NFL · AFC West · Kansas City, Missouri, US · Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City Chiefs

The defining dynasty of modern professional football — three Super Bowl championships in five years, Patrick Mahomes playing quarterback at a level the sport has never seen, and a franchise that has gone from historical footnote to the standard against which every team is measured.

Updated March 21, 2026

A 6-11 Collapse and Mahomes' ACL Tear

The Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 season was a catastrophe. After losing Super Bowl LIX to the Eagles 40-22 in February, the Chiefs collapsed to 6-11 — their worst record under Patrick Mahomes, their first losing season since 2012, and their first time missing the playoffs since 2014. They started 0-2 for the first time in a decade and went a dreadful 1-7 on the road.

Mahomes' Season-Ending Knee Injury

The nadir came in Week 15 against the Chargers, when Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL that ended his season. In 14 starts, Mahomes completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions — solid numbers diminished by an 89.6 passer rating that marked a clear step back from his usual elite standard. His recovery timeline looms over everything the Chiefs do this offseason.

Is the Dynasty Over?

For the first time since the Mahomes era began, there are genuine questions about whether Kansas City's championship window has closed. An aging roster, a quarterback rehabbing a major knee injury, and the rise of new AFC powers like Denver and New England have shifted the conference's balance of power. Andy Reid's ability to reload and Mahomes' determination to return will define the next chapter.