The 2020 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 61st season overall and their eighth under head coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs, who entered the season as defending Super Bowl LIV champions, qualified for the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, tying a franchise record set from 1990 to 1995 and won the division for the fifth consecutive year. They finished with a league-leading 14–2 record, the best record in Chiefs history until the 2024 season. The Chiefs appeared in Super Bowl LV, their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance and fourth in franchise history, but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31–9. With the loss, the Chiefs became the sixth defending Super Bowl champion to lose the next year's game, after the 1978 Dallas Cowboys, the 1983 Washington Redskins, the 1997 Green Bay Packers, the 2014 Seattle Seahawks, and the 2017 New England Patriots. Their 2024 counterpart would later join this list.
Season summary
In the offseason, the Chiefs released the longest tenured player in franchise history, punter Dustin Colquitt, who had been with the team since 2005. Colquitt was later signed to the Chiefs practice squad shortly before the playoffs.
The biggest move of the offseason, however, was signing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a ten-year, $503-million-dollar extension, the largest contract in American sports history.
On August 17, the Chiefs announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their stadium will be filled at about 22% capacity, or about 16,000 fans. Additionally, fans in attendance will be required to wear a face covering when they are not actively eating or drinking. Season tickets were not sold, however, season ticket holders from 2019 that did not cancelled season tickets, still had the option to buy season tickets in 2021.
After a 34–20 Week 3 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs set a franchise record for consecutive wins including the playoffs with 12. The streak was snapped two weeks later at 13 with a Week 5 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Following a Week 4 victory over the New England Patriots, the Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to open their season 4–0 in four consecutive seasons. The Chiefs clinched their fifth consecutive AFC West title after defeating the Miami Dolphins in Week 14. The victory also gave the Chiefs their first 12–1 record in franchise history. A Week 16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons gave the Chiefs their franchise record 14th win. It also clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Chiefs finished the season undefeated on the road for the first time in franchise history and with a 14–2 overall record, the best in the NFL during the season. In doing so, the Chiefs became the first team since the 2016 New England Patriots to achieve an 8–0 road record in the regular season.
Following their win in the divisional round of the playoffs against the Browns, Kansas City became the first AFC team ever to host three consecutive conference championship games, and the second team in NFL history to host three consecutive conference championships. The other team was the Philadelphia Eagles from 2002 to 2004, who were also coached by Andy Reid. The win also gave the Chiefs their 3rd consecutive season winning at least one playoff game, after losing 11 of their previous 12 playoff games. In the AFC Championship, the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 38–24 and advanced to Super Bowl LV, their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance and fourth all-time Super Bowl appearance. They went on to lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl, becoming the first team since the 2017 New England Patriots to win a Super Bowl but lose the following one the next season.
NFL Top 100
The Chiefs had six players named to the Top 100. Tight end Travis Kelce is the only player who was ranked higher than the previous season. Defending Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the highest rated Chiefs player on the list at fourth. Mahomes selection of fourth (behind fellow quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson, as well as defensive tackle Aaron Donald) drew criticism from multiple NFL analysts and fans. SB Nation’s Chiefs site Arrowhead Pride said they will no longer report on the Top 100 following Mahomes being selected fourth.
Rank Player Position Change 4 Patrick Mahomes Quarterback 0 18 Travis Kelce Tight end 3 22 Tyreek Hill Wide receiver 3 39 Tyrann Mathieu Safety NR 52 Chris Jones Defensive tackle 16 95 Frank Clark Defensive end 10
Offseason
Coaching staff changes 2020 Kansas City Chiefs Coaching staff changes Old coach Position New coach Vacant Passing game coordinator Mike Kafka* Rod Wilson Assistant special teamscoordinator Andy Hill
Players added Below are players signed following the conclusion of the 2019 season, some of the players signed spent a portion of the 2019 NFL season on the practice squad and/or active roster.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Players added Player Position Taco Charlton DE Adrian Colbert S Felton Davis WR Gehrig Dieter* WR Jody Fortson* WR Antonio Hamilton CB Darius Harris LB Daniel Helm TE Braxton Hoyett* DT Nick Keizer* TE Daniel Kilgore C Chris Lammons* CB Devaroe Lawrence* DT John Lovett FB Elijah McGuire* RB Tyler Newsome P Kelechi Osemele G Mike Remmers T Ricky Seals-Jones TE Emmanuel Smith* LB Andrew Soroh S Jordan Ta'amu QB Tedric Thompson S Tim Ward DE DeAndré Washington RB
Players lost Below are players who were on the roster at the end of the 2019 season, but were either released or did not re-sign after their contract expired.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Players lost Player Position Blake Bell TE Morris Claiborne CB Dustin Colquitt P Felton Davis WR Kendall Fuller CB Darron Lee OLB Jordan Lucas S Marcus Marshall RB LeSean McCoy RB Emmanuel Ogbah DE Reggie Ragland LB Keith Reaser CB Terrell Suggs DE Spencer Ware RB Xavier Williams DT Stefen Wisniewski G David Wells TE
Draft
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 32 Clyde Edwards-Helaire Running back LSU 2 63 Willie Gay Linebacker Mississippi State 3 96 Lucas Niang Offensive tackle TCU 4 138 L'Jarius Sneed Safety Louisiana Tech 5 177 Mike Danna Defensive end Michigan 7 237 BoPete Keyes Cornerback Tulane Trades The Chiefs traded linebacker Dee Ford to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their 2nd round draft pick (63rd overall). The Chiefs traded their 2nd round selection (64th overall), in addition to 2019 draft picks, to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for defensive end Frank Clark and a 2019 draft pick. The Chiefs traded their 6th round selection (211th overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for linebacker Darron Lee The Chiefs traded their 7th round selection (246th overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for safety Jordan Lucas. The Chiefs traded their 6th-round pick in 2021 NFL draft to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for their 237th pick in the 2020 draft.
