Patrick Mahomes has rejoined the Kansas City Chiefs lineup, and the organization is eager to see whether his comeback can reignite a franchise that stumbled last season. Alongside Mahomes, veteran tight end Travis Kelce is preparing for what could be his final year, while head coach Andy Reid is determined to put the disappointment of 2025 behind him and steer the team back toward the elite tier of the NFL in 2026. The Chiefs’ 2025 campaign ended in disappointment, marking the first time since 2014 that the club missed the postseason.
The season also snapped a remarkable run of nine consecutive AFC West titles and seven straight appearances in the AFC Championship Game. After a stretch that produced three Super Bowl victories in six years—a run that cemented the Chiefs as one of the modern era’s premier dynasties—the team fell short of a historic three‑peat, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
The low point of the year came in December, when Mahomes suffered a severe knee injury that required surgery on both his ACL and LCL. The quarterback’s absence forced the Chiefs to finish the season without their offensive catalyst, and the team’s record fell to 6‑11, the worst finish since a 2‑14 campaign in 2012.
Despite the setback, the club has scheduled Mahomes’ return for the opening Monday night matchup against the Denver Broncos. Reid praised Mahomes’ work ethic during the offseason, noting that the quarterback logged roughly seven hours of rehab and conditioning each day, carefully balancing intensity with the medical staff’s guidelines. “He’s doing great,” Reid told Sky Sports.
“He spent seven hours a day here the whole offseason, pushing himself within the doctor’s restrictions to maximize everything. We have a physical therapist, Julie, who monitors his progress and sets daily targets.
He meets those goals, and she won’t let him exceed them until he’s ready.” Mahomes now faces a unique set of questions as he returns from his first major injury layoff and from a statistical season that was his least productive since entering the league. Yet his teammates remain unwavering in their confidence. Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones summed it up succinctly: “Pat is the best quarterback in the league, there’s not much more to say about Pat.” Off the line, guard Trey Smith—who secured a four‑year, $94 million extension in July—will be tasked with protecting the quarterback against a Broncos defense that ranked second in the league last year and led all teams with 68 sacks.
“He’s awesome, he makes it easy,” Smith said. “He’s a field general, creative, and can extend plays. You have to keep the pass rush at bay until the whistle. It’s great to have him back; his leadership is evident from day one, and his talent speaks for itself.
Having him healthy will push us further, and the entire roster is doing a phenomenal job. I’m just excited to have him back.” Reid often references the team’s “traffic‑light” system, which grants Mahomes a degree of creative freedom while still imposing strategic limits. The system uses red, yellow, and green signals to indicate when a play is off‑limits, when caution is required, and when the quarterback can go full‑steam. “It gives you an opportunity to open things up a little bit, within reason,” Reid explained.
“There are red lights you must stop at, but the green light is long, allowing you to stretch the offense. Some things we can’t do, but we extend the yellow when needed. It’s a balance of caution and freedom.” Kelce, who postponed retirement by signing a three‑year, $54.7 million extension, will again be Mahomes’ primary target.
Although his production dipped slightly, Kelce still led the Chiefs with 851 receiving yards last season and remains a crucial element of the offense. Reid expressed confidence in Kelce’s durability: “He acts like he’s going to play forever. I don’t worry about it; we’ll use him as much as we can. Whether it’s one year or two, we’ll lean on him because he works his tail off and does a great job.” On his “New Heights” podcast, Kelce credited Mahomes’ relentless drive during his own rehab as a motivating factor for his decision to continue playing.
“Seeing Patrick push through his recovery inspired me,” Kelce said. “I want to keep serving my quarterback and help the team win.” Teammates echoed Kelce’s importance. Chris Jones described him as the “soul of the team,” noting that Kelce’s leadership and energy have been integral to the Chiefs’ identity.
“I can’t imagine this team without Travis,” Jones said. “We hope he stays for another year; we need his presence.” In addition to the Mahomes‑Kelce duo, the Chiefs bolstered their roster in the offseason.
They signed running back Kenneth Walker III after his Super Bowl‑winning stint with the Seattle Seahawks, re‑signed veteran cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, and used the sixth overall pick to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane— their highest draft selection since drafting Mahomes tenth overall in 2017. Reid and his staff are keen not to dwell on the previous season’s shortcomings.
Guard Trey Smith acknowledged the frustration of missing goals: “We’ve always been in the AFC Championship or better while I’ve been here, so falling short leaves a bad taste. It’s something we need to address and improve upon.” He added that the NFL’s competitive nature means every team faces setbacks, but those moments can be valuable learning experiences.
The Chiefs also lost their grip on the AFC West, as Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos, led by quarterback Bo Nix, posted a 14‑3 record and secured the conference’s No. 1 seed. Kansas City’s 6‑11 record underscored the urgency of a turnaround. Looking ahead, the Chiefs’ mission is clear: dominate the AFC West, secure home‑field advantage in the playoffs, and chase another Super Bowl title.
As Jones summed up, “Different teams, same expectations—win the division, host the playoffs, and go to the Super Bowl. It starts with Monday night against Denver.” Fans can follow the Chiefs’ 2026 journey on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every game, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027. Options include a traditional Sky Sports subscription or a contract‑free stream via NOW, ensuring that supporters have full access to the team’s quest for redemption.