The 2025 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 56th in the National Football League (NFL), their 66th overall, their ninth under the leadership of general manager Brett Veach and their 13th under head coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs entered the season as the three-time defending AFC champions, hoping to reach their fourth consecutive Super Bowl and rebound from their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Although they entered the season as one of the Super Bowl favorites, they stumbled to an 0–2 start before recovering to a 5–3 record. However, they collapsed in the second half of the season, going just 1–8 in their final nine games, including a six-game losing streak to end the season.

Kansas City failed to win the AFC West for the first time since 2015 following a home loss to the Houston Texans in Week 14. The Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2014 after a home loss to the division rival Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. Marred by close losses and struggles in road games, the Chiefs suffered their first losing season since 2012.

The Chiefs struggled with injuries throughout the season, most notably when star quarterback and franchise icon Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear late in the team's Week 15 game against the Chargers, which eliminated them from playoff contention. Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew then suffered a knee injury the following week, forcing the Chiefs to start third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun in the final two games of the season. After setting an NFL record with 12 one-possession victories the previous season, the Chiefs went just 1–9 in one-possession games. Additionally, they finished 1–7 in road games.

The Chiefs' Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys had a regular season record of 57.2 million viewers. The game was broadcast on CBS and streaming service Paramount+, and peaked with 61.4 million viewers by the game's conclusion.

Coincidentally; the Chiefs would later be joined by the Florida Panthers of the NHL in how they both reached three consecutive championships from 2023 to 2025 in their leagues to missing the playoffs outright, marking a rare occurrence of an event across North American sports.

Offseason All transactions below occurred in the 2025 offseason.

Futures contracts Futures contracts are signed beginning with the conclusion of the previous season. They typically consist of players who spent a portion of the previous season on the practice squad of a team. + 2025 Kansas City Chiefs Futures contracts Player Position Chris Oladokun QB Chukwuebuka Godrick T Baylor Cupp TE Anthony Firkser TE Keaontay Ingram RB Jason Brownlee WR Justyn Ross WR Tyquan Thornton WR Darius Rush CB Deon Bush S Eric Scott DB Jason Taylor DB Shaun Bradley LB Siaki Ika DT Fabien Lovett DT

Players lost Below are players who were on the roster at the end of the 2024 season, but were either released or did not re-sign after their contract expired.

+ 2025 Kansas City Chiefs Players lost Player Position Reason New team Carson Wentz QB Minnesota Vikings D.J. Humphries T UFA Los Angeles Rams Samaje Perine RB UFA Cincinnati Bengals Jody Fortson TE UFA TBD Peyton Hendershot TE UFA TBD Mecole Hardman WR UFA Green Bay Packers DeAndre Hopkins WR UFA Baltimore Ravens Justin Watson WR UFA Houston Texans Justin Reid S UFA New Orleans Saints Keith Taylor CB UFA Atlanta Falcons Joshua Uche DE UFA Philadelphia Eagles Derrick Nnadi DT UFA New York Jets Tershawn Wharton DT UFA Carolina Panthers Spencer Shrader K UFA Indianapolis Colts

Signings + 2025 Kansas City Chiefs signings Player Position Previous team Blake Lynch LB Kansas City Chiefs Practice squad Robert Tonyan TE Kansas City Chiefs Practice squad Cole Christiansen LB Kansas City Chiefs Jaylon Moore T San Francisco 49ers Elijah Mitchell RB San Francisco 49ers Kristian Fulton CB Los Angeles Chargers Bailey Zappe QB Cleveland Browns Gardner Minshew QB Las Vegas Raiders Jerry Tillery DT Minnesota Vikings Robert Rochell CB Green Bay Packers Mike Edwards S Tampa Bay Buccaneers Janarius Robinson DE Las Vegas Raiders Tremayne Anchrum OL Houston Texans

Trades Trades below only are for trades that included a player. Draft pick only trades will go in draft section.

+ 2025 Kansas City Chiefs trades Team Received Compensation Chicago Bears 4th round selection2026 NFL draft Joe Thuney San Francisco 49ers 6th round selection2027 NFL draft Skyy Moore New York Jets Derrick Nnadi 6th round selection2027 NFL draft

Draft

+ 2025 Kansas City Chiefs draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 31 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 1 32 Josh Simmons OT Ohio State From Philadelphia Eagles 2 63 Omarr Norman-Lott DT Tennessee 3 66 Ashton Gillotte DE Louisville From Titans 85 Nohl Williams CB California From Denver via Carolina and New England 95 Traded to the Patriots 4 133 Jalen Royals WR Utah State 5 156 Jeffrey Bassa LB Oregon From Pittsburgh 164 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers From Philadelphia Eagles via Lions and Browns 167 Traded to the Tennessee Titans 6 207 Traded to the New York Jets 7 225 Traded to the Arizona Cardinals From Jets 226 Traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers From Panthers 228 Brashard Smith RB SMU From Patriots 247 Traded to the Carolina Panthers 251 Traded to the Patriots Compensatory selection 257 Traded to the Patriots Compensatory selection