Undrafted free agents
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Undrafted Free Agents Player Position College Andre Baccellia WR Washington Hakeem Bailey CB West Virginia Rodney Clemons S SMU Omari Cobb LB Marshall Jarvaris Davis CB Auburn Yasir Durant OT Missouri Jovahn Fair OT Temple Maurice Ffrench WR Pittsburgh Aleva Hifo WR BYU Lavert Hill CB Michigan Jalen Julius S Mississippi State Kalija Lipscomb WR Vanderbilt Shea Patterson QB Michigan Justice Shelton-Mosley WR Vanderbilt Tommy Townsend P Florida Tershawn Wharton DT Missouri S&T Cody White WR Michigan State Darryl Williams C Mississippi State Bryan Wright LB Cincinnati
Signed and released in the offseason Below are players who were signed and released in the offseason before playing a game for the Chiefs in the 2020 season. These players were not a part of the final roster cut downs prior to the start of the regular season.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Signed and released in the offseason Player Position Anthony Lanier DT Alizé Mack TE Shea Patterson QB Kyle Shurmur QB Mike Weber RB Cody White WR JaVarius Davis CB Jovahn Fair G Jalen Julius S John Lovett FB Tyler Newsome P Byran Wright LB Andrew Soroh S Aleva Hifo WR Andre Baccellia WR Hakeem Bailey CB Emmanuel Smith LB
COVID-19 opt-outs On July 24, 2020, NFL owners and the NFL Players Association approved giving players the option to opt out of playing during the entire 2020 season as precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The players listed below opted-out before the August 6 deadline and did not play.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs COVID-19 opt-outs Player Position Laurent Duvernay-Tardif G Damien Williams RB Lucas Niang OT
Final roster cutdown The following players were released to bring the roster to the league mandated 53 players before week 1. In addition to the following 24 players being released, the Chiefs also placed two players on the reserve/suspended list and placed one player on the PUP list.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Final roster cutdown Player Position Jackson Barton T Rodney Clemons DB Omari Cobb LB Adrian Colbert S Gehrig Dieter WR Maurice Ffrench WR Jody Fortson WR Darius Harris LB Daniel Helm TE Lavert Hill DB Braxton Hoyett DT Ryan Hunter G Chris Lammons CB Devaroe Lawrence DT Kalija Lipscomb WR Elijah McGuire RB Matt Moore QB Greg Senat T Justice Shelton-Mosley WR Breeland Speaks DE Jordan Ta'amu QB Tim Ward DE DeAndré Washington RB Darryl Williams OL
In-season transactions All transactions listed in this section occurred after the Chiefs released their initial 53 player roster.
Suspensions served The players listed below served a suspension at some point during the season. The length, reason, and weeks served are all listed below.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Suspensions served Player Position Reason Length Weeks served Bashaud Breeland CB Personal conduct andpositive test for marijuana 4 games 1–4 Mike Pennel DT Positive test for 2 games 1–2
Signings 2020 Kansas City Chiefs In-season signings Player Position Le'Veon Bell RB
Practice squad elevations 2020 Kansas City Chiefs Practice squad elevations Player Position Final status* Braxton Hoyett DT Ravens DeAndré Washington RB Dolphins roster Darius Harris LB Chiefs roster Danny Isidora G Steelers roster Marcus Kemp WR Chiefs roster Bryan Witzmann G Chiefs PS Gehrig Dieter WR Chiefs PS Tim Ward DE Chiefs roster Chris Lammons CB Chiefs roster Stefen Wisniewski G Chiefs roster Deandre Baker CB Chiefs PS Emmanuel Smith LB Chiefs PS Omari Cobb LB Chiefs PS
Trades 2020 Kansas City Chiefs tradesTeamPlayer/pickReceivedCompensation Miami Dolphins 6th-round pick2021 NFL draft RB DeAndré Washington7th-round pick 2021 NFL Draft
Cuts 2020 Kansas City Chiefs cutsPlayerPositionTedric Thompson CBRicky Seals-Jones* TE
Injured reserve returns The following players spent a portion of the season on injured reserve and were eventually activated off of it.
2020 Kansas City Chiefs Injured reserve returnsPlayerPositionDate addedDate removedKhalen Saunders DT September 19 October 24L'Jarius Sneed CB September 30 November 21Mike Danna DT October 10 October 31Alex Okafor DE October 24 November 21
Staff
Final roster
Preseason cancellation The Chiefs' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Week Date Opponent Venue Result 1 Cincinnati Bengals Arrowhead Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 at Arizona Cardinals State Farm Stadium 3 at Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium 4 Green Bay Packers Arrowhead Stadium
Regular season
Schedule As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs earned the right to host the NFL Kickoff Game, which occurred on September 10. The Chiefs' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.