Patrick Mahomes is back in the lineup, Travis Kelce is preparing for what might be his final season, and head coach Andy Reid is determined to leave last year’s disappointment behind as the Kansas City Chiefs set their sights on a resurgence in the 2026 campaign. After a historic run that saw the franchise miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Kansas City also saw its streak of nine straight AFC West titles and seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances snapped. The Chiefs entered the 2025 season as one of the NFL’s modern dynasties, having reached three Super Bowls in the previous six years and winning two of them. Their quest for a historic three‑peat was thwarted when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
The disappointment of that season was magnified by a devastating injury to Mahomes in December. The quarterback suffered torn ACL and LCL ligaments, requiring surgery and an extensive rehabilitation program. Doctors cleared him to return, and he is slated to make his first start since the injury against the Denver Broncos on Monday night. Reid praised Mahomes’ work ethic during the offseason, telling Sky Sports, “He was here seven hours a day, pushing himself within the limits set by his doctors.
He had a physical therapist, Julie, who set daily targets and made sure he never over‑reached. He’s done an incredible job.” Mahomes’ comeback will inevitably bring a fresh wave of scrutiny. It will be his first return after a major injury and follows his statistically weakest season since entering the league.
Yet his teammates remain unwavering in their confidence. "Pat is the best quarterback in the league, and there’s not much more to say about that," Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said on Sky Sports. "He leads the team every day." Offensive guard Trey Smith, who secured a four‑year, $94 million extension in July, knows the importance of protecting Mahomes against a Broncos defense that ranked second overall and led the league with 68 sacks last season. "He’s a field general," Smith explained.
"He can extend plays, read defenses, and keep the ball moving. When you’re protecting him, you have to stay disciplined until the very last whistle.
Having him back is a huge boost for our offense and for the whole locker room." Reid often references the team’s traffic‑light system that governs play‑calling. Mahomes’ improvisational style—often described as “off‑script” and “out‑of‑structure”—gives him a green light to push the envelope, while the coaching staff still imposes red‑light limits for safety and strategic reasons.
"We give him a lot of freedom, but within reason," Reid said. "There are red lights we can’t cross, but most of the time we’re looking at a long green light. If there’s a yellow, we’ll extend it a little, but the goal is to let his creativity flourish." Kelce, who delayed retirement by signing a three‑year, $54.7 million extension, will once again be Mahomes’ primary target. Although his production dipped slightly, Kelce still led the Chiefs with 851 receiving yards last season and remains a vital piece of the offense.
"He acts like he’s going to play forever," Reid joked. "We don’t worry about his retirement; we just use him as much as we can. If this is his last year, we’ll make the most of it.
If he stays for two more, we’ll do the same." On his podcast "New Heights," Kelce credited Mahomes’ relentless drive during his rehab as a key factor in his decision to keep playing, emphasizing the quarterback’s influence on the entire team’s morale. "The energy and leadership Travis brings are irreplaceable," Jones added. "He’s the soul of this squad.
I hope he sticks around for another year; the team wouldn’t be the same without him." The Chiefs also bolstered their roster in free agency, adding running back Kenneth Walker III after his Super Bowl‑winning stint with the Seattle Seahawks. They 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 last season’s shortcomings. They acknowledge the frustration of missing goals but stress the importance of learning from defeat. "It’s frustrating to fall short after years of success," Smith said.
"We’ve been used to AFC Championship appearances or better, so missing that feels bad. But the NFL is a league of constant change; we have to adapt and improve." Kansas City’s dominance of the AFC West ended as the Denver Broncos, coached by Sean Payton and quarterbacked by Bo Nix, finished 14‑3 and claimed the top seed in the conference.
The Chiefs’ 6‑11 record was their worst since the 2‑14 season in 2012. "You have ups and downs, and you learn from them," Jones reflected. "Last year was a wake‑up call for the players and the organization. We have a lot of young talent, and the expectation remains the same: win the AFC West, secure home‑field advantage in the playoffs, and chase the Super Bowl.
It all starts with Monday night against Denver." Fans can follow the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every playoff game and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027, either through a Sky Sports subscription or a free stream via NOW.