Kansas City Chiefs Navigate Offseason Challenges
The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to playing deep into January, but after finishing the 2025 season with a record of 6-11, their focus now shifts to playoff aspirations for the first time since 2014.
This offseason started a bit earlier for the Chiefs, and right now, all eyes are on Patrick Mahomes’ recent ACL injury and the uncertain future of Travis Kelce. It’s been quite the topic in Kansas City lately.
Kelce is entering his 13th year in the league. Last summer, he sidestepped questions about returning to the Chiefs, and it seems those same uncertainties might pop up again as training camp approaches. However, Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt remains optimistic about the 36-year-old tight end’s ability to keep contributing at a high level.
“As an organization, we certainly want him back,” Hunt stated on a recent episode of “Good Morning Football.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also weighed in, mentioning he’s ready to “work things out” during the offseason. Despite not having numbers on par with his earlier years, Kelce still managed to surpass 800 receiving yards and played a crucial role for the team. Reid expressed his belief in Kelce’s ongoing ability to compete, emphasizing the importance of giving him the time to decide on his future.
Hunt acknowledged that this offseason is particularly busy for Kelce, with personal commitments including his engagement and marriage. The organization wants to respect that, giving him the space to make his choice.
In the 2025 regular season, Kelce recorded 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Though drafted in 2013, a knee injury kept him sidelined for nearly all of his rookie year. He broke his own record recently by completing seven consecutive seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.
If Kelce decides to return, the anticipation builds around Mahomes making his throws to him again. Reid has conveyed confidence in Mahomes’ rehabilitation strategy. “He’ll attack this like he does everything else,” Reid remarked. He added that many quarterbacks have successfully returned from similar injuries, and he believes Mahomes will recover well with the support of the team’s rehabilitation resources.
“If the surgery goes as planned, we expect a relatively quick recovery,” Reid noted.
