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The Chiefs will look different in 2026. Six articles explaining what that means

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to face a crucial period of transition.

Patrick Mahomes will be recovering from injury well into the offseason. There could be a change at offensive coordinator, and Travis Kelce could be playing his final game on Sunday.

An offseason like no other in the Mahomes-KC era approaches. But there is a silver lining to that, as KC will have a higher-than normal pick in this year's NFL Draft. Can the Chiefs find a difference-maker in the top 15?

The Kansas City Chiefs walk off the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. By Dominick Williams/file photo

NO. 1: KC SPORTS STOPPED SHORT IN 2025. CAN ‘26 REVIVE CHIEFS, ROYALS, OTHER AREA TEAMS?

For the better part of a generation, you may recall, the regional sports scene largely had become a fusion of futility and torment. Sure, there were fleeting exceptions, but in the most visible, widely followed and galvanizing forms of the Chiefs and Royals, it was easy to become bereft of belief. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Vahe Gregorian

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) on the field prior to the game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 2: WILL RAIDERS GAME BE FAREWELL FOR CHIEFS’ TRAVIS KELCE? WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN VEGAS

If Sunday marks the final game for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, he’ll exit the NFL stage with a load of league records, especially in postseason play. | Published January 1, 2026 | Read Full Story by Blair Kerkhoff

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, drops a pass that was intercepted by Philadelphia Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba near the end zone in the second half of the Chiefs game vs. the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dominick Williams

NO. 3: ONE STAT DEFINED CHIEFS’ PLUMMET — AND THERE’S GOOD AND BAD NEWS ABOUT THAT AHEAD

A year ago, the Chiefs were well along the path to their fifth Super Bowl in six seasons and fulfilling a quest to become the first franchise to win three in a row. | Published January 1, 2026 | Read Full Story by Vahe Gregorian

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy greets his team during a timeout in the second half of the Chiefs game vs. the Houston Texans on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Dominick Williams

NO. 4: WILL SUNDAY’S CHIEFS-RAIDERS FINALE BE THE LAST FOR MATT NAGY, STEVE SPAGNUOLO?

The Kansas City Chiefs have one final game left on their 2025 schedule — a Week 18 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Pete Sweeney

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) warms up the game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 5: THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PICKED A REALLY BAD TIME TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS. HERE’S WHY

It’s New Year’s Day, and the Chiefs’ season has only days, not weeks, remaining. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Sam McDowell

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) watches the game against the Denver Broncos from a suite GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. Mahomes was out due to an ACL injury. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 6: CHIEFS’ PATRICK MAHOMES IS WEARING A HUGE BRACE ON HIS KNEE FOLLOWING SURGERY

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, shared a family photo to mark the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. | Published January 2, 2026 | Read Full Story by Pete Grathoff

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.