The 2023 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 64th overall, and their 11th under head coach Andy Reid. The team entered the year having won Super Bowl LVII the previous season and sought to become the first team since the 2004 New England Patriots to win consecutive league championships.
After a 6–1 start, the Chiefs lost four out of their next six games and, after a Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, failed to match their 14–3 record from the previous year. The Chiefs were plagued by a noticeable decline in offensive production, with the team only scoring 39 touchdowns during the regular season compared to their 61 touchdowns in the prior season. The fall in touchdowns dropped the team in scoring from 2nd in the league to 15th. Nonetheless, by winning three out of their final four games of the season, they finished with an 11–6 record and secured their eleventh consecutive winning season, and became division champions for the eighth consecutive season and a record 16th time overall.
In the playoffs, the Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins by the score of 26–7 in the wild card round in frigid weather, as the game was the fourth-coldest game played in NFL history. In the divisional round, the team held on to a narrow 27–24 win over the Buffalo Bills on the road, marking their 3rd postseason victory over Buffalo in four seasons, and additionally marking Kansas City's first road postseason game in the AFC with Patrick Mahomes. They made their sixth consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance, but their first on the road, defeating the Baltimore Ravens with a 17–10 score to advance to their fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years.
In Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in overtime in what was only the second overtime in Super Bowl history (the first being Super Bowl LI) and a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. The win moved the Chiefs to four Super Bowl titles, becoming the seventh franchise to accomplish that number. In addition, the Chiefs' victory made the 2023 squad the first NFL team since the 2004 Patriots to successfully defend their championship and the first team from the AFC West to accomplish the feat since the 1998 Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXIII.
The Chiefs' defense was a key part of their Super Bowl-winning season, as they had a 2nd ranked defense in terms of yardage and points per game, only behind the Ravens. Despite all four of their opponents in the playoffs having scoring offenses that finished in the top 10 in the NFL, the Chiefs only allowed 15.8 points per game in the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes won his third Super Bowl MVP with two touchdown passes, including the decisive score in overtime. This marked Mahomes' third Super Bowl title in his first six years starting for the Chiefs. With the team having trailed by ten points in the second quarter, it also marked the third time in the Reid/Mahomes era the Chiefs overcame a double-digit Super Bowl deficit to win the title.
The Kansas City Chiefs drew an average home attendance of 70,968 in 9 home games in the 2023 NFL season.
NFL Top 100
The Chiefs only had three players ranked in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023 players for the second straight year. However, all three were ranked in the top 10. Patrick Mahomes was named the number 1 player for the 2nd time. They were the only team with multiple top 10 selections and the second team ever with three in the top 10, after the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
Rank Player Position Change Refs 1 Patrick Mahomes Quarterback 7 5 Travis Kelce Tight end 5 10 Chris Jones Defensive tackle 29
Offseason All transactions in this section occurred between the end of the 2022 season (excluding futures contracts which began to be signed following the conclusion of the regular season) and the Chiefs first preseason game.
Coaching staff changes + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff changes Old coach Reason Position New coach Refs Eric Bieniemy Hired by Washington Commanders Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy Matt Nagy Promoted to offensive coordinator Quarterbacks David Girardi David Girardi Promoted to quarterbacks coach Pass game analyst/assistant quarterbacks Positions eliminated Greg Lewis Hired by Baltimore Ravens Running backs coach Todd Pinkston N/A Position created Pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier Joe Bleymaier Job title change Wide receivers Connor Embree Connor Embree Promoted to wide receivers coach Offensive quality control Kevin Saxton N/A Position created Assistant running backs Porter Ellett
Retirements + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs retirements Player Position Years withthe Chiefs Years inthe NFL Chad Henne QB 5 15
Players lost Below are players who were on the roster at the end of the 2022 season, but were either released or did not re-sign after their contract expired.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs players lost Player Position Reason New team Orlando Brown Jr. LT Cincinnati Bengals Michael Burton FB UFA Denver Broncos Frank Clark DE Released Denver Broncos Carlos Dunlap DE UFA Unsigned Mecole Hardman WR UFA New York Jets Ronald Jones II RB UFA Dallas Cowboys Chris Lammons CB UFA Indianapolis Colts Khalen Saunders DT UFA New Orleans Saints JuJu Smith-Schuster WR UFA New England Patriots Juan Thornhill S UFA Cleveland Browns Andrew Wylie OT UFA Washington Commanders
Futures contracts Players signed to futures contracts would typically spend most or all of the previous season on the Chiefs' or another team's practice squad. These contracts are signed after the conclusion of the regular season through the beginning the next league year. Players with an asterisk finished the 2022 season on the Chiefs practice squad.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs futures contracts Player Position Kendall Blanton* TE Dicaprio Bootle* CB Matt Bushman* TE Mike Caliendo* G Cole Christiansen* LB Jerrion Ealy* WR Ty Fryfogle WR Chris Oladokun* QB La'Mical Perine* RB Cornell Powell* WR Austin Reiter* C John Ross† WR Danny Shelton* DT Ihmir Smith-Marsette* WR Daniel Wise DT
