Chiefs Face Harsh Reality Check in 2025: Injuries, Uncertainty, and a Roster in Need of a Rethink
The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down the barrel of a season that’s gone completely sideways. At 6-8 heading into Week 16, they’ve already been eliminated from playoff contention-something that hasn’t happened since 2014.
That alone would be jarring for a franchise that’s been the gold standard in the AFC for the past several years. But the real gut punch came last Sunday when Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL, sidelining him for an estimated nine months.
That injury doesn’t just end Mahomes’ season-it changes the entire short-term outlook for the franchise. And with Travis Kelce’s potential retirement looming, the Chiefs are suddenly facing a crossroads that felt unthinkable just a year ago.
Alex Smith Weighs In: "This Isn't a Rebuild"
Former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith, now a regular voice on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, offered his take on the situation-and he’s not sounding the alarm just yet. According to Smith, this isn’t about tearing everything down. It’s more about recalibrating.
“This is a minor little facelift thing,” Smith said. “This isn’t a bunch of work they’re going to have to do. They don’t need to blow this thing up at all.”
He pointed out that Kansas City has already made significant investments in its young offensive line, a group that’s shown flashes of promise even in a turbulent season. And with Mahomes still just 30 years old, Smith emphasized that the Chiefs’ championship window isn’t closing-it’s just taking a detour.
“Obviously the key thing here is Patrick, right?” Smith continued.
“This guy has several years still in his prime. Gonna come back.
I think they keep this thing together.”
Still, Smith acknowledged that change is coming-because it has to.
“There are some aging pieces on that roster that I think they’re going to have to do,” he said, hinting at the inevitable turnover that comes with trying to stay competitive in a league that doesn’t wait for anyone.
What's Missing? A Dynamic Receiving Back
One area Smith zeroed in on was the lack of a true receiving threat out of the backfield-something that’s long been a staple of Andy Reid’s best offenses.
“The thing for me that I think’s really been missing, especially from them offensively… I just think back to signature Andy Reid offense, even going back to Philly: Brian Westbrook,” Smith said. “This receiving threat running back out of the backfield. A guy you can get in matchup.”
He brought up Jamaal Charles as another example-a back who could torch linebackers in space and bring a different kind of explosiveness to the offense.
“They just haven’t had that element there,” Smith said. “I think that’s something that if they get the opportunity to go out and address, I think they will.”
And he’s not wrong. Kansas City’s current backfield duo of Kareem Hunt and Isaiah Pacheco has combined for just 182 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air this season. That’s a far cry from the kind of production Reid’s offenses used to generate from the position.
The Road Ahead
With Mahomes out and Gardner Minshew now under center, the Chiefs will close out the season against the Titans, Broncos, and Raiders. It’s a tough way to end a year that started with Super Bowl aspirations and is now ending with more questions than answers.
But if there’s any silver lining, it’s that the core still exists. Mahomes will return.
The offensive line is young and developing. And the front office has shown it knows how to build around its stars.
"They don't need to blow this thing up at all." ✍️
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 21, 2025
Alex Smith on how the Chiefs need to rebuild after missing the postseason for the first time since 2014 🏈 pic.twitter.com/Qm2hZkBvwH
The Chiefs don’t need a full rebuild-but they do need to evolve. Whether that means getting younger at key positions, finding that elusive pass-catching back, or making tough decisions on aging veterans, the 2026 season will be all about recalibrating for another run.
Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past decade, it’s this: as long as Mahomes is in the building, the Chiefs are never truly out of the fight.