The 2017 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 48th in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th as the Kansas City Chiefs, their 58th overall, their fifth under head coach Andy Reid and their first under general manager Brett Veach. They won the AFC West, but lost to the Tennessee Titans in the wild card round after blowing a 21–3 lead at the half. The season was the first to feature future two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes whose first start came in the last game of the regular season against the Denver Broncos, a game which had no playoff implications as the Chiefs had secured the division in Week 16.
Until 2025, this was the last season that the Chiefs did not win a playoff game or advance to at least the AFC Championship Game.
Season notes General manager John Dorsey was fired on June 22, 2017. On July 10, the Chiefs promoted co-director of player personnel Brett Veach to general manager. The only other personnel change for the Chiefs that occurred was co-offensive coordinator Brad Childress was promoted to assistant head coach, leaving Matt Nagy as the only offensive coordinator. The Chiefs most notable transaction of the off-season came when they released the franchise's all-time leading rusher, Jamaal Charles, after 9 seasons. After being released, Charles signed with the Chiefs division rival, the Denver Broncos.
Following the Atlanta Falcons 23–17 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, the Chiefs became the last undefeated team left in the NFL for the fourth time in team history, and the second time under Andy Reid, with the previous times being in 2003, 2010, and 2013. After their 5–0 start, the Chiefs lost 6 of their next 7 games, the lone win coming against the Broncos. During this stretch, the Chiefs offense struggled, leading to head coach Andy Reid giving play calling duties during games to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
After four straight losses, the Chiefs won three straight games to win the AFC West for the second consecutive season. It was the first time in franchise history that the Chiefs have won back-to-back division titles. It also marked the Chiefs qualifying for the playoffs three consecutive seasons, which they had not done since they made six consecutive playoff appearances from 1990 to 1995. They finished the season with a 10–6 record, earning the AFC's fourth seed in the playoffs. In the wild-card round, they would lose to the Tennessee Titans 22–21. In the game, the Chiefs had a commanding 21–3 lead at halftime, but failed to score a single point in the second half. The loss extended their NFL record six straight home playoff losses. It was the second time under Andy Reid they lost a playoff game after being up by more than 10 points at halftime. The Chiefs have lost three consecutive playoff games, and have lost 11 of their last 12. The Chiefs first two wins of the season came against teams that eventually meet in Super Bowl LII to end the season. the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally by beating the Patriots in Week 1, the Chiefs extending their winning streak against the defending Super Bowl champs to six.
NFL Top 100 The Chiefs had 6 players ranked in NFL Network's annual Top 100 players list, which was tied for the 3rd most.
Rank Player Position Change 13 Eric Berry S 42 26 Travis Kelce TE 65 32 Marcus Peters CB 33 36 Tyreek Hill WR NR 76 Justin Houston LB 50 81 Alex Smith QB 0
Transactions
Offseason
Reserve/future free agent contracts Player Position Isaiah Battle T Will Ratelle FB Julian Wilson CB Joseph Cheek G Jordan Devey G Jimmy Hall S Cory Johnson NT Seantavius Jones WR David King DE Earl Okine LB Joel Stave QB Khaseem Greene LB Josh James T Montori Hughes DT Darrin Reaves RB
Cuts
Position Player 2017 team RB Jamaal Charles Denver Broncos DE Jaye Howard Chicago Bears WR Jeremy Maclin Baltimore Ravens
Free agents
Position Player Status* 2016 team(s) 2017 team S Eric Berry UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs TE Orson Charles UFA Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs LB Reshard Cliett UFA Denver BroncosNew York JetsArizona Cardinals Kansas City Chiefs WR Kenny Cook ERFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD RB Knile Davis UFA Kansas City Chiefs Pittsburgh Steelers TE Gavin Escobar UFA Dallas Cowboys Kansas City Chiefs QB Nick Foles* UFA Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles S Marqueston Huff UFA Jacksonville JaguarsBaltimore Ravens Kansas City Chiefs CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste UFA Seattle Seahawks Kansas City Chiefs DE Jarvis Jenkins UFA New York JetsKansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs DT Bennie Logan UFA Philadelphia Eagles Kansas City Chiefs FB Trey Millard ERFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD P Will Monday UFA Pittsburgh Steelers Kansas City Chiefs G Mike Person UFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs DT Dontari Poe UFA Kansas City Chiefs Atlanta Falcons DE Kendall Reyes UFA Kansas City Chiefs TBD LB Marcus Rush UFA Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs K Cairo Santos RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs RB C. J. Spiller UFA New Orleans SaintsSeattle SeahawksNew York Jets Kansas City Chiefs S Daniel Sorensen RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs G Andrew Tiller UFA San Francisco 49ers Kansas City Chiefs WR Albert Wilson RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs LS James Winchester RFA Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs*
Trades
Position Player/pickreceived Team Compensation NA 5th round pick2017 draft New England Patriots TE James O'Shaughnessy6th round pick 2017 draft
Draft
