The Chiefs' 2025 season came to a fitting end with a 14–12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, who secured the top pick in the upcoming draft prior to kickoff. It was the second time in three weeks that Kansas City failed to score a single offensive touchdown, and they reached the end zone just once in their three games without Patrick Mahomes. A season that began with hopes of reaching a sixth Super Bowl in seven years ended with the ninth overall pick in the draft.
While Chiefs fans would love to burn the tape on this season and move on to 2026, it is worthwhile to hand out some player superlatives for the season. Despite the team falling well short of expectations, there were some positive individual performances worth recognizing. In total, there are nine superlatives given for this Chiefs season that acknowledge the top performers, best newcomers, and those under substantial pressure in 2026.
Team MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes
From a statistical standpoint, this was not an outstanding season for Patrick Mahomes. Prior to his season-ending ACL injury against the Chargers, the Chiefs quarterback accumulated 3,587 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of 89.6—a career low. However, Mahomes’ value was made painfully obvious in the three games he missed. In those games (two of which came against teams that went a combined 6–28), the Chiefs scored one total offensive touchdown, failed to score 14 points each time, and averaged a paltry 11.3 points per game.
To put further context on how poor the Mahomes-less Chiefs offense was, they ranked dead last in offensive EPA per play in Weeks 16–18. Yes, the Chiefs offense without Patrick Mahomes was worse than the Raiders and Jets. Mahomes was forced for much of the season to carry an offense with a questionable scheme, puzzling personnel usage, and a nonexistent running game. It will be a top priority for the Chiefs’ brain trust to make life easier for their quarterback in 2026.
Offensive Player of the Year: TE Travis Kelce
In what may have been his final NFL season, Travis Kelce ended it well from an individual standpoint. The 36-year-old tight end finished the season with 76 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns. The future Hall of Famer was also named to his eleventh Pro Bowl. Kelce also has a case to be named to the All-Pro roster for the first time since 2022. Following a down year in 2024, Kelce showed that he can still play at a high level this season and would once again be a key contributor to the 2026 Chiefs should he return.
Defensive Player of the Year: DT Chris Jones
Jones once again enjoyed an All-Pro-caliber season on the interior of the Chiefs’ defensive line. The 31-year-old recorded seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 25 quarterback hits on the year and was named to his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl. Jones (along with George Karlaftis) was a lone bright spot on a defensive line that struggled mightily in 2025. Even on the other side of 30, Jones remains one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: LT Josh Simmons
Simmons was a revelation when he was on the field this season. The 2025 first-rounder helped stabilize the left tackle position, which was in disarray in 2024. Simmons ranked in the top 25 among offensive tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade and allowed just two sacks on 367 pass-block snaps. At just 23 years old, the Ohio State product should be a stalwart on Mahomes’ blindside for many years to come. The only negative of Simmons’ rookie season was availability, as he missed nine games for either personal or injury-related reasons.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: CB Nohl Williams
This was a difficult selection, as many of the Chiefs’ rookies did not receive significant playing time. When he was on the field, Williams showed numerous flashes of being a future star in the Chiefs’ defensive backfield. The fourth-round rookie ranked in the top 15 among cornerbacks in overall PFF grading and allowed just 20 catches on 273 coverage snaps. In the event that Jaylen Watson leaves in free agency, Williams showed he is capable of stepping into a starting role.
Most Improved Player: LG Kingsley Suamataia
Suamataia was a question mark heading into 2025, as the 2024 second-round pick struggled mightily as the team’s opening left tackle last season. Suamataia started the first two games at left tackle in 2024 but was quickly benched due to poor performance. With the trade of Joe Thuney to Chicago, the BYU product was under heavy pressure to step into that role and deliver. While there were some early concerns due to his preseason performance, Suamataia quickly proved to be a legitimate answer at the left guard position for years to come. On 724 pass-blocking snaps, Suamataia allowed just three sacks.
Big 2026 Ahead: Harrison Butker and Andy Reid
This superlative was a tie between two cornerstones of the Chiefs’ dynastic run: their longtime placekicker and head coach. Butker had the worst season of his career in 2025, missing five field goals that cost the team points. Perhaps an even bigger issue for Butker was extra points, as the veteran kicker was wide of the uprights four times following Chiefs touchdowns. Throughout his tenure in Kansas City, Butker has been a model of consistency and has made countless clutch kicks in huge spots. One subpar season will not be enough to end Butker’s tenure, nor should it. However, he needs to find his previous form if the Chiefs want to regain contender status in 2026.
As for Reid, he too will be back on the Chiefs’ sideline next season. However, Reid’s scheme, offensive philosophy, and personnel usage left plenty to be desired this season. For the third consecutive season, Reid’s offense failed to rank in the top 10 in scoring, finishing 21st in 2025 after ranking 15th in each of the previous two years. Perhaps a worse reflection on Reid was how the offense performed without Mahomes. While Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele will not be inducted into Canton anytime soon, failing to score a touchdown against the Titans and Raiders is inexcusable. It will be up to Reid to adjust his scheme and make life easier for Mahomes and company.
Bring Him Back Award: CB Jaylen Watson
Watson has been a revelation throughout his career in Kansas City as a former seventh-round pick in 2021. He spent his first two seasons as a rotational corner before stepping into a starting role following L’Jarius Sneed’s trade to the Tennessee Titans. Watson played some of the best football of his career in 2025, ranking 13th among all cornerbacks in PFF grading. When throwing in Watson’s direction, opposing quarterbacks managed only a minuscule 67.5 passer rating. While Watson will be a sought-after free agent for teams in need of help in their defensive backfield, it would be in the Chiefs’ best interest to retain him. The more good players you have on a team, the better, and Watson has been a high-quality player throughout his career.
Thanks for the Memories Award: Isiah Pacheco
Isiah Pacheco had a respectable career in Kansas City. He was the starting running back on the Chiefs’ back-to-back championship teams in 2022 and 2023 and was a high-level contributor in both seasons, averaging north of 4.5 yards per carry each year. Unfortunately, a fractured fibula suffered in Week 2 of the 2024 season halted Pacheco’s trajectory and resulted in a precipitous decline. Since returning from the aforementioned injury later that season, the 2022 seventh-round pick’s effectiveness has steadily gone downhill. In fact, Pacheco, an impending free agent, has failed to reach 60 rushing yards in a single game since returning from the injury. While it is undeniable that the Rutgers product had some great moments in a Chiefs uniform, there is little reason for him to be on the roster in 2026.