The 2015 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 46th in the National Football League (NFL), their 56th overall and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Andy Reid and John Dorsey. The Chiefs went through a poor start in their first six games as they were 1–5, and lost their star running back, Jamaal Charles, to a torn ACL in his right knee during an 18–17 Week 5 loss at home against the Chicago Bears. In week 16, after their ninth consecutive victory and the Baltimore Ravens win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs clinched a playoff berth, their second in three years. They are the first team since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals to start the season 1–5 and qualify for the playoffs. The Chiefs also set the franchise record for the most consecutive victories, winning 10 in a row (which has since been eclipsed by the 2019–2020 squads).
In their Wild Card matchup, the Chiefs shutout the Texans 30–0 to earn their first playoff win in 22 years, ending what was at the time, until the Bengals broke the record the night the Chiefs won, an NFL record for consecutive playoff losses. The shutout was the Chiefs first ever playoff shutout and remains, as of the 2023–24 playoffs, the most recent playoff shutout in the NFL. The following week, they were defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional round 27–20. Two Chiefs took home awards at the 5th NFL Honors, honoring performances from the 2015 season. Cornerback Marcus Peters won Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the NFL in interceptions. Safety Eric Berry won Comeback Player of the Year after a being named All-Pro the year after having his season cut short due to a lymphoma diagnosis.
This was the last season that the Chiefs did not win the AFC West until 2025, as the franchise went on to win 9 consecutive division titles.
Roster changes
Offseason
Reserve/future free agent contracts Player Position Brandon Barden TE Armon Binns WR Hebron Fangupo DT Curtis Feight T Brandon Hartson LS Ricky Henry G Aaron Hester CB Deji Olatoye Jarrod Pughsley T Da'Rick Rogers WR Adam Schiltz TE Derek Sherrod T Spencer Ware HB Fred Williams WR Jerel Worthy DT
Cuts
Position Player 2015 team LB Joe Mays New York Jets DT Vance Walker Denver Broncos TE Anthony Fasano Tennessee Titans WR Donnie Avery None WR A. J. Jenkins Dallas Cowboys WR Dwayne Bowe Cleveland Browns G Mike McGlynn New Orleans Saints
Trades
Position Player/pickreceived Team Compensation G Ben Grubbs New Orleans Saints 5th round pick,2015 NFL draft FS Kelcie McCray Seattle Seahawks 5th round pick,2016 NFL draft | SS || Ben Dinnucci || Denver Broncos || 5th round pick,2016 NFL draft
Free agents
Position Player Status* 2014 team(s) 2015 team WR Jason Avant UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs S Tyvon Branch UFA Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs FS Kurt Coleman UFA Kansas City Chiefs Carolina Panthers LS Thomas Gafford UFA Kansas City Chiefs Chicago Bears TE Richard Gordon UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs WR Frankie Hammond ERFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs TE Demetrius Harris ERFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs T Ryan Harris UFA Kansas City Chiefs Denver Broncos WR Junior Hemingway ERFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs LB Justin Houston UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs C Rodney Hudson UFA Kansas City Chiefs Oakland Raiders G Jeff Linkenbach UFA Kansas City Chiefs Miami Dolphins WR Jeremy Maclin UFA Philadelphia Eagles Kansas City Chiefs LB Josh Martin ERFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs LB Josh Mauga UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs FS Kelcie McCray RFA Kansas City Chiefs Seattle Seahawks RB Joe McKnight UFA Kansas City Chiefs None CB Chris Owens UFA Kansas City Chiefs New Orleans Saints CB Ron Parker UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs DE Kevin Vickerson UFA Kansas City Chiefs New York Jets*
Draft
2015 Kansas City Chiefs Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 18 Marcus Peters Cornerback Washington 2 49 Mitch Morse Guard Missouri 3 76 Chris Conley Wide receiver Georgia Steven Nelson Cornerback Oregon State 4 118 Ramik Wilson Linebacker Georgia 5 D. J. Alexander Linebacker Oregon State James O'Shaughnessy Tight End Illinois State 6 Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Defensive Tackle Southern Mississippi 7 233 Da'Ron Brown Wide Receiver Northern Illinois Compensatory selection Notes The Chiefs traded their fifth-round selection (No. 154 overall) to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for guard Ben Grubbs. The Chiefs traded their 3rd round pick (80th overall) and their 6th round pick (193rd overall) to the Minnesota Vikings for their 3rd round pick (76th overall)
Preseason transactions
Cuts
+Cuts to 75 Position Player WR Kenny Cook T Anthony Dima LS Andrew East CB Aaron Hester DE Vaughn Martin CB Kenneth Penny G Marcus Reed TE Adam Schiltz WR Jeret Smith DL Charles Tuaau WR L’Damian Washington WR Junior Hemingway OL Tavon Rooks
+Cuts to 53 Position Player WR Da'Ron Brown DE Mike Catapano S Sanders Commings LB Ja'Gared Davis DT Hebron Fangupo C Garrett Frye DL David Irving LB James-Michael Johnson C Eric Kush WR Tello Luckett C Daniel Munyer DB Deji Olatoye G Jarrod Pughsley RB Darrin Reaves DB Kevin Short OT Derek Sherrod TE Ryan Taylor FB Spencer Ware WR Fredd Williams TE Richard Gordon
Regular season transactions
Suspensions served Position Player Length Reason Weeksserved CB Sean Smith 4 games Violation of personalconduct policy 1–4
Cuts
Signings Position Player Previous team TE Brian Parker San Diego Chargers RB Spencer Ware Kansas City Chiefs* DL David King Seattle Seahawks T Jah Reid Baltimore Ravens T Jarrod Pughsley Kansas City Chiefs*
Players involved in multiple transactions This list is for players who were involved in more than one transaction during the season
Position Player Final status LB Dezman Moses Chiefs active roster WR Frankie Hammond Chiefs active roster WR Saalim Hakim Free agent OL Daniel Munyer Chiefs active roster *Indicates player was signed off the practice squad of the team listed
