Patrick Mahomes is back in the lineup, veteran tight end Travis Kelce is preparing for what could be his final season, and head coach Andy Reid is determined to put last year's disappointment behind him as the Kansas City Chiefs aim for a resurgence in the 2026 campaign. The Chiefs endured a rare miss of the postseason last year, the first time they failed to qualify since 2014.
That disappointment also snapped a remarkable run of nine straight AFC West division crowns and seven consecutive trips to the AFC Championship Game. Despite those setbacks, Reid's squad entered the 2025 season still fresh in the memory of having captured three Super Bowls in five attempts over a six‑year span, cementing their status as one of the modern era's most dominant dynasties. Their quest for a historic three‑peat was thwarted when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
The low point of that season arrived in December when Mahomes suffered a devastating knee injury that required surgery on both his ACL and LCL. After an arduous rehabilitation program, the quarterback is slated to make his first appearance back on the field in a Monday night showdown against the Denver Broncos.
"He's doing great," Reid told Sky Sports during the offseason. "He put in seven hours a day here all summer, pushing himself as hard as the doctors would allow. He wanted to get the most out of every session, and he did.
We track his progress, set daily goals, and our physical therapist, Julie, makes sure he never exceeds the limits we set for him." Returning from a major injury and after his statistically weakest season since entering the league, Mahomes will inevitably face heightened scrutiny. Yet his teammates remain unwavering in their belief that he is still the engine that drives Kansas City. "Pat is the best quarterback in the league, there's not much more to say about that," Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said to Sky Sports.
Offensive guard Trey Smith, who secured a four‑year, $94 million extension in July, knows his job will become even more critical as he works to protect Mahomes against a Denver defensive line that ranked second overall and led the NFL with 68 sacks last season. "He's a field general," Smith explained. "He makes the job easier for all of us because he's creative, he can extend plays, and you always have that mental timer ticking—block until the whistle.
Having him back is a huge boost. From day one I could tell he was one of our top guys, and his talent speaks for itself.
His presence will push us farther than we could go without him, and the whole team is excited to have him back." Reid frequently references the team's traffic‑light system, a framework that balances Mahomes' improvisational brilliance with disciplined execution. The system grants Mahomes a long green light for creativity while imposing red lights for actions that could jeopardize the offense. "It lets us open things up a little," Reid said. "There are still things we can't do, but most of the time we give him the green to go.
If there's a yellow, we extend it a bit, so we stay cautious but still aggressive." Kelce, who delayed retirement to sign a three‑year, $54.7 million extension, will once again line up beside Mahomes. Though he may no longer dominate games the way he once did, Kelce still led the Chiefs with 851 receiving yards last season and remains a vital piece of the offensive puzzle.
"He acts like he's going to play forever," Reid remarked. "I don't worry about it. If this is his last year, we'll use him to the fullest. If it's two, we'll do the same.
He works his tail off and does a great job." On his "New Heights" podcast, Kelce credited Mahomes' relentless work ethic during his rehab as a key factor in his decision to keep playing. Kelce said he wants to continue serving his quarterback and helping the team succeed. "The energy and leadership Travis brings are irreplaceable," Jones added. "I can't imagine this team without him.
We hope he sticks around for another year; he's the soul of the Chiefs." In free agency, Kansas City bolstered its offensive arsenal by adding running back Kenneth Walker III, fresh off a Super Bowl‑winning season with the Seattle Seahawks. The Chiefs also re‑signed veteran cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and used the sixth overall pick to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, their highest draft selection since taking Mahomes tenth overall in 2017. Reid and his staff refuse to dwell on last year's shortcomings, insisting that the NFL's fast‑changing landscape demands constant adaptation.
"It's frustrating when we fall short of our goals," Smith admitted. "We've been used to AFC Championship appearances or better for as long as I've been here.
Missing that mark left a sour taste, but it's a lesson we can learn from. The NFL is unpredictable, and we have to grow from our losses so we don't repeat them." The Chiefs' loss of the AFC West crown to Sean Payton's Denver Broncos—who finished 14‑3 and secured the No.
1 seed—underscored the need for a fresh start. Kansas City finished 6‑11, their worst record since a 2‑14 season in 2012. "You have ups and downs, and you learn a lot from the downs," Jones reflected. "Last year was a wake‑up call for the players and the organization.
We have a lot of young talent, and the expectations remain the same: win the AFC West, host playoff games, and chase the Super Bowl. It all starts with Monday night against Denver." As the 2026 NFL season unfolds, fans can follow every moment on Sky Sports, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, either through a Sky Sports subscription or a contract‑free stream via NOW.