Notes The Chiefs forfeited their original 6th round selection (what would have been the 211th overall selection) as part of their punishment for a violation of the NFL's Anti-Tampering policy during the free agency period. The Chiefs traded their 1st round selection, (27th overall), their 3rd round selection (91st overall), and their 2018 1st round selection for the Buffalo Bills 1st round selection (10th overall) The Chiefs traded their 3rd round selection (104th overall), 4th round selection (132nd overall), and 7th round selection (245th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings for their 3rd round selection (86th overall) The Chiefs traded tight end James O'Shaughnessy and their 6th round selection (216th overall) to the New England Patriots for the Patriots 5th round selection (183rd overall) The Chiefs traded two 5th round selections (170th overall and 180th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings for their 4th round selection (139th overall)
Undrafted free agents Position Player College T Corin Brooks Texas–Permian Basin S Devin Chappell Oregon State WR Gehrig Dieter Alabama S Damariay Drew California WR Anas Hasic West Florida TE Wyatt Houston Utah State WR Marcus Kemp Hawaii CB Ashton Lampkin Oklahoma State G Damien Mama USC WR Alonzo Moore Nebraska CB J. R. Nelson Montana S Jordan Sterns Oklahoma State WR Tony Stevens Auburn
Players signed from rookie mini camp tryouts Position Player College NT Ricky Ali'ifua Utah State TE Emmanuel Byrd Marshall RB Devine Redding Indiana WR Jamari Staples Louisville
Players cut in the offseason before playing for the Chiefs
Position Player Julian Wilson CB Jimmy Hall CB Anas Hasic WR Wyatt Houston TE Cory Johnson* DT Will Ratelle* FB Darrin Reaves RB Kelvin Taylor RB Jamari Staples WR
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 San Francisco 49ers L 17–27 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 2 at Cincinnati Bengals W 30–12 1–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 3 at Seattle Seahawks L 13–26 1–2 Century Link Field Recap 4 Tennessee Titans W 30–6 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Game summaries Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 at New England Patriots W 42–27 1–0 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 September 17 Philadelphia Eagles W 27–20 2–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 September 24 at Los Angeles Chargers W 24–10 3–0 StubHub Center Recap 4 Washington Redskins W 29–20 4–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 5 October 8 at Houston Texans W 42–34 5–0 NRG Stadium Recap 6 October 15 Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–19 5–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 7 at Oakland Raiders L 30–31 5–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 8 Denver Broncos W 29–19 6–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 9 November 5 at Dallas Cowboys L 17–28 6–3 AT&T Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 19 at New York Giants L 9–12 6–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 12 November 26 Buffalo Bills L 10–16 6–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 13 December 3 at New York Jets L 31–38 6–6 MetLife Stadium Recap 14 December 10 Oakland Raiders W 26–15 7–6 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 15 Los Angeles Chargers W 30–13 8–6 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 16 December 24 Miami Dolphins W 29–13 9–6 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 December 31 at Denver Broncos W 27–24 10–6 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at New England Patriots NFL Kickoff Game
Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 5: at Houston Texans
Week 6: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7: at Oakland Raiders
The Raiders scored the game-winning touchdown after multiple holding penalties on Kansas City forced several untimed downs after time expired. The game would be the Chiefs' last loss in Oakland and last road loss to a division opponent until Week 8 of the 2023 season.
Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
During halftime, Carlos Carson was inducted into the Chiefs Ring of Honor.
Week 9: at Dallas Cowboys
This was the last time the Chiefs lost a game by more than 8 points until Super Bowl LV.
Week 11: at New York Giants
Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 13: at New York Jets
Week 14: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 17: at Denver Broncos
This Week 17 game marked the start of Patrick Mahomes's journey as the Chiefs' star-rising quarterback. Though Mahomes did not play in the AFC Wild Card game, against the Tennessee Titans, the week after, Chiefs fans saw the first glimpse of Mahomes' career in his first regular season game as an NFL quarterback. It was later announced that Mahomes would be the Chiefs' starting quarterback for the 2018 season, after Alex Smith was traded to the Washington Redskins, in exchange for cornerback, Kendall Fuller. The Wild Card game was Alex Smith's last action as the Chiefs' starting quarterback, after spending four seasons with the team, since 2013, leading them to multiple playoff appearances.
Standings
Division
Conference
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card Tennessee Titans (5) L 21–22 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (5) Tennessee Titans
For the first round of the playoffs, the Chiefs played the Tennessee Titans at home. The Chiefs entered the game looking to win their first home playoff game since 1994, a streak of 5 straight home playoff losses. The Chiefs had a strong first half, building a 21–3 halftime lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. However, the Titans were able to catch fire, with a batted down touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to himself, to make the score 21–10. The Chiefs were not able to recover after this touchdown, and the Titans outscored Kansas City 19–0 in the second half to win 22–21. The Chiefs, looked as though they had taken the lead on a fumble by Derrick Henry. However, the turnover was reviewed, and upon review, the call was overturned and Tennessee kept the ball. Henry was then able to run for a first down on third down to seal the game. With the loss, the Chiefs ended their season at 10–7 and lost 6 straight home playoff games, the worst in NFL history.
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