first time since2021 and lost to the Jaguars for the first time since the2009 season, snapping an eight-game winning streak against them.[26] In addition, this loss also dropped the Chiefs to an 0–3 record in one-score games, after they went 11–0 in one-score games the previous season.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 3–3, and their record improved to .500. Patrick Mahomes recorded his 302nd career touchdown pass, including the postseason, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to reach 300 touchdown passes. He accomplished the feat in just 139 games, eight fewer than the previous record holder,Aaron Rodgers.[27]
At the end of the game, Mahomes attempted to give a high-five to Lions safetyBrian Branch as they met near midfield. However, Branch walked past Mahomes without acknowledging him. Chiefs wide receiverJuJu Smith-Schuster confronted Branch over that. In response, Branch threw a right hook that knocked Smith-Schuster to the ground, sparking a fight.[28] The NFL later announced that Branch would be suspended one game for his actions.[29]
The Chiefs extended their winning streak against the Commanders to nine with the win. They also continued their streak of never having lost to Washington at home.[31]
Patrick Mahomes struggled against the Bills' defense, finishing with a career-worst 44.1% completion rate while completing 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards and an interception. It marked the first time in his regular-season career that he completed fewer than 50% of his pass attempts. With their fifth straight regular season loss to the Bills, the Chiefs fell to 5–4.[32]
After a close game, Broncos kickerWil Lutz kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play to defeat the Chiefs, giving Denver revenge and reversing the outcome of the teams’ meeting in Kansas City the previous season, when Lutz’s potential game-winning field goal as time expired was blocked.[33] With their second straight loss to Denver, the Chiefs lost 3 straight and fell to 5–5 while 1–2 against the AFC West.
Tight endTravis Kelce caught his 84th career touchdown, becoming the Chiefs’ all-time franchise leader in touchdowns and surpassing running backPriest Holmes’s previous record of 83.[34]
Although the Colts led 20–9 entering the fourth quarter, the Chiefs rallied. Kansas City's defense forced the Colts to go three-and-out on each of their final four possessions, and the Chiefs eventually kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime. Patrick Mahomes threw for a season-high 352 yards.[35]
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 6–6 for the first time since2017 and finished 2–2 against the NFC East and 3-2 against the NFC.
The game was watched by 57.2 million viewers, becoming the most watched NFL regular season game ever, shattering the previous record by more than 15 million viewers.
In a game-deciding sequence, the Chiefs, facing 4th-and-1 at their own 31, decided to go for it, but Mahomes’ pass fell incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining. Six plays later, Texans running backDare Ogunbowale rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to give Houston the lead that they would not relinquish. This marked the Chiefs first loss to the Texans since2019, officially snapping a six game win streak against them.[36]
With the loss, the Chiefs' streak of nine straightAFC West division titles was snapped.[37] It was Kansas City's first loss of the season by more than one score.
With two minutes left in the game and the Chiefs driving into Chargers territory with a chance to tie, Patrick Mahomes suffered a non-contact injury to his left knee and was quickly ruled out. Backup quarterbackGardner Minshew took over and, on a game-deciding play, threw an interception to Chargers safetyDerwin James, sealing the loss.[38]
With the upset loss, the Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since2014.[39] They were also swept by the Chargers for the first time since2013 and swept by an AFC West rival for the first time since the2014 Broncos.[40][41]
It was later revealed through an MRI that Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and would miss the remainder of the season.[42]
Although the Chiefs were down to their third-string quarterback, Chris Oladokun, and several starters were out, and entered the game as double-digit underdogs, they remained competitive against the Broncos. However, a game-deciding play occurred late in the fourth quarter when the Broncos faced fourth-and-2 inside the 10-yard line and did not intend to snap the ball. Chris Jones jumped offsides, giving Denver a fresh set of downs, which eventually led to a go-ahead touchdown that sealed a Broncos victory.
With the loss, the Chiefs’ nine-game home winning streak against the Broncos came to an end, marking their first home defeat to Denver since the2015 season. Additionally, the Chiefs were swept by the Broncos for the first time since the2014 season.[44]
With the upset loss, their first road loss to the Raiders since2017, the Chiefs finished out their season on a 6-game losing streak, close out 6–11, 1–5 against the AFC West and 1–7 on the road.
^abDenver finished ahead of New England based on common games (Denver 6–0 to New England 5–1 against: Cincinnati, Las Vegas, NY Giants, NY Jets and Tennessee).
^abHouston finished ahead of Buffalo based on head-to-head victory.
^abIndianapolis finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (Indianapolis 6–6 to Baltimore 5–7).
^abCincinnati finished ahead of Kansas City based on conference record (Cincinnati 5–7 to Kansas City 3–9).
^abcLas Vegas finished ahead of NY Jets and Tennessee based on conference record (Las Vegas 3–9 to NY Jets 2–10 and Tennessee 2–10).
^abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on strength of victory (NY Jets .373 to Tennessee .275).
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