Preseason Super Bowl Favorite Chiefs Eliminated From Playoff Contention After Season of Injuries and Upsets
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — What began as a promising season for the Kansas City Chiefs, projected by many analysts to be among the top Super Bowl contenders in the NFL, came to an abrupt end this month as the three-time defending AFC champions were officially eliminated from playoff contention. Once seen as a favorite to compete for Super Bowl LX, the Chiefs instead suffered a season marked by key injuries, uncharacteristic losses and a disappointing finish that saw them miss the postseason for the first time since 2014.
From the outset of the 2025 campaign, expectations were sky-high for Kansas City after a strong showing in recent seasons. However, the situation changed dramatically when superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Week 15 — a devastating injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year and dramatically shifted the Chiefs’ trajectory.
In Mahomes’s absence, backup and even third-string quarterbacks were pressed into duty, but none could replicate the offensive spark that had become synonymous with the Chiefs’ dynamic attack. The team limped through the final stretch of the season, including a critical loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 that mathematically dashed its playoff hopes.
The Chiefs’ fall from grace this season underscores how fragile success can be in the NFL, where a single injury — especially to a franchise quarterback — can upend even the most well-built rosters. Long considered among the elite teams in the league, Kansas City’s struggles have ignited fresh conversations about depth, coaching adjustments and roster strategy heading into the 2026 offseason.
Fans and commentators alike have pointed to this season as a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of the NFL. High injury rates across the league have hampered several other contenders as well, but none felt the fallout as acutely as the Chiefs, whose ambition of returning to the Super Bowl ended shorter than their 2025 journey suggested.
As the regular season concludes, Kansas City will look ahead to regrouping, developing young talent and evaluating potential roster upgrades — all with the goal of returning to title contention. Meanwhile, the league’s playoff race continues without one of its early favorites, reminding fans that in the NFL, no team’s position is secure until the final whistle blows.