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Arizona Cardinals W 34–19 1–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 Seattle Seahawks W 14–13 2–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 Tennessee Titans W 34–10 3–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 4 at St. Louis Rams W 24–17 4–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap
Game summaries Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 3: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 4: at St. Louis Rams
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 13 at Houston Texans W 27–20 1–0 NRG Stadium Recap 2 Denver Broncos L 24–31 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 at Green Bay Packers L 28–38 1–2 Lambeau Field Recap 4 October 4 at Cincinnati Bengals L 21–36 1–3 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 5 October 11 Chicago Bears L 17–18 1–4 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 6 October 18 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–16 1–5 TCF Bank Stadium Recap 7 October 25 Pittsburgh Steelers W 23–13 2–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 8 November 1 Detroit Lions W 45–10 3–5 Wembley Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 15 at Denver Broncos W 29–13 4–5 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap 11 November 22 at San Diego Chargers W 33–3 5–5 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 12 November 29 Buffalo Bills W 30–22 6–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 13 December 6 at Oakland Raiders W 34–20 7–5 O.co Coliseum Recap 14 December 13 San Diego Chargers W 10–3 8–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 15 December 20 at Baltimore Ravens W 34–14 9–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 16 December 27 Cleveland Browns W 17–13 10–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 January 3 Oakland Raiders W 23–17 11–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Houston Texans
With the win, the Chiefs started their 2015 campaign at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos would score two touchdowns in the final minute to steal the win from the Chiefs. The second touchdown was a critical fumble by running back Jamaal Charles.
With the heartbreaking and stunning loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–1, and picked up their seventh straight loss to Denver. This marked their last loss to the Broncos until 2023 and their last home loss to Denver until 2025.
Week 3: at Green Bay Packers
In a rematch of the 2011 game, the Chiefs fell to 1–2. This was also their first loss at Lambeau Field, as well their first loss in Wisconsin.
Week 4: at Cincinnati Bengals
Cairo Santos would kick 7 field goals in this game, setting a new franchise record for most field goals in one game by a Kansas City kicker. The 7 kicks also tied an NFL record. However, the 7 field goals by Santos were not enough to beat the Bengals, as the Chiefs fell to 1–3.
Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears
The Chiefs would build a 17–3 lead at one point, but Chicago would pull off a comeback to win 18–17. The Chiefs tried a 66-yard field goal, but Santos kick went wide right and missed everything near the goalposts.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 1–4. They would also lose Jamaal Charles for the season, as he tore his ACL in this game.
Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
With their fifth straight loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–5.
Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger would not play in this game for the Steelers, so backup quarterback Landry Jones led the way for the Steelers. In his first career start, the Chiefs defense would force 3 turnovers, 2 of them interceptions, and the Chiefs would hold on to win 23–13.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 2–5.
Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions NFL International Series
In their first ever game in London, the Chiefs routed the crestfallen 1–6 Detroit Lions. With the win, Kansas City improved to 3–5 and they finished 1-3 against the NFC North.
Week 10: at Denver Broncos
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning would set the all-time record for most passing yards in NFL history in this game, but the Chiefs defense would have themselves a day, picking off Bronco quarterbacks five times, four on Manning, one on Brock Osweiler, and the Chiefs routed the Broncos, 29–13.
With the win, the Chiefs went to 4–5, and snapped their seven-game losing streak against the Broncos. This marked the first of 15 straight wins against the Broncos.
Week 11: at San Diego Chargers
With the huge win, Kansas City went to 5–5, and climbed back into playoff contention.
Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the win, Kansas City went to 6–5.
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
With the win, the Chiefs went to 7–5.
Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers
With the low-scoring win, the Chiefs went to 8–5 and swept the Chargers for the second straight season.
Week 15: at Baltimore Ravens
Rookie Marcus Peters would put the dagger into the Ravens, as he returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown. With the win, the Chiefs went to 9–5 and they finished 5-3 on the road.
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns, led by Johnny Manziel, attempted a comeback to put a stop to Kansas City's playoff hopes, but Cleveland did not have any timeouts remaining, and they ultimately ran out of time when Manziel couldn't advance the ball down the field fast enough.
With the win, the Chiefs went to 10–5 (3-1 against the AFC North) and clinched a playoff spot. However, Denver's win over Cincinnati meant the Chiefs failed to clinch the AFC West for the 5th straight season. This was the last time the Chiefs didn't clinch the AFC West until 2025.
Week 17: vs. Oakland Raiders
With their 10th straight win, the Chiefs ended their season at 11–5 (5-1 against the AFC West & 6-2 at home). They were the first team to end a season with 10 or more consecutive wins since the 2012 Broncos won 11 in a row to end their season.
Standings
Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card at Houston Texans (4) W 30–0 1–0 NRG Stadium Recap Divisional at New England Patriots (2) L 20–27 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap
Game summaries AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Houston Texans