+ 2025 Kansas City Chiefs undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Elijhah Badger WR Florida Jake Briningstool TE Clemson Will Brooks S Tennessee Dalton Cooper OL Oklahoma State Jacobe Covington CB USC Eddie Czaplicki P USC Mac Dalena WR Fresno State Brandon George LB Pittsburgh Coziah Izzard DT Penn State Kevin Knowles CB Florida State Justin Lockhart WR San Jose State Glendon Miller DB Maryland Esa Pole OT Washington State Melvin Smith Jr. CB Southern Arkansas Tre Watson TE Texas A&M Elijah Young RB Western Kentucky Jimmy Holiday WR Louisiana Tech Cooper McDonald LB TCU Major Williams DB Carson–Newman

Draft trades

Staff

Final roster

Preseason Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who was drafted by the Chiefs in the first round in 2023, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Sources 1 at Arizona Cardinals L 17–20 0–1 State Farm Stadium 2 at Seattle Seahawks L 16–33 0–2 Lumen Field 3 Chicago Bears L 27–29 0–3 Arrowhead Stadium

Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Sources 1 September 5 at Los Angeles ChargersL 21–270–1 Arena Corinthians Recap 2 September 14 Philadelphia Eagles L 17–20 0–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 September 21 at New York Giants W 22–9 1–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 4 September 28 Baltimore Ravens W 37–20 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 5 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 28–31 2–3 EverBank Stadium Recap 6 October 12 Detroit Lions W 30–17 3–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 7 October 19 Las Vegas Raiders W 31–0 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 8 Washington Commanders W 28–7 5–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 9 November 2 at Buffalo Bills L 21–28 5–4 Highmark Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 16 at Denver Broncos L 19–22 5–5 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 12 November 23 Indianapolis Colts W 23–20 6–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 13 November 27 at Dallas Cowboys L 28–31 6–6 AT&T Stadium Recap 14 December 7 Houston Texans L 10–20 6–7 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 15 December 14 Los Angeles Chargers L 13–16 6–8 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Tennessee Titans L 9–26 6–9 Nissan Stadium Recap 17 December 25 Denver Broncos L 13–20 6–10 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 18 January 4 at Las Vegas Raiders L 12–14 6–11 Allegiant Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries Week 1: at Los Angeles Chargers NFL International Series

Early in the game, receiver Xavier Worthy was knocked out of the game with an injury after an collision with Travis Kelce, which contributed to a sluggish first half that was capped off by a two minute drill to kick a field goal at the end of the half. Despite a strong second half performance, the Chargers were able to run the clock out on their final possession following a run from Justin Herbert. With the loss, the Chiefs lost their season opener for the second time in three seasons and lost to the Chargers for the first time since 2021, and the first road loss to the Chargers since 2013.

Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The game remained close throughout, until a game-deciding play occurred early in the fourth quarter. With the Chiefs in the Eagles' red zone, Patrick Mahomes threw a pass intended for Travis Kelce, but the ball bounced off Kelce’s hands and was intercepted by Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba. The turnover eventually led to a touchdown that put the game away for the Eagles.

With their 3rd loss to Philadelphia since 2023, the Chiefs started 0–2 for the first time since the 2014 season. Including their defeat in Super Bowl LIX, it also marked the first time Mahomes has lost three consecutive starts. Additionally, this was the Chiefs' first home loss since 2023 Christmas Day, ending a 12-game home winning streak.

Week 3: at New York Giants

With the win, the Chiefs avoided starting 0–3 for the first time since 2011. The Chiefs recorded their first-ever road victory against the Giants, snapping a seven-game road losing steak against them.

Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens With the dominant win over the Ravens, the Chiefs improved to 2–2 on the season. They are now 6–1 against Baltimore since 2018.

Week 5: at Jacksonville Jaguars

With the upset loss, the Chiefs fell to 2–3 for the first time since 2021 and lost to the Jaguars for the first time since the 2009 season, snapping an eight-game winning streak against them. This also marked Patrick Mahomes’s first loss against the Jaguars in his NFL career. In addition, this loss also dropped the Chiefs to an 0–3 record in one-score games, after they went 11–0 in one-score games the previous season.

Week 6: vs. Detroit Lions

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 3–3, and their record improved to .500. Patrick Mahomes recorded his 302nd career touchdown pass, including the postseason, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to reach 300 touchdown passes. He accomplished the feat in just 139 games, eight fewer than the previous record holder, Aaron Rodgers.

At the end of the game, Mahomes attempted to give a high-five to Lions safety Brian Branch as they met near midfield. However, Branch walked past Mahomes without acknowledging him. Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster confronted Branch over that. In response, Branch threw a right hook that knocked Smith-Schuster to the ground, sparking a fight. The NFL later announced that Branch would be suspended one game for his actions.

Week 7: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

This was the Chiefs' first shutout win since defeating the Houston Texans 30–0 in the AFC Wild Card round of the 2015–16 NFL playoffs, and their first regular season shutout victory since coincidentally beating the then-Oakland Raiders 28–0 during the 2011 season.

Week 8: vs. Washington Commanders

The Chiefs extended their winning streak against the Commanders to nine with the win. They also continued their streak of never having lost to Washington at home.

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 5–3.

Week 9: at Buffalo Bills

Patrick Mahomes struggled against the Bills' defense, finishing with a career-worst 44.1% completion rate while completing 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards and an interception. It marked the first time in his regular-season career that he completed fewer than 50% of his pass attempts. With their fifth straight regular season loss to the Bills, the Chiefs fell to 5–4.

Week 11: at Denver Broncos