Kansas City opened the season with a 31-10 win over Denver on Monday night.
Patrick Mahomes returned to action in the Chiefs' opener at Arrowhead Stadium.
Kenneth Walker made an immediate impact on the Kansas City offense.
Chiefs Kingdom got a show Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Patrick Mahomes was back in action, but the real story of the game was the immediate impact Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker had on the Kansas City offense.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) jogs during warmups prior to the Chiefs regular season game against the Denver Broncos, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) jogs during warmups prior to the Chiefs regular season game against the Denver Broncos, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Fans react to getting an autograph from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes prior to the Chiefs regular season game against the Denver Broncos, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Donna Kelce and Tom Cruise are in attendance for the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos regular season game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel
Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel
Pop star Taylor Swift reacts to a play during the fourth quarter of the season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) carries the ball down field in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) dives to score a touchdown in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) dives to score a touchdown in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) argue with the official on the sideline in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Nohl Williams (20) in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'jarius Sneed (38) in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) dives with the ball in the second quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) punts the ball after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end R. Mason Thomas (51) celebrates after sacking Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) in the second quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) scores a touchdown in the second quarter during the the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass in the second quarter during the the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the football in the first half of the Chiefs regular season game against the Denver Broncos, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) screams while entering the field during introductions in the Chiefs regular season game against the Denver Broncos, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass for short yardage in the first half of the Chiefs regular season game against the Denver Broncos, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95), left, and R. Mason Thomas (51) celebrate Thomas' sack on Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) in the second quarter of the season opener at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A fan cheers during the season opening game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrates his 60-yard touchdown in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'jarius Sneed (38) and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (92) try to get to the loose ball in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball for a 60-yard touchdown to start the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball for a 60-yard touchdown in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball for a 60-yard touchdown in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs the ball down field in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs the ball in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball in the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Nohl Williams (20) celebrates a tackle in the first quarter during the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson (10) in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos NFL season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sept. 14, 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) runs the ball in the first quarter during the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) dives to make a touchdown in the first quarter during the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball in the first quarter during the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) celebrates a sack in the third quarter during the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) dives to make a touchdown in the first quarter during the season opener against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Emily Curiel, is a visual journalist at The Star. With a broad scope of coverage, Curiel navigates subjects including breaking news, sports, features and long-form narratives. She is a first-generation graduate from San Francisco State University and a native of Los Angeles.
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