Players added Players below played for another team in 2022 and signed with the Chiefs.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs additions Player Position Previous team Byron Cowart DE Indianapolis Colts Matt Dickerson DE Atlanta Falcons Mike Edwards S Tampa Bay Buccaneers Blaine Gabbert QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sebastian Gutierrez OT Las Vegas Raiders Phil Hoskins DT Kansas City Chiefs* Lamar Jackson CB Denver Broncos Richie James WR New York Giants Charles Omenihu DE San Francisco 49ers Donovan Smith OT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jawaan Taylor OT Jacksonville Jaguars Drue Tranquill LB Los Angeles Chargers Chris Williams DT Indianapolis Colts
Draft
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 31 Felix Anudike-Uzomah Defensive end Kansas State 2 55 Rashee Rice Wide receiver SMU From Vikings via Lions 63 Traded to the Detroit Lions 3 92 Wanya Morris Offensive tackle Oklahoma From Bengals 95 Traded to the Cincinnati Bengals 100 Traded to the New York Giants 2020 Resolution JC-2A selection 4 119 Chamarri Conner Safety Virginia Tech From Lions via Vikings 122 Traded to the Detroit Lions From Dolphins 134 Traded to the Minnesota Vikings 5 166 B. J. Thompson Linebacker Stephen F. Austin 6 178 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys From Bears via Dolphins 194 Keondre Coburn Defensive tackle Texas From Lions 209 Traded to the New York Giants 217 Traded to the Cincinnati Bengals Compensatory selection 7 249 Traded to the Detroit Lions 250 Nic Jones Cornerback Ball State Compensatory selection
Draft trades
Undrafted free agents + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agents Name Position College Ekow Boye-Doe CB Kansas State Montrae Braswell CB Missouri State Jerome Carvin G Tennessee Anthony Cook S Texas Kekoa Crawford WR California Izaiah Gathings TE Middle Tennessee State Jason Godrick OT N/A* Kahlef Hailassie CB Western Kentucky Anderson Hardy OT Appalachian State Blake Haynes OT Tarleton State Cam Jones LB Indiana Truman Jones DE Harvard Martez Manual S Missouri Egawan JenningsLB Kent State Isiah Moore LB NC State Isiah Norman S Marshall Deneric Prince RB Tulsa Nikko Remigio WR Fresno State Ty Scott WR Missouri State Reese Taylor CB Purdue Anthony Witherstone CB Merrimack
Signed and released in the offseason Players below were signed in the offseason but were released before the start of the preseason.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs signed then released Name Position Blake Haynes T Martez Manuel S Isaiah Moore LB
Preseason transactions Transactions below occurred between the day after Chiefs first preseason game and the day before their first regular season game.
Preseason cuts Players below were released outside of the league mandated cut date.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs cuts Name Position Kekoa Crawford WR Anthony Witherstone CB
Preseason signings + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs signings Name Position Olakunle Fatukasi LB Juwan Green WR Duron Lowe CB Darius Rush CB
Preseason trades + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs trades Team Received Compensation Carolina Panthers 7th-round selection2025 NFL draft WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette7th-round selection2025 NFL Draft Las Vegas Raiders DT Neil Farrell Jr. 6th-round selection2024 NFL draft
Cuts to 53 Players below were released to reach the league mandated 53-player roster limit. The Chiefs also used a trade and reserve lists to reach the player limit. Additionally, the Chiefs waived three players with an injury designation who reverted to injured reserve after going unclaimed.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs cut to 53 Name Position Kendall Blanton TE Dicaprio Bootle CB Ekow Boye-Doe CB Shane Buechele QB Deon Bush S Matt Bushman TE Cole Christiansen LB Anthony Cook S Matt Dickerson DE Jerrion Ealy RB/WR Olakunle Fatukasi LB Ty Fryfogle WR Izaiah Gathings TE Jason Godrick T Juwan Green WR Sebastian Gutierrez T Kahlef Hailassie CB Anderson Hardy T Phil Hoskins DT Lamar Jackson CB Truman Jones DE Joshua Kaindoh DE Darian Kinnard T Duron Lowe CB Isiah Norman CB Chris Oladokun QB La'Mical Perine RB Cornell Powell WR Deneric Prince RB Austin Reiter C Ty Scott WR Danny Shelton DT Reese Taylor CB Chris Williams DT Daniel Wise DE
Regular season transactions Players listed below were involved in a transaction between the Chiefs first game of the regular season and Super Bowl LVIII.
Suspensions served + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs suspensions Name Position Weeksserved Policy violated Charles Omenihu DE 1–6 Personal conduct Justyn Ross WR 8–14* Personal conduct
Standard elevations Players below were activated via a standard elevation prior to a game. A standard elevation is when a team temporarily activates a player from the practice squad to the active roster and allows them to send the player back to the practice squad without needing to clear waivers first.
+ 2023 Kansas City Chiefs standard elevations Name Position Week(s) Matt Bushman TE 1 Matt Dickerson DE 1, 2, 18, La'Mical Perine RB 2, 9, 12 Cole Christiansen LB 3, 4 Montrell Washington WR 3, 12, 16 Deon Bush S 8, 14 Deneric Prince RB 13, 14, 15 Mike Pennel DT 15, 16, 17, , DR, , Keaontay Ingram RB 17 Chris Oladokun QB 18 Keith Taylor CB WC, AG
Signings Players below with PS next to previous team indicates player was signed off the practice squad of the team listed + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs signings Name Position Previous team Cole Christiansen LB Kansas City Chiefs PS Matt Dickerson DE Kansas City Chiefs PS Montrell Washington WR Kansas City Chiefs PS Darius Harris LB Las Vegas Raiders PS Deon Bush S Kansas City Chiefs PS La'Mical Perine RB Kansas City Chiefs PS Darius Harris LB Kansas City Chiefs PS
Cuts + 2023 Kansas City Chiefs cuts Name Position Darius Rush CB Keondre Coburn DT Montrell Washington WR Darius Harris LB Matt Dickerson DT
Reserve list activations