There's no sugarcoating it: Super Bowl LIX was a disasterclass for the Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes was awful, Andy Reid was terrible, and the offensive line didn't show up. No NFL team has ever had a better shot at winning three straight Super Bowls, and KC squandered the opportunity.
While many Chiefs fans may need time away from football to recover, the reality is that the offseason has begun. Throughout the season, the team managed to overcome glaring flaws: inconsistent pass protection and pass rush, a stagnant running game, no downfield passing game, and questionable play-calling. In arguably the biggest game in franchise history, these weaknesses finally proved too much to overcome.
The Chiefs' path back to dominance requires making the most of these next three months. NFL teams have two main avenues for improvement: free agency and the draft. Both will be essential if the Chiefs hope to secure their fourth Super Bowl title in seven years.
The team faces numerous critical needs heading into the offseason. They must find a permanent solution at left tackle, strengthen both offensive and defensive lines, acquire an explosive running back, rebuild their downfield passing attack, and bolster their secondary depth. These needs are subject to change and are not the only areas that need to be addressed.
This is a tall order, and unless general manager Brett Veach pulls a straight flush, addressing every issue successfully seems unlikely.
Now that the offseason is upon us, let's review what the Chiefs are working with, some key dates, and what the Chiefs need to do to go back to the Super Bowl.